The slang term “on gear” is used primarily in bodybuilding and competitive sports to mean that an individual is using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), specifically Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids (AAS). This phrase serves as a discreet shorthand within fitness communities to describe the use of synthetic hormones. These substances are taken in doses that far exceed what the human body naturally produces or what is prescribed medically. Their non-medical use carries significant health and legal implications.
Defining the Substances
The term “gear” refers to Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids (AAS), which are synthetic variations of the male sex hormone testosterone. These compounds maximize two distinct hormonal effects. The “anabolic” effect promotes tissue building, increasing muscle mass, bone density, and accelerating recovery from exercise. The “androgenic” effect influences male characteristics, including voice deepening, hair growth, and stimulation of the reproductive tract. While AAS are sometimes prescribed medically for conditions like male hypogonadism, non-prescription use in the United States is regulated. Anabolic steroids are classified as Schedule III controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act, acknowledging their accepted medical use but also their potential for abuse.
Administration Methods
When someone is “on gear,” they typically follow a structured pattern of use involving specific administration methods and schedules. The most common approach is “cycling,” where the user takes the drugs for a defined period, often 6 to 16 weeks, followed by a period of abstinence. This period of non-use is intended to allow the body’s natural hormone production to recover from the suppression caused by the synthetic hormones.
A user may also engage in “stacking,” which involves combining multiple different types of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs simultaneously during the cycle. Following a cycle, many users attempt “Post-Cycle Therapy” (PCT), a non-medical term for a regimen of compounds like Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) or Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs). PCT is used in an effort to accelerate the restoration of the body’s natural testosterone production, which is often severely impaired after prolonged exposure to high doses of AAS.
Immediate Biological Changes and Health Risks
The body’s exposure to supraphysiological doses of AAS triggers immediate and significant biological changes. The most noticeable effect is rapid muscle hypertrophy, or the enlargement of muscle tissue, as the steroids stimulate protein synthesis at an accelerated rate. AAS also stimulate the bone marrow to increase the production of red blood cells, which can enhance endurance and oxygen-carrying capacity.
However, these high doses also introduce acute health risks across multiple systems. Cardiovascular strain is a major concern, as AAS can negatively alter blood lipid profiles, increasing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and decreasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. This, along with fluid retention and increased blood pressure, significantly raises the risk for heart attack and stroke.
Physiological side effects often include severe acne and hormonal imbalances that can lead to male-pattern baldness and gynecomastia (enlargement of male breast tissue). Psychological changes involve mood swings, increased irritability, and heightened aggression, sometimes referred to as “roid rage.” Extended use is also associated with liver damage, particularly with oral steroids, and can lead to long-term issues like persistent hypogonadism and infertility.