IFBB Pro female bodybuilder Hannah Hussein has gone public with the long-term effects of performance methods commonly used in bodybuilding, sharing her experience to caution younger athletes about the risks.
In her first , Hussein described how she began competing in 2013 at 22 and was quickly influenced by a coach who promised rapid progress.
“A coach had approached me and ended up… I told him what I wanted. I told him I wanted to be as muscular as I could. I told him that I, you know, was willing to do whatever it took,”
she said. The coach placed her on a heavy PED protocol right away, assuring her there were no downsides.
Now in her early 30s, Hussein has been left with permanent effects. Most noticeable is the deepened tone of her voice.
“Obviously, my voice. Um, the elephant in the room. I’m not trans… And it’s a side effect, a direct side effect of gear usage.”
Other consequences she described include hair thinning, skin issues, absence of a period for nearly three years and enlargement of certain features.
More recently, she’s dealing with a diagnosis of cystitis, which her doctors believe is tied to her past protocols.
“The most recent one… was actually is cyitis, which I’m still currently dealing with, unfortunately. Um, and my doctors do think it was directly related to gear usage,”
she explained.
She also addressed the illusion of fair competition in bodybuilding.
“There’s a good chance they’re not actually testing,”
she claimed, adding that the sport is filled with
“a whole lot of fake natties” and “not a whole lot of real natties.”
Hussein said that when she started, there wasn’t much reliable information online, and many so-called coaches lacked basic qualifications. She now hopes to reach young lifters who might be chasing results without knowing the full picture.
Even with plans for a pro-level appearance next year, Hussein says her goal is to warn others. Her message is clear: shortcuts often come with lasting costs.
