Steroids are classified into two types: natural and synthetic. Natural steroids, also known as steroid hormones, are natural compounds that promote physical growth in the body. Because men produce more steroids than women, their muscles are firmer and harder. Synthetic or human-made variants of the male sex hormone testosterone are known as anabolic steroids. These substances are known as anabolic-androgenic steroids. “Anabolic” relates to muscle building, whereas “androgenic” alludes to increased male sex characteristics.
Steroids are a type of medication that can only be obtained legally with the help of a doctor’s prescription. Minor doses of steroids are occasionally used to treat a few serious medical conditions. Steroids can be prescribed by doctors to treat hormonal problems such as delayed puberty, pr diseases like cancer that cause muscle loss. However, some athletes and bodybuilders abuse these medications in an attempt to improve their performance or appearance.
Anabolic steroids are commonly used orally, injected into muscles, or applied to the skin as a gel or cream by those who misuse them. These doses could be ten to one hundred times higher than those used to address medical problems. Misuse of anabolic steroids can cause negative health effects like paranoia, high irritability and aggression, delusions, weight gain, mood swings, muscle weakening, blurred eyesight, increased body hair growth, and lowered infection resistance.
Misuse of anabolic steroids can result in serious, even permanent health issues like kidney failure, liver damage, increased risk of blood clots, changes in blood cholesterol, all of which increase the risk of stroke and heart attack. Some of the most abused steroids include Deca-Durabolin, Durabolin, Equipoise, and Winstrol.
Corticosteroids, estrogens/progestogens, and androgens are the three main forms of steroids. These steroids are frequently utilized for a variety of purposes.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are man-made drugs that closely resemble cortisol, a hormone that your adrenal glands produce naturally. Cortisol is a hormone that regulates salt and water balance in the body, as well as carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. The pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain, releases ACTH, an adrenocorticotropic hormone that stimulates the adrenal gland to produce cortisol when the body is stressed. The extra cortisol allows the body to deal with stressful situations including infection, trauma, or emotional issues. Betamethasone, Budesonide, Cortisone, Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone, and other corticosteroid steroids are examples. Some of the corticosteroid types of steroids include betamethasone, budesonide, cortisone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisone, prednisolone.
Androgens
Androgens are a class of hormones that influence male traits and sexual activity. Testosterone and androstenedione are the two main androgens. They are, of course, much more abundant in men and play a significant part in male traits and reproductive activity. Other androgens include dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S). One of the main functions of androgens in a woman’s body is to convert them into estrogens, which are female hormones. Testosterone is normally given to treat female androgen deficiency, stimulate growth, and increase weight increase. These steroids are referred to as “anabolic steroids” because they promote muscle building. They also aid in the recovery of patients who have had surgery or cancer therapy that has resulted in muscle tissue damage.
Estrogens and Progestogens
These types of steroids are the female sex hormones, which are responsible for developing and maintaining both the reproductive system and female characteristics, such as breasts and pubic hair.