All the Rage: Anabolic Steroids, Sexual Health, and Penis Size

In professional sports, steroids seem to be all the rage—pun intended. A lot of men choose to use anabolic steroids in order to enhance their sporting abilities or to obtain a more muscular physique; but what effect do they have on male sexual health? In other words, will steroids mess with your penis? We should probably say right off the bat that this article is not intended to sell you on the idea taking steroids. We are of the opinion that there are safer and superior ways to achieving a muscular physique—like exercise and diet—that don't carry the same risks as steroids. However, to use or not to use is ultimately the choice of the individual, and this little post can serve as a warning of some of the risks involved with taking steroids, in particular relating to penis size and penile health.

If you're considering using steroids, there are a lot of things you should think about first. Obviously, there's the fact that most sports ban the use of such drugs, and using them could get you in serious hot water if you're competing. Then there's the health issue. Are they harmful, and in particular, will they effect your penis size or sexual performance? We'll attempt to answer these questions about anabolic steroids so you can make an informed decision.

Anabolic Steroids: Are They Worth the Risks?

Anabolic steroids, usually taken as injections, pills, creams, or gels, have the effect of increasing muscle mass, as well as increasing testosterone. However, they also make you vulnerable to a variety of adverse side effects that are far from rare. In addition to causing cardiovascular and liver problems, anabolic steroids can have detrimental effects on male sexual function. Some common sexual complications are:

• Erectile dysfunction: Ironically, even though sexual interest is increased with the use of steroids, the ability to obtain and sustain erections is drastically hindered. Talk about frustrating!
• Shrinkage of the testicles: Although penile shrinkage due to steroid use is largely inflated by urban myth—although it will look smaller relative to your body—testicular shrinkage is a very real and common side effect of high doses of anabolic steroids. Big man/small nuts syndrome.
• Gynecomastia: AKA the growth of breasts. Another common side effect in men is the growth of "man boobs" which have to be removed surgically. Not very manly at all, unfortunately.

The cruel irony of anabolic steroids is that although they increase many masculine physical traits, like sex drive and testosterone, they have a plethora of decidedly unmanly side effects. While you might end up big and strong with a large appetite for sex, those traits might be complimented by tiny testicles, breasts, and the inability to get or sustain an erection. Add these to the cardiovascular and liver-related risks, as well as the increased levels of uncontrollable anger and paranoia (AKA "roid rage"), as advocates of male health, we can say with some certainty that we feel that anabolic steroids are hardly worth the risk.