Body or baby?

[Phar]

Hi!

I've been around this forum for a long time now and I've always found good and helpful information and inspiration here. This is my first time writing though because I would appreciate some help on this matter that has been pressing me for a while.

I am an amateur bodybuilder, pushing 30 and married for six years now. I have been competing for 3 years and done pretty well in national competitions (yes, I'm not from the States). I love the sport and it's something I plan to do for as long as possible, but I've reached some kind of crossroads now and here's where I would appreciate some input.

My choices right now is preparing to get pregnant or persue my other goal; to compete at a higher level (internationally). That means I have to push things a bit farther in all matters. I've been looking for women who has used aas as I have (tried most everything) and still being able to conceive later on. But since I didn't find any I got a bit worried.

I now turn to you for some helpful info on this one. All my girlfriends are not into fitness so they don't really understand where I'm coming from. Your input on this one would help me.

Does anybody have some experience with this?

Thank you!

 

[RottenWillow]

Phar I dont know of any reason(s) that prior used of AAS would inhibit a safe pregnancy or jeopardize the health of a baby. And I know of a least one woman who used to post here regularly who used AAS prior to her pregnancies and has reported no problems.

One person I can mention by name (handle actually) is DIESELGIRL. She's a national BB competitor but I'm not sure if she used AAS before she had her children.

If you want to PM me I can give you a little more info.

 

[myremyran]

I'm not a competing BB (yet) but I have done some cycles of AAS, using both test, EQ, primo and others. I got pregnant 8-9 month after a cycle so it is absolutely not impossible.
I do now of women how have had problems after using AAS for a very long period though but it is always hard to know if it is the cycles or if there had been problems anyway.
Everything has its risks...

 

[Puddles]

Phar, is there any reason you can't continue on with your training goals and just wait a few more years to have a child? Many women wait to have children until they're in their mid-late 30's and normally don't have problems. I wouldn't wait till I was 40 though.

 

[Phar]

MrsPuddlesFL:

No, I guess I am just at a weird age. If I were a bit older I would opt for the babies. If I were a bit younger I would continue competing. If I continue competing now it would mean going to a higher level. A higher level for me would also mean increased dosages.

I have just managed to get my period back after a long absence. And I found it's not much fun being squeeky clean, so I want to avoid that in the rest of my life as much as possible.

And when the baby issue gets current again it will be a very long time clean. Not just before, but during and a good while after too. Phew..

First I will get small, then fat and then small and fat.

Thank you all for your replies. I appreciate it a lot. It gets lonely sometimes, being a woman with too much test.

 

[Puddles]

Phar, if competing is something really important to you, then IMO I'd just go for it for a few more years. Once you have a child your life (and quite possibly your body) will change dramatically. You could continue your training for another 5 yrs., then clean up for a year or so before trying to concieve and you'd still have a baby by the time you're my age, 37. I had my daughter when I was 26 and my body didn't do well between pregnancy and nursing her for over a year. About a year ago we decided not to have any more children. I just had my boobs done for the 2nd time (implants & lift the first time last April, another lift the 2nd time a few weeks ago) and am planning a tummy tuck (I got awful stretch marks when I was pregnant) hopefully by the beginning of summer. Some women are fortunate and their bodies handle pregnancy well, some don't and there's no way to tell how you'll do till the time comes. On the other hand, there's no greater joy than being a mother. It's a big decision you're making, take your time. Good luck to ya, hun.

 

[Ceebs]

Hi Phar, welcome.

If I were you, I would keep competing while you still have the body and the opportunity. Pursuing oneself is what people should do before they have kids - once you bring another life into the world, caring for that life comes before your own pursuits.

BTW, it should go without saying, but you should be off AAS (and thermogenics too if you're paranoid) for at least six months prior to conceiving.