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Counterfeits
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Side Effects
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Testosterone is
responsible for
Oral or Injectable??
How long do steroids stay detectable in your system?
Misconceptions of steroid use:
Naturally produced
steroids are the suprarenal cortical hormones, female sex hormones (estrogen
and gestagen), and of course, the male sex hormones (androgens). Typically,
when we hear the word "steroids" we think of the synthetically developed
derivatives of testosterone, collectively known as "Anabolic" or "anabolic
steroids". Steroids were first developed in the 1930's by German scientists
and used on POW's.
Testosterone is
perhaps the most important of the male sex hormones called androgens.
Testosterone is
responsible for:
1) The
development of secondary male sex characteristics and the maturation of
sperm: Some examples of secondary male sex characteristics are body and
facial hair, deep voice, increased production of sebaceous glands,
development of the penis, aggressiveness, increased libido.
2) Promotion of
protein biosynthesis: Accelerated muscle buildup, increased formation
of red bold cells, faster regeneration, and a shorter recovery period after
exercise, injuries, and illness. Protein biosynthesis also stimulates the
bodies metabolism and promotes the burning of fat.
3)
Inhibition of the gonad regulation cycle: This regulates the amount of
testosterone produced in a persons system. An increase in testosterone will
tell the body to produce less testosterone.
Oral or Injectable??
Oral Steroids: Most people that consider
using steroids are concerned that they wont be able to inject themselves and
therefore turn to oral steroids only. This makes oral steroids very popular
in the bodybuilding community even though they have been known to be
particularly hard on the liver. This is true because they have shorter
"half-lives" than injectables. The half-life of a particular steroid is how
long it stays active in your system. Because orals have a shorter half-life
than injectables, they need to be taken more often. Depending on the quality
of the drug, the potency of the drug, and the person, most oral steroid have
a half-life of around 3-5 hours and therefore have to be taken several times
a day throughout the particular cycle. This puts a huge strain on the liver.
Oral steroids that are 17-alpha alkylated put even more strain on the liver.
Injectable Steroids: Injectable steroids are considered safer as far as
steroid use is concerned because they don't have to be digested. Injectable
steroids have a longer half-life (in general) and are usually the choice of
experienced steroid users.
They both have their good and bad sides. Often times, when stacking, steroid
users will use a combination of both oral and injectable types. Back to top
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How long do steroids stay detectable in your system?
This, of course, depends on the
actual substance (amount and type) and the person using them. Steroids can
remain detectable in a persons system anywhere from 1 week to over a year
after use. For the most popular substances like nandrolone (deca,
testosterone), one year is the usual time that they could actually be
detected. For injectable testosterone, between 3-6 months is commonly
sufficient. Luckily, for steroid users, the cost of a steroid test is very
expensive (heard its $280) and hardly ever done. If you are being tested for
"drugs" 99% of the time a steroid test is not done. Random tests for college
sports will test for them though (the cost is probably why they are random).
People usually worry more than they should though. Even though a drug "can"
be detectable, a lot of times they aren't.
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Misconceptions of steroid use:
One of the biggest problems in
today's society is that people are always looking for the quick fix. We are
all influenced by television and magazine adds that's why they are there.
Everyone should keep in mind the old saying "If it sound too good, it is
probably a lie." The fact is: there is no miracle pill or drug that you can
take to change your body composition overnight (or in a few weeks for that
matter). If you aren't satisfied with yourself and want to make a change,
the ONLY way is to work at it. You must keep a healthy lifestyle!!! Only
after you have a healthy diet, workout, sleep schedule, and the ability to
keep it consistent, will supplements help you. This goes for steroids as
well. Of course, some supplements, like andro products, creatine, and
protein meal replacements, will be of some benefit to someone who may not
have everything in place but, they are still not going to help to their full
capacity. You have to help them help you. You have to feed your body well,
so they can be used to their full potential. Steroids will only be a true
benefit to a person who has paid the price of time and hard work in the gym.
A person who hasn't, will certainly see gains after using a steroid
correctly, however, the chance of them being quality gains is very low and
the person will certainly loose the bulk of them. In short, nothing, not
even steroids, can change the way you look in the long run without hard work
and discipline. Back
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Counterfeits
Most steroid counterfeiters are in the market to make big money fast.
This will show through when it comes to the product they are selling as
well. Just like the old phrase you get what you pay for, this goes
especially for fakes because they are made for very little cost. If someone
is promising that they can get you what ever you want and as much as you
want you should probably be skeptical, as steroids are not always available
in unlimited quantities. The best way to identify fakes is to compare it to
the original, however, most athletes have never seen the original, therefore
it is hard to compare. The most popular drugs such as Deca-durabolin,
winstrol, and injectable testosterone have the most fakes as well so be
especially aware when trying to identify them. The best way to identify
fakes yourself, is to take a long good look at the packaging. Like I said,
counterfeiters are looking to make big money fast, therefore, they do not
put a lot of time and effort into making their product look the best it can.
The packaging on fakes usually looks a lot like the original, but look at
the expiration date and the batch number. If they look like they were all
printed in the same process as the label, then they are most definitely
fakes. Be sure that the expiration date on the box matches the one on the
product as well. Real pharmaceuticals are packaged in large quantities and
the batch number and the expiration date are imprinted later in a different
process. Also, often times the labels are of low quality as well. You should
not be able to easily peal the label off of the ampoule or the bottle. Most
steroids made by legitimate companies use labels with rounded corners so pay
attention to that as well. Also be sure to check that it is on straight and
that it doesn't overlap itself, this is a sure sign of low quality. If you
are checking a glass ampoule, be sure that if you have a few, they are
filled consistently, and of the same color. If it doesn't have a label, be
sure that its imprint is straight and level and cannot be smeared easily. Be
especially aware of multi-injection vials, these are easily obtained by
counterfeiters and are not easily available as a legit drug. A person should
beware of all drugs available on the black market, not just steroids.
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Side Effects
Most of these side
effects can be avoided and/or treated. Perhaps the most significant side
effect is mental addiction. Once an athlete has experienced the strength
and weight increase associated with the use of steroids, it is sometimes
hard to stop. Realizing that they cannot keep all of the gains they have
acquired, mental addiction sets in.
Both Sexes:
- Increased risk
of mood disturbances including mania and depression
- Increased risk
of psychosis
- Increased risk
of aggressive acts which may injure self or others
- Increased risk
of cardiovascular disease
- Increased risk
of liver disease and cancer
- Increased risk
of kidney disease and cancer
- Risk of HIV and
Hepatitis B & C from contaminated needles
- Acne
- Decreased sex
drive
- Baldness
- Water retention
- Muscle cramps
- Aching joints
- Increased risk
of muscle tears
- Increased risk
of tendon injuries
- Increased risk
of nose bleeds
- Insomnia
- Decrease in
immune system effectiveness
- Infertility
- Mental Addiction
Men:
- Increased risk
of prostate enlargement and cancer
- Decreased
testicular size
- Gynecomastia
(growth of breasts)
Women:
- Increased risk
of cervical and endometrial cancer
- Increased risk
of osteoporosis
- Irreversible
enlargement of the clitoris
- Irreversible
hoarsening and deepening of the voice
- Irreversible
increase in facial and body hair
- Decreased breast
size
- Amenorrhea
- Uterine atrophy
Children:
- Short Stature
- Premature
ephiphyseal closure
- To get the
best descriptions and pictures of steroids including side effects
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