The young and Steroids

[rombus]

Due to the recent number of PM's ive been receiving regarding age and steroids I thought i'd write this thread to try and help some of our younger members. Ive also been having a conversation with my Endocrinologist who may give a more profession opinion on the subject:

There isn't an exact age were we all stop developing and growing because this is determined by our genes and DNA, we are all genetically programmed individually and we inherit our genes from our parents. To give an exact age we stop growing would be incorrect because everyone's genetic blueprint is different.The main development of our bodies is up to the age of 21yrs of age but this can vary between individuals. There are parts of our bodies what carry on developing and adjusting slowly up until the age of 25yrs old, an example of this is the brain. The Endocrine system is a part of the brain what is very complex and keeps our bodies in a homeostasis state. Our testosterone levels start raising and roughly peak around 25yrs old and then start to slowly decline, so even though some of us may have stopped growing at the age of 21yrs old, others may still be developing up until the age of 25yrs old.

I have recently spoken to my Endo regarding this matter and he tells me that the HPTA is very sensitive and as many pathways how it regulates the human body, he states steroids disrupt the normal balance of hormones in the body which can cause reversible and irreversible changes at any age but risks are far more if you administrate exogenous androgens during development, this will put you in a very unnatural environment at a crucial time and your hormones should be treated with care especially in the early stages of maturity. The adverse effects can be erratic behaviour of the HPTA and potentially therapy when your older.

I did ask him what age he would think would be the safest as far as risk to damages and he said many endocrinologist suggest full maturation is reached by 25 years of age and this would also give the HPTA time to be established with your natural hormone balance and patterns. I personally feel 24-25yrs old would also be ideal starting point to get bloodwrok drawn to see exact what your natural levels are before starting any kind of cycles and waiting till you have reach your testosterone peak would be a good starting point, for me there is to much evidence over the forums and what I've seen personally over the last 25yrs I've been bodybuilding. Obviously it isn't going to be all 19- 21yr old bodybuilders who suffer side effects what are irreversible but I am edging on the side of caution what age I advice to the newbies.
Marcus

Thanks for this post. I have some Qs regarding what your doc said

1) Did your doctor say what kinds of irreverisble damage?

2) the brain is still developing, but what aspects of that dev will AAS have?

Because as far as I am concerned, AAS results in temporary neg feebback on your pituitary gland, and nothing else. Will this slow down the development of the pituitary gland? I am not really undertsand exactly what that doctor is saying. Can you shed smoe light on this?

[marcus300]

Thanks for this post. I have some Qs regarding what your doc said

1) Did your doctor say what kinds of irreverisble damage?

2) the brain is still developing, but what aspects of that dev will AAS have?

Because as far as I am concerned, AAS results in temporary neg feebback on your pituitary gland, and nothing else. Will this slow down the development of the pituitary gland? I am not really undertsand exactly what that doctor is saying. Can you shed smoe light on this?

1, The Endo said that taking steroids will disrupt the normal balance of hormones in the body which can cause reversible and irreversible changes at any age but the risks are far more if your administrate exogenous androgens during development, this effects can be erratic behaviour of your HPTA and potentially therapy when your older. I think the risks are far greater if you take steroids when you haven't fully developed, yes we all fully develop at different ages and there isnt one set age but he also stated that the HPTA is very sensitive and it needs to establish its rhythm and pattern otherwise full output of the HPTA can be effected.

2, We all develop at different ages, there isn't one set age but the brain is said to be one of the last things what develop or certain parts fully mature in later life, I don't think AAS is going to affect the brain directly but the HPTA is part of the brain and hormones are regulated via this system.

You aren't going to find any studies done on bodybuilders using steroids at a dosages what we use to build tissue but you are going to find thousands and thousands of threads across all forums of the young having problems with their hormones after they have used steroids, of course your going to get many young bb's recovering without any issues but there is also many what don't, ive seen this more and more over the years ive been training. I would rather edge on side of caution when giving advice and this would be advising to take steroids at an age when your have fully developed and your HPTA as set its own pattern and its established its output, by shutting down a system what's not full matured or established its rhythm can cause problems.

[rombus]

1, The Endo said that taking steroids will disrupt the normal balance of hormones in the body which can cause reversible and irreversible changes at any age but the risks are far more if your administrate exogenous androgens during development, this effects can be erratic behaviour of your HPTA and potentially therapy when your older. I think the risks are far greater if you take steroids when you haven't fully developed, yes we all fully develop at different ages and there isnt one set age but he also stated that the HPTA is very sensitive and it needs to establish its rhythm and pattern otherwise full output of the HPTA can be effected.

2, We all develop at different ages, there isn't one set age but the brain is said to be one of the last things what develop or certain parts fully mature in later life, I don't think AAS is going to affect the brain directly but the HPTA is part of the brain and hormones are regulated via this system.

You aren't going to find any studies done on bodybuilders using steroids at a dosages what we use to build tissue but you are going to find thousands and thousands of threads across all forums of the young having problems with their hormones after they have used steroids, of course your going to get many young bb's recovering without any issues but there is also many what don't, ive seen this more and more over the years ive been training. I would rather edge on side of caution when giving advice and this would be advising to take steroids at an age when your have fully developed and your HPTA as set its own pattern and its established its output, by shutting down a system what's not full matured or established its rhythm can cause problems.

Wow...thanyou Marcus, that is VERY insightful, esp that last paragraph. You are experienced and your experience is invaluable. Thankyou for this, because I have honestly tried to look for such studies but found none and even medical school offers VERY little on this subject matter (I have classmates who think that AAS will decr the size of one's penis).

[Honkey_Kong]

You aren't going to find any studies done on bodybuilders using steroids at a dosages what we use to build tissue but you are going to find thousands and thousands of threads across all forums of the young having problems with their hormones after they have used steroids, of course your going to get many young bb's recovering without any issues but there is also many what don't, ive seen this more and more over the years ive been training. I would rather edge on side of caution when giving advice and this would be advising to take steroids at an age when your have fully developed and your HPTA as set its own pattern and its established its output, by shutting down a system what's not full matured or established its rhythm can cause problems.

Marcus, on top of this, how many of those kids whom allegedly recover with no issues actually ended up without any irreversable damage? I mean, kids don't get bloodwork done typically. They only cry when they grow boobs or lose the hair on their head.

On top of that for all the people who list pro-athletes who use roids at a young age as their justification were using false premises to base their decision. There is a huge difference between somebody like Arnold or Bonds juicing it up in order to perform at a higher level in their respective sports. Their lively hood and the promise of money and sponsorships depends on them being at the very best in their game. The average kid thinking about juicing is most likely never going to be in those guys positions so the benefits of the fame/money/top of sport don't exist for them, but the risk remains the same.