Fridae

Over the last decade, gym culture has become popular in Singapore. With the advances in media and the experience of cross culture, many people today are conscious of how they look.

In this generation of pop culture, be it fashion, music or the arts, masculinity, femininity, and even health, have been dictated by images of men and women who look good physically. Singapore gay men are one of the better, if not the best, built in Asia, many have said.

Universally, what catches the eye best and commands the most attention is a wide-chested, masculine guy with a broad muscular back, flat abdominals and rippling thighs. But to what extent are people willing to go to alter their image? Cosmetic surgery is already in such demand you know you are out of the "in" crowd if you have not been invited to Botox parties.

In health clubs, sports persons and even regular men, women and adolescents use anabolic steroids to enhance their athletic performance and physical development. Many users, rightly called abusers, are unaware of the long-term adverse effects on their health.

What are anabolic steroids?
Anabolic steroids are derivatives of the natural hormone, testosterone, synthesized from cholesterol. In men, testosterone is produced at less than 10 mg per day by the Leydig cells in the testes. In women, the adrenal glands produce it at 10 to 15 times less than the amount produced by the testes.

Testosterone turns you from a Vienna Boys' chorister into a man. You may recall those traumatic and confusing pubertal times when you realized you could not hit that Mariah note any more, and hair sprouted in awkward parts of your body that tickled and prickled. It was testosterone that developed your penis to an acceptable size and brought your spermatozoa into maturation. It also broadened your physique and made you more muscular.

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Anabolic steroids have similar anabolic-androgenic effects. They have many therapeutic uses in medicine when given at controlled and prescribed doses. The doses of anabolic steroids administered in the gyms are usually many times higher than that required for medical therapy. Their levels remain in your blood, detectable up to one year after administration.

Steroids are taken orally or sometimes via intramuscular injections. Gel and cream forms are less popular.

Most steroids outside medical use are usually smuggled from legitimate pharmacies or manufactured in underground laboratories.

How do anabolic steroids work?
All steroids eventually enter your circulation system. They enter cells (e.g. the skeletal muscle cell) and attach to receptors that cause protein synthesis and nitrogen retention. The overall result is an increase in muscle size and strength. Microscopic muscle damage incurred during a heavy workout heals faster and you recover sooner. Your metabolism increases and your body fat is reduced.

Oral steroid
Anadrol, winstrol, dianabol and oxandrin aren't names of sci-fi divas but popular oral steroids. They last only several hours in your circulation. Your gut absorbs them and transports them to the liver before release into the circulation and distribution to other parts of your body. To resist inactivation by the liver, many oral steroid molecules have been modified by C-17 alkylation. This is particularly harmful and damaging to your liver.

Injected steroids
Deca-durobolin, testosterone, sustanon, primobolin, parabolin and equipoise are injectable steroids popular with experienced users. You administer them into your buttock. They can last up to 3 days in your bloodstream. Most injectable steroids are thought to have little effect on your liver as the route from your gut to the liver is bypassed. Still, most injectable steroids have been modified by esterification to prevent quick breakdown by the liver.

Dosing
Anabolic steroids are administered in cycles. The one-steroid cycle is simplest whereas a more complex cycle called "stacking" involves the use of several types of steroids simultaneously. Whichever cycle you use, the dose of each steroid is increased stepwise per week and then tapered of over the same amount of time. Many combinations and cycles exist.

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Effects of anabolic steroids
� "Roid rage" - You experience increased hostility, aggression and extreme irritability, like menopause gone awry.

� You feel euphoric and energetic, with a heightened libido.

� Altered mental state - You are distractible, forgetful or confused.

� Round and greasy - Your skin and hair get oily, acne erupts and you put on weight quickly.

� Clotting disorders - You bleed easily and have problems stopping bleeds even from simple wounds.

� Stunted growth in adolescence - The growth plate of the long bones fuses with prolonged steroid use, leading to premature growth arrest.

� Weakened tendons - Not good if you intend to drag at your dinner-&-dance in six-inch heels.

� Premature heart attacks and strokes - Steroid use causes an increase in serum cholesterol exacerbating or precipitating these conditions. Steroids do not improve your cardiovascular capacity.

� Liver problems - You risk liver damage, liver cyst ruptures and liver tumors.

� "Feminisation" in men - Your sperm count drops, your testes shrink, your experience permanent balding, and your pecs turn to breasts!

� "Masculinisation" in women - They grow facial and body hair, their voices deepen, and they have menstrual irregularities. The breasts reduce but the clitoris enlarges. They may experience balding too.

� Addiction - This may be psychological if not physical. Withdrawal symptoms on cessation of steroid usage include mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, decreased sex drive, craving for steroids, depressive symptoms including suicide attempts. The depressive symptoms may last for more than a year.

� Blood-borne infection - Risk of HIV, bacterial infection of the heart valves, hepatitis B and C via sharing of needles.

Anabolic Steroids and the Law
Non-medical use of anabolic steroids is illegal and banned by most, if not all, major sports organisations.