Steroid side effects vary depending on who is taking them. There are some steroid side effects that affect everyone and other steroid side effects are specific to the gender or age level of the user.

The steroid side effects that affect any user are those that can cause health problems. These include liver and kidney problems, elevated blood pressure, raised cholesterol levels and a risk for cardiovascular problems. Steroid side effects can also include acne, premature balding and the yellowing of the skin.

Some steroid side effects only affect males. These steroid side effects include gynocomastia which is the appearance of female sex characteristics in males – manifested at the growth of breast tissue in male. Other steroid side effects specific to males include the suppression of the natural production of hormones in the body. This steroid side effect will generally reverse itself when the user stops taking steroids even though the longer that the user takes steroids the longer it takes the body to begin producing hormones again. Another steroid side effect includes infertility, reduced sexual function and testicular atrophy.

Women experience a different range of steroid side effects. The first is virilization which is the appearance of male secondary sex characteristics in females such as increased body hair, clitoral hypertrophy and a deepening of the voice. Another steroid side effect for women is a ceased or decreased menstrual cycle.

Teenagers who use steroids experience still different steroid side effects. One of the steroid side effects includes stunted growth. Another steroid side effect is precocious sexual development. Still another steroid side effect for teenagers is hypervirilization which is the appearance of extreme secondary sexual characteristics.

People who use steroids often try to minimize their steroid side effects by taking certain steroids together or by taking medication to minimize the effects.