A third group merely takes steroids as part of a broader pattern of high-risk activities. The final, and probably highest-profile, group of abusers are those who take steroids in order to improve athletic performance. Hair loss and breast development caused by steroids are irreversible. For women, side effects include a loss of body fat, decreases in breast size, acne, enlargement of the clitoris, deeper voice, coarser skin, excessive growth of body hair, and loss of scalp hair. Some of these effects may also be irreversible.
Steroids can cause the skeletal system to prematurely stop growth.
They can also affect the development of tendons and ligaments, leading to a propensity for tendon rupture and ligament damage. Steroids can severely damage the liver and kidneys, causing cysts, cancer, and general failure over time. Bacterial infection can cause abscesses and pain at the site of injection. Over time, steroids can prove addictive, though whether this addiction is physiological or psychological is as yet undetermined. In any case, steroid abuse has been linked to the abuse of other illegal drugs in both clinical research and case reports.