Anabolic steroids

Anabolic steroids are called prescription drugs that stimulate cell growth in the human body. Originally developed for the treatment of illnesses, anabolic steroids are primarily known for their abuse to build muscle.

What are anabolic steroids?

Anabolic steroids, or anabolic steroids, are prescription drugs that produce effects in the human body similar to those of the hormone testosterone.

The agent promotes protein production in the cells, especially in the muscle cells. Anabolic steroids also have androgenic virilizing properties; including the enhancement of male body attributes such as a deeper voice, the growth of the testicles or the growth of hair. Anabolic steroids have been manufactured and used medicinally since the 1930s to strengthen bone growth, stimulate appetite and induce male puberty.

Anabolic steroids are also used in the treatment of cancer or AIDS. Long-term ingestion, for example for building up body muscles, has negative effects on health. These include a significant increase in cholesterol levels, which increases the risk of heart disease, acne, high blood pressure and liver damage. Gynecomastia (enlargement of the mammary glands) or testicular atrophy (shrinking of the testicles) are also more common.

Pharmacological effect

Anabolic steroids have two different effects on the human body. On the one hand they cause cell growth, on the other hand they promote classic male attributes.

Stimulating protein synthesis increases appetite, promotes bone growth, and stimulating bone marrow promotes the production of red blood cells. Through a number of complex mechanisms, anabolic steroids also promote the waxing of muscle cells, which leads to more muscle mass and body strength. The androgenic effects are also numerous and, depending on the duration of use, irreversible.

It has effects on pubertal growth, the production of the sebum glands in the skin and sexuality. The clitoris can grow in women and the penis can grow in male children (it does not grow in men). An increase in libido and a deeper voice are typical side effects. The natural sex hormones are suppressed and the male sperm is damaged.

Continuous use makes women more masculine. Your chest recedes, your voice deepens, and facial hair begins to grow. Men develop feminine traits. The formation of a breast, smaller testicles, receding sperm.

Medical application & use

Since the development of Anabolic steroids the drug was used to treat many medical conditions, but with varying degrees of success.

For decades, anabolic steroids were primarily used to stimulate the bone marrow, particularly to treat hypolastic anemia (anemia) in leukemia or kidney failure. Today, anabolic steroids are being replaced by hormone therapies in this field. For a long time, anabolic steroids were also used in the treatment of stunted growth in children; however, with the development of synthetic growth hormones, anabolic steroids remain a secondary treatment in this area.

During cachexia (severe emaciation) with severe illness (cancer, AIDS), anabolic steroids are used to increase appetite and maintain muscle mass. In boys with delayed onset of puberty, anabolic steroids are sometimes used to induce them; growth and gain are stimulated. There is research into the use of anabolic steroids for male contraception.

In men with low testosterone levels, anabolic steroids therapy can help, as well as in increasing libido in older men. In the case of gender identity disorder, anabolic steroids can be used to promote male attributes (hair growth, deeper voice, muscle growth) in women who want to change.

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Risks & side effects

The use of Anabolic steroids can have numerous side effects and involve risks. Depending on how long the drug is consumed, it can cause lasting damage to the immune system.

The most common side effects are high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Longer use also increases the risk of cardiovascular problems or coronary heart disease. Another very common side effect among anabolic steroid users is acne and premature balding. Anabolic steroids taken orally can damage the liver in the long term.

Men run the risk of developing a female breast and some of the function of the testicles. These side effects usually normalize after stopping the anabolic steroids. In women there is more hair and a deeper voice. If anabolic steroids are used during pregnancy, there is a risk that feminine attributes will develop in a male child and masculine attributes in a female child.