More and more sportsmen are using anabolic steroids these days to gain a competitive edge and stay ahead of the peers, as evident from the growing number of sportsmen opting for anabolic steroids on the Internet.

However, what many people forget is the fact that steroids do not pose any harm to the users if used under medical advice and help sportsmen delivers dramatic performance on a continuing basis.

From Entertainment.howstuffworks.com:

Anabolic Steroids

A steroid is a chemical substance derived from cholesterol. The body has several major steroid hormones — cortisol and testosterone in the male, estrogen and progesterone in the female. Catabolic steroids break down tissue, and anabolic steroids build up tissue. Anabolic steroids build muscle and bone mass primarily by stimulating the muscle and bone cells to make new protein.

Athletes use anabolic steroids because they increase muscle strength by encouraging new muscle growth. Anabolic steroids are similar in structure to the male sex hormone, testosterone, so they enhance male reproductive and secondary sex characteristics (testicle development, hair growth, thickening of the vocal cords). They allow the athlete to train harder and longer at any given period.

Anabolic steroids are mostly testosterone (male sex hormone) and its derivatives. Examples of anabolic steroids include:

* Testosterone

* Dihydrotestosterone

* Androstenedione (Andro)

* Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

* Clostebol

* Nandrolone

It is, however, of great mention that steroid abuse and sub-standard steroids can result in side effects and must be avoided at all stages.