Steroid Facts

Steroids were developed in the late 1930s to treat sexual functioning in men. It was mainly created to treat a condition known as hypogonadism, wherein insufficient testosterone is produced by the body. During the same period, scientists also discovered that steroids could facilitate the growth of skeletal muscle. This led to the abuse of these compounds by bodybuilders and then by other athletes in other sports.

Legal steroids can be taken in three ways- oral pills, injected intramuscularly or rubbed on the skin when used in the form of a gel. Users often mix steroids and take them in various combinations. This process is called stacking or cycling. One can buy these steroids legally over the counter at a chemist without a physician's prescription in some countries like Thailand and Mexico. Whereas one would need a doctor's prescription, in countries like USA and Canada. The quantities that are required for medical reasons are very low when compared to what athletes require. Legally the maximum limit would be less than 5mg a week, whereas an athlete would require anywhere between 100 to 200 mg a week.

A majority of the steroids in circulation are illegally manufactured. There are no quality checks or controls.

Signs and Symptoms of Steroid Use

Steroid abusers often display the following symptoms

  • Rapid weight gain
  • Rapid muscle development
  • Acne flare up
  • Fluid retention
  • Yellow tint in the eyes and on skin (jaundice)
  • Mood swings, depression
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Premature balding

Do Legal Steroids Affect Athletic Performance

This is a highly debatable point. Steroids do give the user an unfair advantage, but they cannot replace the talent, skill or the cardiovascular capacity of the athlete. A lot of athletes swear that steroids cut down on the recovery time from injuries, but this has not been proven conclusively. In fact, some researchers claim that steroid abuse hinders the normal process of wound healing.

Effect of Steroids On The Body

Steroid abuse has been affiliated with a wide range of side effects such as acne and breast development in men, premature balding, infertility in men and women. Steroids can also cause increased irritability and aggression. Some other health repercussions include heart attacks, liver cancer and increase in cholesterol levels. Use of steroids in adolescents could prematurely stop the lengthening of bones resulting in stunted growth.

Street Names Of Steroids

Arnolds, Gym candy, Juice, Pumpers, Stackers and Weight trainers.

Steroids & Sports

Steroids and sports go a long way. Its use can be dated to the ancient Greek era. Today, use of legal steroids defers from country to country. Most sports authorities have banned the use of steroids by athletes due to their potentially dangerous side effects. It also gives the user an unfair advantage. Therefore, sports authorities have set laws to deter athletes from cheating.

Trafficking

The sale of illicit steroids mostly happens at gyms or any place where training happens. With the spread of internet increasing, so is the availability of these illegal drugs via mail order over the net. In addition to this, steroids are also illegally diverted from U.S. pharmacies or synthesized in clandestine laboratories.