Bodybuilding and how do you get tested for HIV?

Although there is some overlap, research has shown that women use androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) for reasons that are often quite different from those of men.  Even more dissimilar are the risks and consequences associated with female steroid abuse.  It is clear that AAS use is not equally as dangerous for everyone.  For example, AAS are:  less dangerous for adult male elite athletes, than their non-athletic counterparts; still more dangerous for teenage boys whose bodies are not yet fully developed and by far the most dangerous for both women and girls, as the female body is simply not equipped for exogenous (external in origin) male hormones.

Many women erroneously believe that since men already possess greater testosterone levels, and are made bigger and stronger with AAS, that they require considerably more of these drugs to achieve similar results.  However, since muscle size and strength does not increase in a manner directly proportionate to the amount of male hormone within the body, this theory is categorically false.  In fact, studies have shown that women get considerable anabolic benefit out of dosages that are only a fraction of those needed by men.  Thus, even those women who detrimentally decide to risk their health by using male hormones have no business taking them in large quantities.


There are many reasons women begin using anabolic steroids.  Several female AAS users have muscle dysmorphia, a disorder in which a person becomes obsessed with the idea that he or she is not muscular enough.  Those who suffer from this condition tend to hold delusions that they are "skinny", “fat” or "too small" when they are often above average in musculature.  Dysmorphia is sometimes referred to as bigorexia or reverse anorexia nervosa, and is a very specific type of body dysmorphic disorder.  Muscle dysmorphia is NOT a simple obsession with working out or bodybuilding.  To be clinically diagnosed as muscle dysmorphic, a person must exhibit symptoms of the ‘type’ and ‘degree’ outlined within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV), and not merely be overly interested in their physique or engaging in fitness behaviors that other people would consider excessive.  Some of the inclusion criterion for the disorder are:

    Constantly examining themselves in a mirror
    Becoming distressed if they miss a workout session or one of six meals a day
    Becoming distressed if they do not receive enough protein per day in their diet
    Taking potentially dangerous anabolic steroids
    Neglecting jobs, relationships, or family because of excessive exercising
    Having delusions of being underweight or below average in musculature
    Other Reasons

Of course AAS provide tremendous performance enhancement benefits, and though men garner the bulk of such scandals, professional and amateur women athletes also administer them for this purpose.  Although such abuse has gone largely unnoticed in mainstream society, this issue is becoming so prevalent that some organizations have taken overtly preventative measures.  For example, cafe press.com markets a “Without Steroids Women's” t-shirt to those who remain and support drug free athletics.

Every year, thousands of women are infected with HIV. Learn the facts. Teach the women in your family and community how to prevent and treat HIV. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. A person with HIV is called HIV positive (HIV+).
HIV makes it hard for your body to fight off sickness.
HIV is spread through body fluids like blood, semen or breast milk.

You can get HIV when you:

    Have sex with a person who is HIV+ and do not use a condom
    Share needles or syringes (drug works) with someone who has HIV
    Get blood from a person who has HIV. Now all donated blood is tested for HIV. You can’t get HIV from giving blood.
Most women get HIV from having unprotected sex with men. Always use a condom every time you have sex.
You can’t get HIV from shaking hands, kissing, or sharing household items like forks or glasses with someone who has HIV.
The only way to know for sure is to get an HIV test.

    You cannot tell who has HIV just by looking at them. Most people do not show any outward signs when they first get HIV.
    A person can spread HIV even if he or she does not look sick.
There are three basic types of HIV tests:
    Blood – A small amount of blood is taken from your finger or arm.
    Oral – Fluid is taken from the inside of your mouth
    Urine – A small cup of urine is used.

Some HIV tests take 1-2 weeks to get results from a lab. Other tests called “rapid HIV tests” can give results in about 20 minutes. You can get tested at places like a doctor’s office, mobile health van, or health fair. There are also home HIV tests that let you test yourself.