Steroids are synthetic substances similar to testosterone, a male sex hormone (androgen) that triggers important physiological changes during puberty. Anabolic-androgenic steroids, or anabolic steroids, are sex hormones that contribute to male sex characteristics (“androgenic” effects) and promote skeletal muscle growth (“anabolic” effects) in both men and women.
What are anabolic steroids?
Anabolic steroids may be prescribed in a pill form that is taken orally, an injectable shot that is given in the muscle, a patch, a gel or a cream that can be rubbed on the skin. They are typically prescribed to help promote muscle growth and strengthen bones for those who have a delayed pubertal onset and to help boys with genetic disorders grow normally.
Anabolic steroids abuse is most common among bodybuilders and professional athletes, however, teens and young adults may also abuse steroids to improve their appearance, lose weight or boost their physical performance in sports. Following are some common reasons that people report for taking steroids:
- Increasing muscle bulk and strength
- Promoting quicker muscle recovery
- Reducing the breakdown of muscle after intense physical activity
Anabolic steroids: Patterns of abuse
People commonly abuse the oral and injectable anabolic steroids or they may take several different forms of steroids at once. People who abuse steroids may take them in different ways to optimize their results and avoid negative or unwanted side effects. Following are the common patterns in which users abuse anabolic steroids.
- Cycling: It involves taking multiple steroid doses over a specific period of time (patterns of stopping and starting steroid use)
- Stacking: It involves taking a combination of two or more different oral and injectable steroids
- Pyramiding: It involves users slowly increasing the dose and frequency of one or more steroids, reaching peak amount at mid-cycle and gradually reducing it towards the end of cycle
Steroidal supplements are also referred to as “performance-enhancing drugs.” Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are examples of synthetic nutritional supplements that are converted by the liver into testosterone and other hormones such as cortisol and estrogen once they enter the body.
Illegal anabolic steroids are often sold in doses that are 10 to 100 times more potent than the prescription steroids prescribed by doctors.