Anabolic steroids are synthetic versions of testosterone, the body’s natural sex hormone. Anabolic steroids have been attractive to athletes and bodybuilders because they increase the size and strength of muscles. They also increase aggressiveness and competitiveness, which can be desirable traits in sports and in the gym. Think you know about steroids? Want to know what they are all about? I’ve wrote this article to give you a bit of steroid knowledge.

How Are Anabolic Steroids Used As Drugs

In general anabolic steroids may be prescribed to promote appetite, stimulate bone growth, induce male puberty, to lessen the effects of muscle wasting from chronic diseases, such as cancer or AIDS, and may show promise as a male contraceptive. The drugs are available as oral pills, injectable steroids, and skin patches.

How Do Anabolic Steroids Work?

Anabolic steroids change muscle mass and strength. The steroids lead to an increased production of proteins, which are the building blocks of muscle (more building blocks means more possibility of muscle mass and strength). Here’s the science below.

When a steroid is consumed either orally or via injection, it travels to the androgen receptors located within the various cells. This connection activates the hormone receptor creating a messenger RNA, which signals the DNA to construct specific proteins (muscle building blocks). These proteins travel throughout the body creating anabolic/growth responses. Although anabolism is the primary action of steroids, they also draw out many other desirable and undesirable effects.

So can they work? Yes, is there a need to take them NO, are there possible huge side effects? YES. Still sound okay to take steroids? Keep reading.

What Are the Risks of Using Anabolic Steroids?

In addition to increasing muscle strength and mass, the effects of taking anabolic steroids include harmful changes in cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, acne, liver damage, and changes to the structure of the left ventricle of the heart which are some of the symptoms that can lead to heart disease.

Anabolic steroids have an androgenic or virilizing effect, meaning they affect male characteristics, as mentioned above. Anabolic steroids affect the onset of puberty, growth of the clitoris in females and the penis in male children (does not affect the size of the penis in adults but may shrink the testes), increased size of the vocal chords and deepening of the voice, increased body hair (chest, back), and premature baldness in people predisposed to it. Another side effect is decreased fertility and testicular atrophy (shrinkage).

More possible known side effects that Steroid Users Risk:

1) Increased Liver Function.

2) Depression of Natural Testosterone Production.

3) Increase in Cholesterol Levels and Blood Pressure

4) Altered Thyroid Function.

5) Headaches.

6) Nose bleeds.

7) Cramps.

8) Development of breast like tissue in men

9) Insulin Insensitivity

10) Androgenic Side effects such as thinning hair, enlarged prostate, oily skin, water retention (common look), increased body hair to the chest and back.

11) Aggressiveness.

12) Stunted growth if you are a teenager.

13) The orals also tend to cause nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting.

14) May accelerate the growth of tumours.

Problem is with most once you’re on it you may not want to come off it and you will just keep increasing your chances of getting all these side effects at any given time. The kind of side effects that females encounter when they decide to use these drugs, especially the androgenic ones like testosterone are a lot worse than the above.

Accessibility

As far as accessibility, the truth is that they are illegal substances without a medical prescription, so your accessibility will be through the black market (good luck as far as quality). In addition, if you get caught in their possession without a prescription you may face up to 5 years in prison!

Message To All That May Have Thought About Taking Steroids

Don’t feel the need to take drugs for serious gains just because they may seem the in thing in your gym. Achieving big gains does take hard work and patients but there’s never a better feeling than working hard and achieving something HUGE at the end of it.

If you are struggling or feel you need some help then get some professional advice. I can assure you that the results that you can get over a 12 week period with a professional help will make you ask yourself why you ever even thought about steroids.

So I hope this gives you some insight into the steroid world and you keep your body clean of illegal substances while training towards your goals.

Thomas Davies