The general public often attaches women’s bodybuilding to a certain stigma. They mock the idea of highly muscular women, and very often these women will perpetuate the image by doing commercials or acting in stereotypical ways. The topic of “manly women” is an interesting one, and a few questions continually pop up. Let’s delve into them. What is Virilization? Virilization occurs when women develop masculine characteristics due to taking anabolic steroids. What are the signs of virilization? Commonly known in the various stereotypes, the side effects of steroids in women vary. Some consistent signs include a deeper voice, excessive body hair growth, baldness (similar to male pattern baldness), acne, and enlargement of the clitoris. Some women who use in extreme amounts develop a squaring of the jaw. Are these side effects reversible? While the acne that occurs with steroid use may ...

The general public often attaches women’s bodybuilding to a certain stigma. They mock the idea of highly muscular women, and very often these women will perpetuate the image by doing commercials or acting in stereotypical ways. The topic of “manly women” is an interesting one, and a few questions continually pop up. Let’s delve into them. What is Virilization? Virilization occurs when women develop masculine characteristics due to taking anabolic steroids. What are the signs of virilization? Commonly known in the various stereotypes, the side effects of steroids in women vary. ...