Mrs. Roberson
Senior Writing
03 December 2009
Steroids
If there was a way around months and months of hard work and you would still reap the rewards as if you would have done all the work, would you take the shortcut? Many people do. Many people choose to use steroids to increase their muscle mass and athletic performance. While there may indeed be short term gains, the long term risk are rarely, if ever, worth it.
The term “steroid” typically means the artificial substance created for improving muscle growth and the development of male sexual characteristics. Anabolic androgenic steroids are illegal without a prescription, and are prescribed to help the conditions of impotence, delayed puberty, and body wasting of people that are diagnosed with AIDS. Anabolic is the title given for the steroids effectiveness in putting muscle on the body and androgenic is the title given for enhancing the male sexual characteristics. (Are Steroids Worth the Risk) There isn’t just one type of steroids though; there are nearly 120 different variations. (Steroid Fast Facts) There are different kinds of steroids that have absolutely no side effects and are completely harmless; however, these are not the kinds of steroids that build muscle. These different types include “cortisol, estrogen, and progesterone.” They don’t build muscle which means that they aren’t anabolic which makes them completely harmless, and they are a legitimate medical use. They are usually prescribed to help men who don’t have enough natural testosterone and certain types of anemia. (Are Steroids Worth the Risk) Another form of steroids is known as steroidal supplements which contains dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione. This specific type of steroids used to be over the counter, usually found at health food stores and at gyms is now prohibited unless you obtain a prescription. Regardless of what an individual’s need is, all types of steroids excluding DHEA are illegal