The history of anabolic steroids (from Greek ?anabole, "to build up") is closely connected with the ancient knowledge of the testicles? role in male sexual activity. For many years medicine knew that testicles are extremely important for normal work of male sexual system, but the research of their functions started only in 19th century.

Anabolic steroids in the form close to the present-time ones (not as good, of course!) were developed in the late 1930s primarily to treat hypogonadism, a condition in which the testes do not produce enough testosterone for normal growth, development, and sexual functioning. Till now the primary medical uses of?steroid chemicals are to treat delayed puberty, some types of impotence, and wasting of the body caused by HIV infection or other diseases.

During the same 30s, scientists eventually discovered that anabolic steroids could facilitate the growth of skeletal muscle in laboratory animals. This led to the kind of new era in bodybuilding, weightlifting and other sports.

How steroids are a great benefit

Anabolic steroids, also known as anabolic-androgenic steroids or AAS, are a class of hormones related to the male hormone testosterone. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in speedy buildup of cellular tissue (anabolism), especially in muscles. Anabolic steroids also have androgenic and virilizing properties, including the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics such as the growth of the vocal cords and body hair.

What makes people stick to steroids? The main goal mentioned is gaining muscle mass. It's easy at first, but not for ones already 40 lb. more muscular than they could achieve naturally, and who wish to get even more? Those sportsmen involved in bodybuilding truly depend on steroids and can't help it with just 500 mg of Sustanon-250 weekly (the amount considered absolutely safe to use).

What about the naturally raised sportsmen?? After several years of hard, quality training most of them are fairly close to their genetic limit. Do they want to stop winning and start whining? Certainly not! Most of them would rather achieve more excellent results with this same 500 mg/week dose of Sustanon, and undoubtedly would do so with some Dianabol added as well.

How to use steroids: cycles, stacking & more

Anabolic steroids can be taken orally, injected intramuscularly, or rubbed on the skin when in the form of gels or creams. Jintropin, Stanozolin, Sustanon-250, Dinabol and some other drugs are the most known and used among sportsmen. Each of these drugs contains some modification of testosterone or works the same way as the natural male hormone does.

But different drugs serve certain purposes too. One of the frequent techniques is combining several different types of steroids or stacking. Athletes stack anabolic steroids with other drugs to help maximize the results of their cycle. It has been shown that steroid stacks can cause an even more dramatic effect on the users muscle, than when taking only one type of steroid. Different anabolic steroids have different effects on the body, so when two different steroids are introduced (stacked) together, often times you will see the muscle gaining side effects of each different steroid! These steroid cycles may also include taking one particular anabolic steroid at the beginning of the steroid cycle and finishing up with a different steroid at the end, to better enhance the users desired result. Steroid stacks have been used for years and have proven to be a more effective way to build quality muscle than when using only one type of steroid.

Another mode of steroid use is pyramiding. This is a process in which users slowly escalate steroid use by increasing the number of drugs used at one time and/or the dose and frequency of one or more steroids.

A ?steroid cycle? refers to the amount of time being on steroids. The average steroid cycle is generally anywhere from six to twelve weeks. After this ?on? cycle of steroid use, you should have an ?off? cycle where you won't be using any steroids. The off steroid cycle should be anywhere from ten to twelve weeks. The steroid cycle is needed so that you can reduce the amount of side effects that can occur when you're using steroids for a long period of time. Steroid cycles are actually very unique, if you run your cycle wrong, you're setting up for a failure and possibility negative side effects.

Your body also needs time to recover from the side effects of steroid use during the on phase of the steroid cycle. Moreover, overuse of steroids leads to the drugs? ineffectiveness during a long period of time. This is because the body will eventually fail to understand what it is that the steroids are supposed to be doing to the receptor sites of the body.

Studies show you should stick to two cycles of steroid use a year. This is so that you can allow your body to maintain at least some of the natural hormone levels that are necessary to good health. Here are some examples of cycles, popular among sportsmen:

* Three week blitz. During this steroid cycle each drug is taken for three weeks.

* Double mini cycle. During this steroid cycle two or three steroids are taken in combination for six weeks. At the end of the six weeks there is a two week ?off? cycle, followed by yet another six week cycle of the same steroids. At the end of the second six week cycle there is a two month ?off? cycle.

* Inverted pyramid steroid cycle. This steroid cycle begins with a maximum dose of steroids and slows down from that time. This means that at the end of the steroid cycle very little steroids are actually used. This cycle is often used in athletes that will be undergoing drug testing.

* Diamond steroid cycle. In this steroid cycle a minimum dose of steroids are used at the beginning of the cycle, increasing over time towards the end of the cycle (this is almost a pyramid, except for the number of drugs is not increasing in a Diamond).

Each of these steroid cycles have proven effective but will have different results on the body. There are some studies that show a shorter steroid cycle benefiting over a longer one. A short steroid cycle is anywhere from 1.5 to 2 months in length. When the steroid cycle is longer than 2 months, the receptors become over stimulated and will stop responding in a positive way during that steroid cycle and into the next cycle. This means that you'll be using larger and larger amount of steroids without any results, causing your body to become unstable and unsafe as you use more and more steroids in each dose.?

Too good to be true?

While 60.2% of twelfth graders surveyed reported that using steroids was a "great risk?, nearly 5% of all high school students surveyed in 2005 reported lifetime use of steroid pills/shots without a doctor's prescription. Is it a strong determination to success? Or, sometimes, plain unawareness of risks? If you choose to take some steroids, you should know the dangers ?in the face?.

Negative side effects, that's what it we should discuss as well! Yes, they are more likely to occur from use of a fake steroid or improper use of a steroid and not being able to recognize the side effect when it is in its early stages. But not only.

Serious health risks can be produced by long-term use or excessive doses of anabolic steroids. Here are some steroid side effects you can get from doing your steroid cycle wrong:

* high blood pressure

* increased total cholesterol levels

* increased acne

* hair loss and baldness

* prostate cancer

* liver damage (often caused by high doses of oral administration)

* excessive growth of oral gums?

Even if you're a sportsman, information should be your friend. Discuss steroids with peers, consult a doctor, make a good choice and remember:

Steroids are pure harm when not controlled!

Winning is being safe, healthy and wise.