Top 15 Benefits of Anabolic Steroids

The general population is aware of the risks that anabolic steroids pose, with the media regularly reporting horror stories of men and women abusing PEDs.

Despite widespread connotations linking AAS (anabolic-androgenic steroids) to serious illness or death, up to 1 million Brits still take them for cosmetic purposes (1).

Thus, the question beckons: why do so many men and women still take anabolic steroids? And why are they so commonly prescribed as medicine? Find out everything you need to know below.

15 Benefits of Anabolic Steroid

1. Exceptional Muscle Growth

Anabolic steroids have been incredibly successful in promoting lean muscle gain in patients suffering from cachexia (muscle-wasting states).

Steroids’ anabolism is rooted in their ability to dramatically increase protein synthesis and nitrogen retention inside the muscle cells.

After it became well-known about steroids’ remarkable effects in medicine, bodybuilders soon began utilizing them to enhance their body composition.

We have seen regular steroid cycles add 50+ pounds of lean muscle tissue when taken in bodybuilding dosages (rather than therapeutic ones).

Bodybuilders have essentially taken advantage of this medicinal aid for cosmetic purposes, which is the difference between legal and illegal use of these drugs.

As bodybuilders are no longer allowed to use steroids for muscle-building purposes, they instead buy them on the black market.

2. Enhanced Fat Loss

All anabolic steroids are forms of exogenous testosterone and thus stimulate lipolysis (fat loss).

We have found highly androgenic steroids (such as Trenbolone and Testosterone) to possess more pronounced fat-burning properties due to androgen receptors having a more potent effect on the reduction of adipose tissue.

Anabolic steroids typically burn subcutaneous fat while increasing visceral fat. Subcutaneous fat is the fat you can see externally, while visceral fat is what surrounds your abdominal organs. Thus, a bodybuilder with low levels of subcutaneous fat and high visceral fat can still have a bloated or protruding midsection (known as a steroid gut).

However, Anavar is the exception to this rule, promoting decreases in visceral and subcutaneous fat stores and enabling users to maintain a tiny waist. We find Anavar to be more adept at burning fat stores compared to other AAS due to its stimulating effect on T3 levels, a hormone that has remarkable effects on metabolism, thermogenesis, and lipolysis.

3. Strength Gains

Immense increases in muscular strength are common with anabolic steroids, particularly bulking compounds.

This is due to:

• A more anabolic hormonal environment (high serum testosterone)
• Increased muscle glycogen
• Increased ATP production
• More muscle mass (and overall weight gain)

A common scenario we see is natural bodybuilders hitting a strength plateau and then adding 50 pounds to compound lifts from their first steroid cycle.

Elite powerlifters and strongmen will also take powerful AAS to maximize their muscular power. Some of the most potent anabolic steroids for strength are Anadrol, Superdrol, Trenbolone, Dianabol, and Testosterone, based on our patient’s stacks (who compete in strongmen competitions).

For bodybuilders prioritizing muscle gains over strength, it may be beneficial to refrain from lifting as heavy as possible when taking potent steroids. This is because we have seen rapid gains in strength, increasing the risk of injury, with the muscles and ligaments not used to sudden weight gain and heavier stimulus.

Bodybuilders at our clinic have experienced torn muscles or hernias, sometimes requiring surgery. Increasing the weight slowly during each session will greatly reduce the risk of injury, giving more time for the body to adapt to rapid physiological changes.

4. Accelerated Recovery

Anabolic steroids greatly reduce recovery time, accelerating healing in patients suffering from trauma and burns. Athletes and bodybuilders now use steroids to train at higher intensities for longer durations, enhancing performance and body composition.

Bodybuilders from the golden era particularly used this to their advantage, training for several hours each day and producing substantial muscle hypertrophy (size).

Steroids aid recovery due to their stimulation of IGF-1 levels, a potent wound-healing agent (2).

5. FDA-Approved

Anabolic steroids are illegal to use for cosmetic purposes in most countries, including the US and UK; however, several are FDA-approved on a prescription basis.

Thus, compounds like Testosterone, Anavar, and Deca Durabolin are prescribed by doctors for osteoporosis, cachexia, and hypogonadism.

This indicates that there is an element of safety when using such compounds, with clinical trials showing minimal side effects when used in therapeutic dosages. Anecdotally, our tests have also shown low levels of toxicity.

However, that is not to say all anabolic steroids are safe, especially when bought illegally on the black market, where products are commonly counterfeited. Bodybuilders also abuse steroids, taking excessive dosages without the supervision of a doctor.

6. Enhanced Endurance

All anabolic steroids have the ability to increase muscular endurance due to increased red blood cell production.

However, we have seen some anabolic steroids compromise cardiovascular performance due to significant amounts of water retention, causing more viscous blood and thus impairing blood flow.

The best anabolic steroids for endurance are typically compounds that don’t have a devastating effect on cholesterol, minimizing cardiovascular strain. Also, they do not cause notable amounts of water accumulation, decreasing excess weight gain and maintaining optimal blood viscosity.

Examples of steroids used by athletes for optimal endurance, in our experience, are:

• Testosterone
• Turinabol
• Winstrol
• Anavar

Several MMA fighters, sprinters, baseball players, Olympic athletes, and others have been found to have the above substances in their systems.

7. Improved Confidence

Anabolic steroids can be addictive for many users, and it’s not just because of their physiological benefits.

A person will exhibit more alpha male behaviour on anabolic steroids due to higher testosterone levels, thus enhancing confidence, success, motivation, and dominance.

We have found Testosterone to have a profound effect on well-being, with high levels increasing dopamine levels (a neurotransmitter that makes you feel happy).

Such physiological changes in hormones and brain chemistry may also increase the chances of a male getting a girlfriend. However, the longevity of such relationships may also depend on her view on steroids.

This enhanced alpha male benefit may be short-lived, with steroids having a transient effect on testosterone levels, spiking them initially but lowering endogenous levels post-cycle.

8. Affordable

Many anabolic steroids are reasonably priced and affordable for most people. This makes them particularly tempting to someone who already spends a notable amount on natural supplements, such as protein powder, BCAAs, pre-workout, etc.

Unless someone wants to regularly take costly compounds, such as HGH, Anavar, Primobolan, or Testosterone Undecanoate, steroids are unlikely to cause a dent in a user’s bank account, especially if taking sufficient time off in between cycles and not taking mega dosages.

9. Beard Growth

One lesser-known benefit of anabolic steroids is beard growth. Androgenic steroids have high levels of the 5a-reductase enzyme present, which is responsible for converting testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone).

This can lead to thinning of the hair (or loss of it) on the scalp but growth in other areas of the body.

Thus, in our experience, it is common for steroid users to experience fuller and thicker beards from higher levels of DHT.

This hormonal effect is why many men with full beards are also stereotypically bald (due to DHT dominance). The reverse is also true, being that men with thick hair often struggle to grow well-formed beards.

10. Improved Cognitive Performance

Based on our tests, higher testosterone levels improve cognitive function in men, enhancing memory and mental performance (3).

Medical studies also correlate androgen deficiency with decreased cognitive function.

Thus, we see that clarity of thinking, intelligence, and memory are positively impacted by anabolic steroids, at least in the short term.

However, if high dosages of steroids are used over the long term, users may experience decreased cognitive performance, particularly in relation to visuospatial memory (4). As a result of such research, there are now links associating aggressive anabolic steroid use with dementia.

11. Enhanced Vascularity

Having visible veins is desirable for many bodybuilders, creating a more ripped and impressive physique.

Anabolic steroids increase vascularity in various of the following ways:

We have found that steroids decrease collagen production, causing the skin to become thinner. Consequently, there is less epidermis covering the veins, enabling them to be positioned closer to the surface of the skin.

This is also why older bodybuilders are typically more vascular because collagen synthesis naturally declines as a person ages.

Anabolic steroids also enhance vascularity due to a reduction in subcutaneous fat, which is arguably the main culprit for why so many bodybuilders fail to see their veins (particularly in the off-season).

Steroids also increase red blood cell production, improve blood flow to the muscles, and aid vascularity.

Certain steroids can act as diuretics too, excreting extracellular water that collects around the outside of the muscle cell. Such fluid can obscure muscle definition and vascularity; thus, by flushing this out, the muscles can look more dry and vascular. Such steroids with diuretic effects in our experience are Anavar, Winstrol, and Trenbolone.

12. Strong Jaw

Steroids will increase masculine facial features, such as strengthening the jawline and making the eyes more angular. Unfortunately, we have also seen this in female patients (when taking virilizing steroids).

HGH may further increase jaw size via acromegaly while also increasing the size of the skull, feet, nose, and hands.

13. Diuretic Effects

Some anabolic steroids have diuretic effects due to a lack of aromatase activity (conversion of testosterone into estrogen). This can lead to a dry physique with more visible muscle striations and definition.

This is particularly common in cutting steroids, leading to a ripped appearance in users who are already lean.

Low levels of water are particularly useful when preparing for a show. Bodybuilders under our care have used steroids such as Proviron, Trenbolone, Anavar, and Winstrol to flush out as much fluid as possible.

Other steroids with high aromatase activity can cause fluid retention, leading to bloating and giving a smooth look to the muscles. Dianabol and Anadrol are two examples of such ‘wet’ compounds.

14. Constant Pump

Steroid users often report extreme pumps in the gym when working out, with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s famous scene in Pumping Iron coming to mind.

Steroid pumps can even be painful, particularly in the latissimus dorsi (back) region when deadlifting. Our patients have reported this feeling as unbearable, forcing them to cut their workouts short.

However, steroid users can also maintain a noticeable pump outside of the gym due to higher levels of blood volume, glycogen, and intracellular water inside the muscle cell.

15. Permanent Effect on Muscle Nuclei

There is a common notion in bodybuilding that when a person comes off steroids and trains naturally, they will lose their gains.

However, we have found anabolic steroids to have a permanent effect on muscle nuclei (5), meaning past steroid users may be able to retain their size when training later as a natural.

Thus, the common deflation that people observe in past steroid users is often due to a lack of weight training rather than the absence of AAS.

Lee Priest, a former Mr. Olympia pro, is a good example of a bodybuilder who retains muscle mass despite not currently using anabolic steroids. However, Lee has continued to train regularly as he’s aged, thus taking advantage of the additional muscle nuclei he accumulated from exogenous steroid use.

FAQ

Do Anabolic Steroids’ Benefits Outweigh the Negative Effects?

This will often depend on the individual. For example, if someone was genetically susceptible to heart or liver disease, taking anabolic steroids long-term would be a very high risk in our experience.

Also, different steroids have different reward/risk ratios; thus, one steroid such as Anadrol may be high-risk in regards to side effects. However, more mild compounds (such as Anavar) pose fewer safety concerns (6).

It can also depend on the individual, as someone may happily accept a shorter lifespan (7), in order to win the Mr. Olympia competition. To them, that benefit outweighs the implications that AAS can cause later down the line.

What Are the Side Effects of Steroids?

This is compound-dependent; however, the main side effects of steroids that we see are:

• Hypogonadism (low testosterone)
• High blood pressure
• Hair loss (on the scalp)
• Acne
• Oily skin
• Hepatotoxicity (liver damage)
• Gynecomastia
• Testicular atrophy
• Infertility
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Increased aggression
• Insomnia

These side effects are not relevant to all anabolic steroids or all users, as genetics will often dictate side effects (and severity). High dosages and excessive cycles will exacerbate any adverse reactions (8).

Summary

The benefits of anabolic steroids are undoubtedly impressive in relation to body composition and mental well-being. However, it is important to note that such positive effects are often short-lived, with an opposite effect occurring post-cycle.

Our readers should also be aware of the potential dangers of taking steroids, especially when not under the supervision of a medical doctor and utilizing underground lab products.

Co Authors :