Steroids are classified as corticosteroids and anabolic-androgenic steroids.

Corticosteroids, like the drug cortisone, are prescribed to help control inflammation in the body and they treat conditions such as asthma and lupus. Anabolic-androgenic steroids are the type which are popular with athletes, or those individuals who want to have buff bodies. The term ‘steroids’ will be used in this article to refer to the anabolic-androgenic steroids.

Steroids are derived from male hormones, primarily testosterone. Testosterone fulfills vital roles in the human body, including anabolic and androgenic effects. Both of these effects are clearly illustrated during puberty, the period when the body undergoes dramatic physiological growth. Anabolism is manifested through the muscle mass and strength accretion as well as linear growth (height) and bone maturation. The androgenic side effects, meanwhile, is expressed by the development of male sexual characteristics such as maturation of sex organs, hair growth and deepening of voice.

Steroids are designed to mimic the effects of testosterone in the body; thus, steroids induce the same effects as mentioned above. When steroids are introduced into the body, there is an increase of free testosterone in the system, significantly increasing anabolism and virilization. As steroid intake continues, testosterone levels continue to be elevated and this is when and where side effects can be experienced.

Chronic use of high doses can be harmful to the user’s health; even endorsers of steroids admit this fact. Steroid side effects can be grouped into two – minor side effects and major side effects.

Minor side effects of steroids are those which can be reversed once steroid intake is discontinued. The most common side effects of steroids are acne outbreaks, male pattern baldness, and testicular shrinkage. When steroid use is ceased and once the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal-axis (HPTA) has recovered, an individual often does not suffer anymore from these side effects.

Major side effects of steroids include dysfunctions in the liver, cardiovascular system, immune system, and reproductive system.

There are therapeutic trials that indicate that steroids can impair the excretory function of the liver, resulting to jaundice. Jaundice is the yellowish staining of the skin and the whites of the eyes. The most serious liver disorders linked with steroids are peliosis hepatis and liver tumors. Liver functions are shown to have been negatively affected by steroids, particularly the 17-aplha-alkylated substances.

Steroids can also induce cardiovascular diseases such as hyperinsulinism, elevated blood pressure, and decreased high-density lipoprotein levels. However, these effects are known to vary for different individuals. For example, there are clinical observations that show triglyceride levels decreased in certain subjects while they increased in others. Thus, experts say there is a need to conduct more in-depth studies on these side effects before definitive statements can be made.