Steroid Information

Anabolic Androgenic Steroids

Anabolic androgenic steroids may be without question one of the most highly debated and misunderstood topics of all time and if not its very close. The reason is simple, most do not understand them, in-fact most do not realize anabolic androgenic steroids are a category of many various hormonal compounds. To make matters worse the debate that surrounds them has existed outside the realm of basic and simple logic for many decades and in place of logic has rested firmly on emotion and such a foundation is always a doorway to absolute hysteria. Youve heard the horror stories on the news, youve seen the politicians ranting and raving and youve witnessed billions of dollars spent on a never ending war on steroids that has no end in sight. Youve seen all of this but what youve more than likely never seen is any proof, any reasoning and its highly unlikely youve ever seen anything that came close to a complete and rational thought. The truth is simple most people do not understand anabolic androgenic steroids because they have not been presented the information necessary to understand and without this information emotion is all they have to rest on. Lets take a look and see if we can shed some light and while there will still be so much more to learn hopefully this will peak your interest to where you begin questioning what youve more than likely been told for years and years.

What are Anabolic Androgenic Steroids?

Anabolic androgenic steroids are synthetic hormones based and derived from the naturally occurring primary male sex hormone testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone with testosterone being primary and by-which all anabolic androgenic steroids owe their allegiance. That is correct, anabolic androgenic steroids are hormones, hormones in-which your body already produces and this alone is while surprising to some of you a fact most do not know. As a whole these hormones are not foreign substances, the body does not distinguish from naturally produced testosterone and testosterone provided exogenously as the hormone itself performs identically regardless of its initial place of origin.

The phrase itself, Anabolic Androgenic Steroids commonly abbreviated as AAS is also very telling. Anabolic refers to anabolism or muscle building while Androgenic refers to the male sex characteristics. When we examine the various anabolic androgenic steroids we find each one carries a different anabolic and androgenic rating; some steroids are far more anabolic while others are far more androgenic. Such ratings are based on the testosterone hormone and as by its nature testosterone is equal in both parts. The testosterone hormone carries an anabolic rating of 100 and an androgenic rating of 100 and it is by this measure that all other anabolic androgenic steroids are measured.

How AAS Perform:

Each and every anabolic androgenic steroid carries with it many functions and while some are truly versatile in action many carry a primary role with many secondary characteristics. For example, some of these hormones are far more suited to build mass while others are far more suited for increasing strength with others serving more a role primarily revolving around conditioning. The steroid testosterone itself is for all intense purposes equal in all regards serving each function very well; then there are steroids such as Dianabol that are far more suited towards mass and strength and steroids such as Halotestin that will do very little regarding building size but can dramatically increase strength. The list goes on and one and within each steroid we can find different levels for each trait but there is a listing of very common attributes shared by most anabolic androgenic steroids that can be useful to understand. Most all anabolic androgenic steroids will carry these traits although the degree will and can vary greatly with each and every one; such traits include but are not limited to:

  • Increased Nitrogen Retention in the Muscles
  • Increased Protein Synthesis
  • Increased Red Blood Cell Production
  • Increased IGF-1 Production
  • Decreased Glucocorticoid Steroid Production

These are very important traits and it is largely by these traits in-which anabolic androgenic steroids perform. Through these traits we can see a host of benefits within our physical well-being and even in our general overall quality of life. By such traits anabolic androgenic steroids can provide the following:

  • Increased Lean Tissue (Muscle Mass)
  • Increased Strength
  • Decreased Body-Fat
  • Increased Recovery Time (Healing)
  • Greater Athletic Performance
  • A More Defined & Pronounced Physique

While these are some very welcomed traits these are by no means the only ones; the hormone testosterone itself has been shown to go much further as it positively effects our sexual function, mood, immune system, mental clarity, energy levels and simply our general state of mind.

Side-Effects:

The side-effects of anabolic androgenic steroids have always been the high point of debate; after all, no one can deny these hormones work but the realm of safety this is the prevailing concern. Absolutely, anabolic androgenic steroids do carry with them a potential for adverse or negative side-effects and to imply otherwise would be irresponsible but to imply they cannot be used safely is a lie. It is important to remember potential does not mean guaranteed; anything you put in your body can cause an adverse side-effect and this includes any type of medication and even food. The true test and the only way we can measure side-effects is when we recognize probability, how probably are side-effects to occur and then we must recognize if there are things we can do to prevent them.

Before we list the various side-effects lets be clear about two very important things; no one has ever died from anabolic androgenic steroid use, there has never been a death directly linked to these hormones. Secondly, anabolic androgenic steroids do not alter your mind, they do not change your personality; they can increase aggression but what you do with that aggression is up to you. The simplest way to look at it is they can enhance what you already are; if youre an individual who is predisposed to violent behavior and outburst anabolic androgenic steroids will only enhance this trait. Conversely, if you are not a violent or angry person by nature anabolic androgenic steroids will not bring non-existing traits to the surface, you will possess more aggression that can be used to train and perform and this is aggression in a positive sense. Aggression is not a dirty word; it is when it is used improperly that it switches modes from good to evil.

So what are the side-effects? Each anabolic androgenic steroid carries with it a potential for its own adverse side-effects and the level of probability will vary within each one. Further, probability increases when the dose goes higher and also revolves around the individuals own genetic response. Look at it like Aspirin; some people can take Aspirin while some cannot because it makes them sick and the same way of thinking can be applied here. Of the side-effects the possible side-effects include:

  • Gynecomastia (Male Breast Enlargement)
  • Excess Water Retention
  • Acne
  • Hair Loss
  • High Blood Pressure
  • High LDL Cholesterol
  • Low HDL Cholesterol
  • Insomnia
  • Testicular Atrophy
  • Body Hair Growth (Females)
  • Clitoral Enlargement (Females)
  • Disruption of the Menstrual Cycle (Females)

These are the predominant possible side-effects to anabolic androgenic steroid use and by and large most are preventable, reversible and in-part rely on genetic response and predisposition. Many of the side-effects can be easily averted by controlling estrogen levels in the body through the use of various Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) and Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) and even ones diet. Diet is actually a very important factor as this can largely eliminate any concerns regarding blood pressure and cholesterol; how we live our lives in general is of the utmost importance and for this reason avoiding regular alcohol consumption is very important.

Of the possible side-effects only one is absolutely guaranteed and that is testicular atrophy in men. Testicular atrophy occurs due to anabolic androgenic steroids suppressing the production of natural testosterone; however, once use is discontinued natural production will begin again and the testicles will return to their normal size. Of another interesting note, hair-loss; hair-loss in men due to the use of anabolic androgenic steroids will only occur in men who are predisposed to male pattern baldness meaning they were going to go bald anyway but the steroids simply sped the process up. To a degree the same can be said of acne, those who are genetically predisposed will be far more likely to fall prey.

We must state while the side-effects of anabolic androgenic steroids are in most cases very easily controlled through responsible use those who already suffer from certain conditions need to avoid them. If you already suffer from high blood pressure you should not touch these hormones and the same can be said of cholesterol issues. Before you touch the first anabolic androgenic steroid you should consult with your doctor, check the state of your overall health and if you are healthy enough for use continue to keep an eye on it to ensure no problems arise. If you can do this and supplement responsibly in most all cases you will enjoy nothing but a positive experience.

An important note; there are very few anabolic androgenic steroids females can use safely as many cause strong virilization effects. However, there are a few that are very mild and if the female uses mildly and keeps a close eye on her well-being she greatly increases her potential for staying safe. For any female who supplements if signs of virilization begin to show she should immediately discontinue use and the effects will dissipate; it is when the symptoms are ignored and use continues that they can become damaging. Further, in regards to children, adolescents should not touch these powerful hormones by any means as they can be very damaging to their growth and development and the damage is irreversible.

The Bottom Line:

In the end the truth is simple; anabolic androgenic steroids you bet, they work and they work very well but responsible use will always be just that, responsible. These are very powerful hormones that demand respect but if they are given the respect they demand they can be a very useful tool and greatly improve your quality of life. For those that haphazardly supplement you will be the ones who fall prey to problems and give these hormones a bad name but for those that are responsible it is a very different story. Supplement responsibly and anabolic androgenic steroids will be your best friend, control the supplements through responsible use, live a healthy lifestyle that compliments your use and show a bit of discipline and you will find your life greatly improved.