What are steroids? What do they look like? What do the molecules look like? What are they supposed to do for you? What are their side effects?

What are Steroids?

Anabolic-androgenic steroids are man-made substances related to male sex hormones. “Anabolic” refers to muscle-building, and “androgenic” refers to increased masculine characteristics. “Steroids” refers to the class of drugs. These drugs are available legally only by prescription, to treat conditions that occur when the body produces abnormally low amounts of testosterone, such as delayed puberty and some types of impotence. They are also prescribed to treat body wasting in patients with AIDS and other diseases that result in loss of lean muscle mass. Abuse of anabolic steroids, however, can lead to serious health problems, some irreversible.

Anabolic steroids, also known as anabolic-androgenic steroids or AAS, are a class of steroid hormones related to the hormone testosterone. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellulartissueanabolism), especially in muscles. Anabolic steroids also have androgenicvirilizing properties, including the development and maintenance of masculinevocal cords and and ( characteristics such as the growth of the body hair.

Today, athletes and others abuse anabolic steroids to enhance performance and also to improve physical appearance. Anabolic steroids are taken orally or injected, typically in cycles of weeks or months (referred to as “cycling”), rather than continuously. Cycling involves taking multiple doses of steroids over a specific period of time, stopping for a period, and starting again. In addition, users often combine several different types of steroids to maximize their effectiveness while minimizing negative effects (referred to as “stacking”).

Steroid is a classification of a type of drug that relates to male sex hormones. Athletes use anabolic steroids to increase performance levels and enhance their physical appearance.

Anabolic steroids were first isolated, identified and synthesized in the 1930s, and are now used therapeutically in medicine to stimulate bone growth and appetite, induce male puberty, and treat chronic wasting conditions, such as cancer and AIDS.

Steroids are anabolic, meaning that they promote anabolism (cell growth). Some examples of the anabolic effects of these hormones are increased protein synthesis from amino acids, increased appetite, increased bone remodeling and growth, and stimulation of bone marrow, which increases the production of red blood cells.
Second, these steroids are androgenic or virilizing, meaning in particular that they affect the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics. The biochemical functions of androgens such as testosterone are numerous.

There are three common forms in which anabolic steroids are administered: oral pills, injectable steroids, and skin patches. Oral administration is most convenient, but the steroid must be chemically modified so that the liver cannot break it down before it reaches the systemic circulation; these formulations can cause liver damage in high doses. Injectable steroids are typically administered into the muscle, not into the vein, to avoid sudden changes in the amount of the drug in the bloodstream. Transdermal patches (adhesive patches placed on the skin) may also be used to deliver a steady dose through the skin and into the bloodstream.

What do steroids look like?

Tablets: (must be modified so that the liver cannot break it down before it reaches the systemic circulation, can cause liver damage in hight doses)

Liquids (injectable through a needle):
Administered straight into the muscle, not into the veins, avoid sudden changes of drug in blood stream.

Gels:
Cream : Cortaid -->
Skin Patches: to provide constant flow of the steroid into the muscle and blood stream.

What do the molecules look like?

Lanosterol: C30H50O


Cholesterol: C27H46O

Testosterone: C19H28O2

Steroids vary in chemical structure, but a steroid is typically a terpenoid lipid characterized by a carbon skeleton with four fused rings, generally arranged in a 6-6-6-5 fashion. Most of them are made up of an Alcohol group too.

What are they supposed to do for you?
Anabolic steroids increase muscle and bone synthesis and there are natural and synthetic anabolic steroids. There are also glucocorticoides, which regulate aspects of metabolism and help maintain blood volume in addition to immune system functions.

Athletes such as body builders, long distance runners, cyclists, and others, believe it enhances sports performance and help improve their physical appearance. However, a lot of these athletes use them illicitly.

There are many different types of steroids like Sex steroids Corticosteroids Anabolic steroids etc.
For e.g: sex steroids play important roles in inducing the body changes known as primary (internal hormones and specific sexual organs) and secondary (more physical changes) sex characteristics

What are their side effects?

The major side effects from abusing anabolic steroids can include liver tumors and cancer, jaundice (yellowish pigmentation of skin, tissues, and body fluids), fluid retention, high blood pressure, increases in LDL (bad cholesterol), and decreases in HDL (good cholesterol). Other side effects include kidney tumors, severe acne (because of the simulation of the sebaceous glands), sterility, irreversible connective tissue injury, aggressiveness, and trembling. In addition, there are some gender-specific side effects:

Men:shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, development of breasts, and an increased risk for prostate cancer.

Women:growth of facial hair, male-pattern baldness, changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle, enlargement of the clitoris, and deepened voice. Increase risk of cervical and endometrial cancer. Increase risk of osteoporosis. Decreased breast size. Amenorrhea and uterine atrophy.

Adolescents: growth is halted prematurely through premature skeletal maturation and accelerated puberty changes. This is because the growth plates in longs bones are ossified. Adolescents that take anabolic steroids before the typical adolescent growth spurt risk remaining short for the remainder of their lives.

Anabolic steroids, such as testosterone can cause cardiovascular disease or coronary artery disease, such as;
-enlargement/thickening of the left ventricle (impairs contraction and relaxation)
-Hypertension
-Cardiac Arrhythmia
-Congestive Heart Failure
-Heart Attacks
-Sudden Cardiac Death

Other Negative Side Effects:

Acne

Bloated appearance

Rapid weight gain

Clotting disorders

Liver disease and cancer

Premature heart attacks and strokes

Elevated cholesterol levels

Weakened tendons

Mood swings

Loss of appetite

Insomnia

Depression

Psychosis

Aggressive acts

Cardio vascular disease

Kidney disease and cancer

Risk of HIV and Hepatitis B&C (from constaminated needles)

Bad breath

Baldness

Water retention

Muscle cramps

Nose bleeds

Decrease immune system effectiveness

Infertility
*Anabolic Steroids can cause growth stunts in adolescents.


Famous Athletes, Steriod Users
Arnold Schwartzenegger, governor of CA, former bodybuilder who admitted to using anabolic steroids during his bodybuilding career.



Ben Johnson 1988, famous Canadian runner who set two world records for the 100-meter run.

Bo Jackson 1990, MLB player who broke his bat over his knee and shattered his femur in three places, and returned to the game in the following inning.

Sammy Sosa 2001, hit his chest with his trademark "double chest bump" after his 60th homerun of the season, but does so with enough force to stop his heart, restarting it with a second hit.

Barry Bonds, 2006, hit a 383-foot two-run homer in spring of 2006 while denying allegations of steroid use.