Lipids with a polycyclic structure from which different compounds that are relevant to biology come are called steroids . Steroids are found in nature, although they can also be synthesized in laboratories.
At a natural level, steroids are produced by the endocrine glands . Cortisone , aldosterone , androgens , and estrogens , for example, are steroid hormones. Cholesterol and vitamin D are also steroids.
Synthetic substances that are produced in laboratories to promote muscle growth are known as anabolic or anabolic steroids . In the first stage, these steroids were used in the treatment of various disorders, but over time they began to be used by athletes to obtain sporting advantages. That is why its use is punishable by anti-doping rules . Furthermore, its abuse is harmful to health .
These steroids can be equal to androgens , the male sex hormones in our body, and the most powerful of them is testosterone . It is important to note that there are more than a hundred varieties of anabolic steroids. Although testosterone refers to men of sexually mature age, women also produce this hormone, although in much smaller quantities. During puberty, it is thanks to it that adolescents develop their masculine traits, such as body hair and a drop in the tone of their voice.
People who want to increase their muscle mass often turn to steroids, as do weightlifters and bodybuilders . It is important to mention that there are steroids for legal consumption and that, beyond how inadvisable they are due to the risks to the body, many individuals choose them to modify their body and look, according to their thinking, more attractive and stronger.
Some people consider taking steroids to increase their competitiveness in playing a sport . This occurs especially in certain professionals who cannot withstand the typical pressures of their activity and feel that their natural performance is not enough to overcome the challenges. In fact, many times it is the coaches who advise and trust the young people in their charge, and this makes it much more difficult to say no.
The consequences of steroid abuse are numerous. Some are minor, such as the appearance of acne or premature hair loss (complete or partial), while others are potentially lethal, such as the onset of liver cancer or a heart attack. Testicular atrophy, a decrease in sperm production, clitoral enlargement, increased blood pressure, fluid retention and even the development of psychiatric problems are other possible effects of excessive steroid use.
Other harms of the consumption of anabolic steroids are the following: weight gain, mood alterations, generally with tendencies towards aggressiveness, sleep problems, increased probability of tendon and muscle injuries, liver disease with the respective jaundice (the skin turns yellowish), delayed body growth, embolisms and strokes.
But risks can also be classified according to whether they affect women or men more. In the first group we have the following: increase in body hair, including facial hair, voice changes, breast reduction and alterations in menstruation cycles. Men, on the other hand, may suffer from a reduction in the size of their testicles, discomfort when urinating, excessive breast development, sexual impotence (difficulty or inability to achieve penile erection), and sterility.
Despite all these risks, and many others not included here, the use of anabolic steroids has not been completely eliminated, but continues to be quite common in the world of sports.