Anabolic Steroids

Steroids are substances found naturally in the human body and include oestrogen, testosterone and progesterone. Anabolic steroids are substances that are associated with testosterone, the male sex hormone.

What Do Anabolic Steroids Do?

Testosterone is a hormone found naturally in the human body. It is more prevalent in men than in women and contributes to all the male characteristics. It can be used legitimately in medicine but many sports performers are attracted on supplementing their system by taking artificial forms of the hormone. This can have an effect on their output and stature, but can also be detrimental to health.

How Are They Used?

This form of drug can be taken in tablet form, as a liquid that is swallowed or can be injected. To inject steroids can be more dangerous due to the added risk of needle-stick injuries, increased risk of infection and improper disposal of the equipment.

Side-Effects of Using Anabolic Steroids.

Along with increasing male characteristics, there are many side-effects some potentially very serious surrounding the use of these substances. They can be dangerous to health if taken inappropriately, long term and in large doses. They have been found to raise blood pressure and levels of the types of cholesterol that are bad for health and actually lower the level of good forms of cholesterol. Other serious side-effects, also linked with the cholesterol factors include an increase in the chances of cardiovascular and coronary heart diseases. Less serious side-effects can include more chance of developing acne due to increased secretions of the sebaceous glands, hair loss, loss of sexual drive and function and in some cases infertility. They are commonly known to have a detrimental effect on the size of testicles and can produce breast growth in men, a condition called gynaecomastia.