Steroids

Dear Grandpa,

Hi Grandpa. How are you? I received your letter of concern and I hope this letter will help you better understand the dynamics of this synthetic drug, steroids and steroid abuse. I understand your misinterpretation of the article and I will help you sort things out. I will first define steroids and explain why they are used as enhancements of athletic performance.

Anabolic steroids, also known as steroids, are a synthetic drug that enhances your muscle growth, increases strength and aggressiveness (Zorpette 2004). It is a version of male and female testosterone. It is normal that men and women produce testosterone but pushing it out of balance can cause endless consequences (DeNoon 2005).

It is commonly abused by many athletes who desire quick solutions for irregular muscle growth and other male characteristics like, speed and stamina. Anabolic also means muscle building. Trying to alter hormones can throw your body off beat and create a lot of physical and mental changes (Smith 2005). Hormones are in the body to regulate its most basic functions (DeNoon 2005). Obviously users of steroids hope the steroids will bring them positive effects versus the negative side effects. I will explain the consequences of steroid abuse further in the letter.

There are misconceptions that steroid use will produce the same results for all individuals. In most cases, results vary from individual to individual. Negative side effects may occur and breast enlargement is one of them (Zorpette 2004). Grandpa I found the reason for your misunderstanding. Other side effects that may occur in males are:

* acne or oily skin

* shrinkage of testicles

* painful erections

* enlargement of the male genitalia

* becoming infertile

* impotency

* decrease in sperm count

* deepening of the voice

* hair growth or loss

* psychological disturbances

(Zorpette 2004). Not everybody will be affected by the side effects and it can vary. The baseball player from your article will not turn into a woman. He might develop some female characteristics, hence breast enlargement, but it is impossible to turn into a woman with just steroid use.

Steroids can be used by females as well. Female steroid users may be affected by these:

* Grow excessive face and body hair

* Have their voices deepen

* Experience menstrual irregularities

* Have an enlarged clitoris

* Have reduced breast size

* Masculine female fetus

Steroids can be taken in a couple of different ways. The two most common ways is by injection and pills. When using injection, the steroid goes directly into the muscles. Since injection is most commonly used, there is a high risk of getting HIV and hepatitis (DeNoon 2005).

Nowadays, steroids have established a new reputation in the sports world. Scientists and chemists have conjured up some new designer steroids that are designed to escape detection. Some steroids have even slipped through the cracks of some major sporting events like the Olympics. Sport officials have been busy trying to stay ahead of the chemists in detecting steroids. Chemists too have been working hard. They have developed new designer steroids like THG and norbolethone. Norbolethone has never been approved or marketed so it came as a big shock. It never hit the officials hard like THG (Zorpette 2004).

THG,