What are Steroids?
In addition to the human body, natural steroids can also be found in animals, plants and fungi. They fulfill many different biochemical tasks such as vitamins, sex hormones such as estrogens in women and androgens in men, bile acids or toxins. In humans and animals, the body produces important proteins and steroid hormones from the steroid cholesterol. Another endogenous steroid is cortisol, which belongs to the group of glucocorticoids.
In addition to the natural ones, there are the artificially produced steroids. These include anabolic steroids, which are used to build muscle and are similar to the male sex hormone testosterone.
Steroids, usually in the form of testosterone, are partly responsible for physique development, especially in adolescents. They have androgenic effects associated with changes in primary and secondary sex characteristics such as voice changes, hair growth, muscle gain and bone growth.
Anabolic Steroids
Anabolic steroids are often used to increase physical performance and muscle growth. With long-term high-dose use without medical supervision, they can lead to mood swings and irrational behavior as well as various physical side effects.
Anabolic steroids include testosterone and substances chemically or pharmacologically related to testosterone, which promotes muscle growth; there are a large number of preparations on the market. Anabolic steroids are used clinically to treat low testosterone levels in male hypogonadism (male hypogonadism). Because anabolic steroids are anti-catabolic and enhance protein utilization, they are given to severely burned, bedridden, or otherwise debilitated patients to prevent muscle breakdown.
They have an androgenic (changes in hair growth or libido, aggressiveness) and anabolic (increased protein build-up, build-up of muscle mass). Androgenic and anabolic effects cannot be separated. However, some anabolic steroids have been synthesized to minimize androgenic effects.
All the usual preparations are based on the male sex hormone testosterone. A distinction is made between two effects:
the anabolic effect:
The effect of the anabolic steroids on the protein metabolism, which is desired by the users, increases the build-up of protein in the muscles and at the same time reduces the body fat percentage. An effect occurs only with simultaneous intensive muscle training.
the androgenic effect:
While the anabolic effect of anabolic steroids is in most cases the actual reason for use, the androgenic effect is an undesirable side effect. This refers to the influence of artificial hormones on internal and external sexual characteristics.
Synthetic anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are testosterone analogues and differ in structure from testosterone only by changes in chemical functions on the steroid backbone.
Chronic Effects
The respective side effects are strongly dose- and substance-dependent. Side effects are minor at physiological doses (e.g., methyltestosterone 10 to 50 mg/day or equivalent).
Athletes often take steroids for a period of time, then stop and start taking them again; they repeat this cycle several times a year (cycling). It is believed that during these temporary breaks in intake, endogenous testosterone levels, sperm count, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis return to normal. There is anecdotal evidence that cycling reduces harmful effects and reduces the need for increasingly higher doses to achieve the desired effect.
Athletes often use many drugs at the same time (“stacking”) and apply them in different ways (orally, IM or transdermally). Dose escalation during a cycle (“pyramiding”) can lead to doses that are 5 to 100 times higher than the physiological dose.
Anabolic Steroids in 8 Ingredients:
- They have muscle building effects.
- It is an artificial substance.
- It is chemically similar to the male sex hormone testosterone.
- Like testosterone, it has an androgenic effect.
- Helps and enhances male sexual function.
- It has auxiliary effects such as voice thickening and beard growth.
- If not used properly, it can cause serious side effects.
- In case of excessive use, it can cause nervous breakdown.
Detailed Review
In 1935, Ernst Laqueur was the first to isolate testosterone from bull testicles. As a result, great efforts have been made to artificially produce steroid hormones to achieve a pure anabolic with no androgenic effect. This was not successful, however, because every substance with an anabolic effect also has an androgenic effect.
In medicine, anabolic steroids are used in hypogonadism. This disease is associated with androgen deficiency. This means that the body produces very little testosterone. Androgens such as testosterone are not essential for life, but if boys suffer from hypogonadism, additional androgen administration is necessary at the onset of puberty, otherwise developmental disorders may occur. Untreated adolescents suffer, among other things, from taller and underdeveloped muscles. In adults, osteoporosis, muscle wasting, and loss of sexual potency and fertility can occur.
Anabolic steroids became known primarily for their use in doping in sports. In the field of high-performance sports, anabolic steroids have been used to gain a competitive advantage. Due to the development and implementation of unannounced doping tests, anabolic steroids are also heavily featured in premium sports. On the other hand, research shows that anabolic steroids are used in sports for muscle building, especially among those who go to fitness studios. The focus here is on the aesthetic aspect of muscle growth.
Steroid Effects
Anabolic steroids promote protein biosynthesis in muscle cells. Intense training is also necessary for truly increasing muscle mass. The androgenic part of steroid hormones causes the typical male appearance (deep voice, male hair growth). However, anabolic steroid abuse does not necessarily make men more masculine. Testosterone is also converted to the female sex hormone estrogen in the body. In healthy men, estrogen regulates lipid metabolism, among other things. If the testosterone level rises as a result of additional androgen intake, the estrogen concentration in the blood also increases. This can lead to the feminization of the male. The most common consequence is breast formation in men.
Steroid Side Effects
Steroids help increase stamina and performance. But substances also affect the body. Some side effects, such as acne and premature hair loss, may seem tolerable. However, misuse often causes serious damage.
Undesirable consequences, in addition to those already mentioned, include increased aggression as well as mood swings and irritability. Sleep disturbances are also possible, with growth disturbances, high blood pressure and water retention (oedema), weight gain, thyroid dysfunction and liver damage.
It also increases the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, blood clots (thrombosis), cancer and depression. Men are more likely to experience shrinkage of the testicles (testicular atrophy), erectile dysfunction, impotence, and breast enlargement (gynecomastia). A general masculinization (virilization) occurs in women. This means that menstruation may be missed (amenorrhea), beard growth, or an enlarged larynx. The latter results in a deeper sound that is irreversible. In other cases, the clitoris also grows irreversibly (clitoral hypertrophy).
First of all, glucocorticoids – colloquially called cortisone, which has been on the doping list of the National Anti-Doping Agency since 1975 – have proven themselves as active ingredients in medicines. The dermatologist prescribes them as a cream for neurodermatitis, asthma patients inhale them to prevent attacks, and in case of hay fever, sneezing attacks prevent. As part of the treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, steroids slow exacerbations. They also protect the mobility of children thanks to the structure inside. And in the case of rheumatism, they relieve joint inflammation.
Five Steroid Hormone Groups
- Glucocorticoids: This group affects many metabolic processes in the body. Because they slow down the immune system, these hormones have an anti-inflammatory effect, among other things. Cortisone and cortisol are well-known representatives.
- Androgens: The best known “anabolic steroid” is the sex hormone testosterone. It provides the formation of penis and testis, shapes typical male behaviors, supports beard and muscle development.
- Estrogens: Female sex hormones allow egg cells to mature and trigger ovulation. They activate the development of the genitals during puberty. Estrogen levels drop sharply during menopause.
- Progestogens: The only naturally occurring luteal hormone in the body is progesterone. It is mainly produced in the woman’s ovaries and is known as the pregnancy protective hormone.
- Mineralocorticoids: The most important example of this group is aldosterone. The hormone is formed in the adrenal cortex and primarily functions in the kidneys, where it regulates the body’s water and electrolyte balance.
How to reduce muscle loss during recovery after a steroid cycle?
- First of all, take care of the good functioning of the hormonal background, as you need to return the amount of testosterone released to the known level.
- Restore male strength.
- Fully heal the liver working in increased productivity mode.
- Provide proper nutrition and a particularly well-functioning cholesterol.
- Make training easier as you no longer work with the same weights as when taking steroids.
In general, the basic rules for gaining a steroid cycle are the normalization of the hormonal background through the use of drugs and the maintenance of proper nutrition, sleep and exercise. Rehabilitation drugs play a huge role, because without them the body cannot normalize its work. You can learn more about the required ingredient list on various forums or from interviews with professional athletes. In general, recovery is not so difficult if you do everything right and adhere to the required dosages.
Misconceptions About Steroids
Many people fear steroids, sports nutrition and other substances related to bodybuilding and powerlifting. Most likely, this is caused by the huge number of legends and rumors that were actively circulating about twenty years ago. Now you will learn all the basic myths about steroids that will in no case be believed. Many athletes are amazed at how, in the age of the Internet and digital technologies, one still believes the oldest gossip and rumors heard elsewhere, but they have no practical or scientific evidence.
- Fear of Infertility and Impotence
When an unknown person is called steroids, the first thing that comes to mind is all the flashy people who ruin their masculinity with various drugs. During a steroid taking cycle, a man becomes so energetic that his body begins to require multiple sexual acts per day. But after the end of the cycle, of course, this effect disappears, but despite this, the libido returns to its normal form, as before taking steroids. It is worth noting that there are still cases where athletes misuse drugs and pass out, some of which also “return after a few months of treatment”. But you have to be careful! Before and after administration, it is necessary to pass hormone tests, take a rest time. Basically, issues were taken from people who didn’t understand this at all and who took large doses of steroids and got it wrong. But nothing bad was heard about the recovery.
- You Can’t Have a Perfect Body Without Using Steroids
These are also common myths about steroids, because various substances give your body an incredible amount of substances needed for muscle building. To get the same results on a regular diet, you have to be a real genetically engineered beast. Such cases have happened in history, but there are less than three, so we can safely say that without the use of drugs there are no stunning results.
- Your Body Takes Shape Immediately After Taking Steroids
In fact, another myth is that using steroids will not give you any big gains. In addition to steroids, you need to train properly, eat well. With a single dose of steroids, the effect is not so great, you should also be able to maintain the effect gained! Most inexperienced athletes get to work right after the cycle and combine everything they’ve written, they’ll blow up like balls. This is called the rebound phenomenon, and this is because after the end of the cycle, the athlete’s testosterone level drops sharply on the athlete’s side during the cycle, which the athlete receives several times more than his body produces! And after the end of steroid use, the drug is discontinued, so the production of its own testosterone is reduced, and the body with low testosterone levels cannot maintain such a mass of mass and development decreases. To keep the mass gained to the maximum and the losses to be minimal, and also to keep your body healthy, you should continue the exercises.
And now that you’ve learned the basic myths about steroids, it’s important not to trust rumors and confirm everything someone says personally. To do this, use different sources, try to spread only the right information, because only then can we break all the established myths about steroids.