Title: Are Anabolic Steroids Real Baddies? Word Count: 434 Summary: You’ll be utterly ignoring the good aspects of anabolic steroids, if you call them “baddies”. Certainly, anabolic steroids are neither wholly bad nor utterly good. These drugs are blend of good and bad! Keywords: anabolic steroids Article Body: You’ll be utterly ignoring the good aspects of anabolic steroids, if you call them “baddies”. Certainly, anabolic steroids are neither wholly bad nor utterly good. These drugs are blend of good and bad! Anabolic steroids are the drugs derived from testosterone, male sex hormone. Testosterone is potent androgenic steroid hormone, which is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, but a small amount of testosterone is also secreted by the adrenal glands. Testosterone, the male sex hormone, is an anabolic steroid. It plays key roles in health and well-being of both males and females. It is responsible for libido, energy, immune function, and protection against osteoporosis. On average, an adult human male produces about eight to ten times more testosterone than an adult female body. The hormone is responsible for the development of male secondary sex characteristics. The level of testosterone goes down when a person ages or grows old. Thus, anabolic steroids are often recommended as part of a regimen for the aging men and women. Anabolic steroids helps in maintaining good testosterone levels in aging men and women and help in restoring their strength and good health. Anabolic steroids are the drugs having a number of androgenic and anabolic properties. Thus, anabolic Steroids are widely used for treating several medical conditions, such as, hypogonadism, delayed puberty, and some types of impotence. They are also used against several chronic wasting diseases, such as AIDS and Cancer. Anabolic steroids are mainly available in three forms - oral steroids in form of pills, injectable steroids in form of injections or shots, and anabolic steroid creams and gels. Anabolic steroids are widely abused as performance enhancing drugs. These drugs are commonly abused by bodybuilders, weightlifters, athletes, and jocks. They are also used by young boys, girls, and teenagers for various cosmetic reasons. However, anabolic steroids have often been linked with a number of serious side effects and several health risks. Some of the side effects associated with anabolic steroids include – premature balding or hair loss, dizziness, mood swings (anger, depression and aggression), hallucinations, extreme feelings of mistrust or fear, sleeping problems, vomiting and nausea, trembling, high blood pressure, aching joints, jaundice, liver damage, urinary problems, shortening of the final adult height, increased risk of developing heart disease, and strokes. Anabolic steroids also cause some gender specific side effects. Side effects of anabolic steroids in males include— reduced sperm count, increase in nipple and breast size, impotence, and enlarged prostate. Side effects of anabolic steroids in females include — reduced breast size, increase in facial and body hair, menstrual problems, and deepened voice.