What Steroids, HGH, And Other Popular PEDs Do To Your Body

Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG, “The Clear”)

The most famous of the next-gen “designer steroids” developed by BALCO, THG provides many of the similar effects granted by traditional anabolic steroids. Side effects are not as well documented, although some research says that it’s “conceivable” that they are “adverse.” For years, it was virtually undetectable by drug tests — until a syringe was mailed anonymously to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in 2003. During Barry Bonds’ 2011 perjury trial, his lawyer admitted that the all-time home run leader did use the substance during his career, but believed it was flaxseed oil

Testosterone (“The Cream”)

Tests that revolve around the presence of testosterone are looking for elevated levels beyond a certain threshold and in relation to epitestosterone, another naturally occurring male hormone. That’s what got Ryan Braun in hot water the first time around in 2011. Years earlier, BALCO pioneered the new-age application of testosterone by formulating a “cream” that supposedly included some presence of epitestosterone to keep levels more in balance — and thus undetectable.

Human Growth Hormone

In addition to a wide and varied regimen of anabolic steroids, late NFL defensive end Lyle Alzado — whose famous 1991 admission of years of steroid use helped spotlight their popularity and prolonged abuse — also used human growth hormone (HGH) to boost muscle mass. The only patients who should be prescribed synthetic HGH are those with an actual growth hormone deficiency, and yet annual sales have recently topped $1 billion. And the NFL still doesn’t test for HGH use, though the NBA will likely start next season. HGH has also often been marketed as an anti-aging drug – it isn’t – and Biogenesis, which supplied HGH and other drugs to some of baseball’s biggest stars, billed itself as an anti-aging clinic.

Erythropoietin (EPO)

A naturally occurring hormone (like testosterone) that’s secreted from cells in your kidneys, erythropoietin helps regulate the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen through the body and keep your muscles moving. Injecting artificial EPO essentially overrides your body to regulate that healthy, normal production, so you get a massive boost in performance that can also lead to blood clots if unmonitored. The synthetic version, first developed 30 years ago, has been popular with doping cyclists, including Lance Armstrong himself.

Article Appeared @http://www.buzzfeed.com/erikmalinowski/what-steroids-hgh-and-other-popular-peds-do-to-your-body