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Popular Misconceptions

There are a number of popular misconceptions about anabolic steroids. A few such misconceptions are:

* Anabolic steroids reduce penis size. Anabolic steroid use does not reduce penis size. This myth probably came from the side effect of anabolic steroids known as testicular atrophy in which the use of anabolic steroids will cause natural testosterone levels to decrease, thus reducing testicle size. This side effect is temporary and testicles return to normal once use is stopped and natural testosterone levels return to normal.[20]

* Anabolic Steroids will kill you if you use them. This is one of the most common misconceptions. Anabolic steroids are used widely in the medical field without any serious health risks to users[21][22][23] and no scientific evidence has shown any long term serious health defects from correct use of anabolic steroids. While risk of death is present in many drugs, the risk of premature death from use of anabolic steroids seems to be extremely low.[24]

* Anabolic steroids have caused many teenagers to commit suicide. While lower levels of testosterone have been known to cause depression, and ending a steroid cycle is known to result in temporarily lower testosterone levels, the claim that anabolic steroids are responsible for specific suicides among teenagers is debatable. In the United states the estimated use of anabolic steroids among high school students was 2.8% in 1999. On the other hand, in the year 2000 in the United States, suicide was the third leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds.[25] With the suicide rate this high among teenagers, concluding anabolic steroids are responsible for the suicides of teenagers who happened to be taking them prior to committing suicide is a Post hoc logical fallacy. Also, only within the last few years have a few cases come to light suggesting a link between anabolic steroid use and teen suicide, even though teen bodybuilders have been using steroids for almost 25 years.

* Lyle Alzado died from brain cancer caused by anabolic steroids. Alzado himself had claimed that his cancer was caused by anabolic steroids. However, there is no medical evidence anabolic steroids can cause brain cancer and Alzado's own doctors admitted anabolic steroids had nothing to do with his death.[26]

* Roid rage. Most studies done on "angry behavior" and anabolic steroid use show no psychological effect. Implying that either "roid rage" doesn't exist or that anabolic steroids effects on aggression are too small to be measured. Making many scientists and medical professionals conclude anabolic steroids have no real effect on increased angry behavior.[27] [28] [29][30][31]

* Arnold Schwarzenegger had heart problems because of his anabolic steroid use. This claim is false. Arnold Schwarzenegger was born with a genetic defect in which his heart only had a bicuspid aortic valve. It was a congenital disorder meaning he was born with it. Normal hearts have 3 cusps. However Arnold Schwarzenegger had only 2 cusps which can occasionally cause problems, especially later in life.[32]