Hi im currently 19 and have been training for 2,5 years im 193cm/ 97kg (3 weeks into bulk) I study biochemistry and I’m really interested in what AALS could do to my body im planning on just running sarms and test with hcg but I haven’t researched enough and dont really know where to start with research
Hi mate,
If we leave aside the standard side effects in adults, which you probably already know about, and don't take chronic diseases or genetics into account, the main problem could be the impact on brain development.
At 19, the prefrontal cortex and its connections with other parts of the brain are still developing. These areas are involved in controlling impulses and emotional reactions, making decisions, assessing risks, and learning.
Sex hormones play a role in the development of the nervous system, so exposure to supraphysiological doses while the brain is still not fully developed could have more consequences than you might think.
For example, steroids themselves can cross the blood-brain barrier and affect the brain. Different steroids can have different effects, and their combinations, along with the way their metabolites work, create even more variables that we can't account for.
There are animal studies showing that exposure to steroids during adolescence can cause more pronounced and lasting changes in behavior and neural activity. I also know several people who started using steroids at a young age. One of them openly admits that this is most likely why he now has to take antidepressants for the rest of his life.
Of course, we don't have enough data, especially human data, to say that a testosterone cycle at 19 will necessarily cause irreversible brain damage, but it's something worth considering. I wouldn't use steroids until at least 25. The exception (just my personal opinion) would be if a teenager or young guy is extremely gifted and can make a lot of money through fitness. In that case, at least you can understand why you're taking those risks.
Nobody can say what will actually happen, and that's a big part of the problem. But while the risks for adults are fairly well understood, we have indirect evidence suggesting that the risks may be higher for teenagers.