According to one of the most famous studies of anabolic steroids by Bhasin and colleagues
- you can gain more than double the amount of muscle from using steroids than if you didn’t use steroids
- you can gain almost double the amount of muscle from using steroids and without training than if you trained without using steroids
It’s clear that steroid use makes a huge difference in your ability to grow muscle. The test above was conducted by given each subject 600 mg of steroids per week, which is the amount for entry-level bodybuilders, as indicated in the chart below.
High-level competitive bodybuilders typically take between 1000 – 5000 mg of steroids per week.
Interestingly, by just taking 600 mg of steroids per week, people can gain on average 1 lb of muscle per week without even lifting weights.
To see the difference in body size between a natty (natural) bodybuilder and a bodybuilder who take steroids, consider Shaun Clarida, Mr. Olympia 212 Division Champion in 2020 and 2022.
Below are photos of Shaun before and after taking steroids. With steroids, he gained 3 times the amount of muscle that he was able gain naturally.
Genetics affect the ability to grow muscle and response to steroid use
According the chart below, the worst responding subject gained only 9 lbs of muscle in 20 weeks whereas the best responding subject gained 31 lbs of muscle in 20 weeks. This study was done where each subject simply took 600 mg of steroids every week and without lifting any weights.
Average muscle gain
The table below shows average muscle gain depending on whether you are a natural bodybuilder (no steroids), an enhanced bodybuilder (you take 600 mg of steroids per week), or a very enhanced bodybuilder (you take between 1000 – 5000 mg of steroids per week). The figures below refer to pure muscle gain, not total weight gain. People can gain more mass than the numbers shown, but some of that mass will be fat. Also, the figures below are averages. Some people will gain more, and some will gain less. Women can multiply the figures by ~60%.
Steroid Misuse Consequences
Following are some possible health consequences of steroid misuse according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/rrsteroids_0.pdf
Hormonal system – Men
- infertility
- breast development
- shrinking of the testicles
- male-pattern baldness
Hormonal system – Women
- enlargement of the clitoris
- excessive growth of body hair
- male-pattern baldness
Musculoskeletal system
- short stature (if taken by adolescents)
- tendon rupture
Cardiovascular system
- increases in LDL
- decreases in HDL
- high blood pressure
- heart attacks
- enlargement of the heart’s left ventricle
Liver
- cancer
- peliosis hepatis
- tumors
Skin
- severe acne and cysts
- oily scalp
- jaundice
- fluid retention
Infection
- HIV/AIDS
- hepatitis
Psychiatric effects
- rage, aggression
- mania
- delusions