Steroids fall under the class of drugs that is available lawfully only by proper recommendation. Sometimes, minor dosages of steroids are taken to deal with a handful of grave medical circumstances. There are many types of steroids produced synthetically. There are several types of steroids that are often used by bodybuilders, sports persons, and athletes to elevate their stamina and performance levels.
Often, various types of steroids are abused by jocks engaged in power sports such as power-lifting, muscle building, baseball, football and rugby. Steroids are available in form tablets, capsules, and injections. Some of the common steroids include Testosterone, Dianabol, Danocrine, Anadur, Anavar, Andriol, AndroGel, Anadrol, Cheque Drops, Oxandrin, Winstrol, Deca-Durabolin, Durabolin, Equipoise, and Depo-testosterone.
There are three mainly types of steroids such as corticosteroids, estrogens and progestogens, and androgens. These steroids are often used for different purposes.
Corticosteroids – Corticosteroids are steroid hormones, which are formed in the adrenal cortex. Cortisol plays a vital role in ascertaining salt and water stability in the body, and determining carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. When body feels distressed, the pituitary gland at the bottom of the brain discharges ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone that braces adrenal gland to generate cortisol. The spare cortisol lets the body to tackle the stress such as infection, trauma, surgery, or emotional problems. Some of the corticosteroid types of steroids include Betamethasone, Budesonide, Cortisone, Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone etc.
Estrogens and Progestogens – These types of steroids are the female sex hormones, which are responsible for the growth of secondary sexual features in them. These steroids can also maintain the female reproductive system. Estrogens and progestogens are the active ingredients in prescription birth control tablets.
Androgens – This is the male sex hormone produced in the testes and responsible for typical male sexual features. Testosterone is the androgenic hormone, which take care of the male reproductive system. Testosterone is normally given to treat female breast cancer, androgen deficiency, and for growth stimulation, weight increase, and RBC production. These types of steroids are generally called ‘anabolic steroids’ as they encourage muscle growth. They also help patients to recover quicker from a surgery and cancer treatment that resulted in damage to muscle tissue.
