Anabolic steroids are actually anabolic/androgenic steroids. The term Anabolic in it is actually the steroid's ability in helping put on muscle mass. The term Androgenic in it is actually means development of male secondary sexual characteristics. Other kind of steroids includes cortisol, progesterone and estrogen but these don’t build mass muscles, and are not even anabolic in nature, thus not having the same kind of side effects.
Anabolic/ Androgenic steroids or just Anabolic steroids are synthetic substances mimicking male sexual hormone testosterone. Apart from their drug abuse, they have medical legal purpose as well. Anabolic steroids are prescribed to patients suffering from deadly diseases like AIDS and HIV. In addition to this, it is also prescribed to men who are not producing enough hormones on their own or anemic patients. These steroids enable patients in taking a better diet as well as give them energy carry on with their day to day activities. Although, anabolic steroids are never prescribed to healthy, young people in building and maintaining muscles. If bought and sold without a prescription, anabolic steroids are bought and sold illegal.
There are many different anabolic-androgenic steroids. Those which are taken these days include Andro, dianabol, oxandrin, winstrol, equipoise and deca-durabolin.
In slang language, anabolic steroids are generally called just steroids. In street language, people call it “roids” or sometimes “juice”. Scientifically the drug is called anabolic/ androgenic steroids but it is shortened to just anabolic steroids.
Anabolic steroids are commonly taken in oral and injectable form. The oral ones are convenient to use, requiring no medical assistance and are fast acting. The injectable ones need to be administered intramuscularly that is in buttocks, shoulder or thighs. It should be with the assistance of a qualified physician. When people use steroids illegally, they’re abusing these steroids. Such abusers are capable of taking 10 - 100 times more than recommended dosages.
Abuse of steroids is very common in the sports world. In today’s competitive world where each athlete wants to outshine others, taking anabolic steroids is the most sure shot way to success. Not just athletes, it is being taken by as young as high school kids to get the perfect look and body admired by all
Anabolic steroids effect the growth of muscle mass in the body as well as elevating the level of hormones in the body. This elevated level increases the growth and energy level which results in athletes being able to work harder and stronger as well as decreasing the recovery time after a vigorous workout. In addition to this, bodybuilding professionals are able to show off their biceps and triceps upon using these steroids.
Side effects are plenty after using anabolic steroids. Medical research shows that if youngsters are using steroid, it may hinder the growth of their height, their skeletal may get mature early on and puberty changes may start to appear very fast. Other side effects include nausea, acne, oily skin, jaundice (skin color getting yellow), water retention, problems of elevated blood pressure, increase in bad cholesterol (LDL), decrease in good cholesterol (HDL), trembling, and in some rare cases damage to the liver and kidney.
Side effects specifically for men include testicle shrinking, low sperm count, problems of infertility, loss of hair or baldness, Gynomastia (breast tissue development), as well as an increased danger for prostate cancer.
Side effects for females include increase in hair growth (on face and body), male pattern baldness, menstrual cycle changes or stopping of cycles altogether, clitoris enlargement, and deepened voice. These side effects are actually horrible because they put a question mark to the sex of a female which is not acceptable for many female users of steroids.