What exactly are steroid hormones?
How do they function in the body and what kind of effects do they have on body functions?
They can be endogenous (body- produced) or synthetic.
Basically, steroid hormones are steroid that act like a hormone, and in some cases, a hormone (like testosterone) that behaves in a similar manner as a steroid.
Endogenous steroid hormones are divided into two categories or classes: sex steroids and corticosteroids.
Anabolic steroids, commonly used (and abused) by athletes and bodybuilders, are synthetic variations of the male hormone testosterone.
Steroid Hormones Definition
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What is the function of steroids in the human body?
Steroid hormones in the body are manufactured in the endocrine system.
For example, the adrenal glands, and more specifically the adrenal cortex, manufactures steroids.
Aldosterone, cortisol, and androgens, estrogens, and progestins that have an influence on the development of secondary sexual characteristics.
Aldosterone (also known as mineralocorticoid), is responsible for controlling reabsorption of sodium and excretion of potassium in urine.
Cortisol (also known as glucocorticoid) is another steroid hormone responsible for the maintenance of carbohydrate stores in the body as well as for the regulation of sugar, fat, and protein quantities in cellular structures.
Anabolic steroids are synthetic variations of the male hormone testosterone, as mentioned earlier. In some cases, synthetic steroid versions can be stronger or weaker than endogenous steroids, depending on which cellular receptors they attach to or activate.
Steroid Hormones List
- oxandrolone
- oxabolone
- testosterone
- nandrolone
- alclometasone
- prednisone
- dexamethasone
- triamcinolone
- cortisone
- fludrocortisone
- dihydrotachysterol
- diethylstilbestrol (DES)
- estradiol
- norethisterone
- medroxyprogesterone acetate,
- hydroxyprogesterone caproate
- dianabol
- anadrol
- anavar
- trenbolone
What are non-steroid hormones then? They are water-soluble, have a different structure, and interact with target cells differently.
How Do Steroid Hormones Function In The Body?
The main function of steroid hormones is to mediate certain functions, mechanisms, and actions in the body.
These various functions depend on the type of steroid and those specific steroid functions. Some steroid hormones (androgens, corticosteroids, progestins, and estrogens) even have an impact on brain function.
They can have an influence on cellular signaling activities and pathways as well as the regulation of responses to external and internal stimuli.
Studies on the impact of steroid hormones on behaviors and pathologies has also been somewhat explored.
For example, common stress steroids/hormones and adrenal steroids including cortisol, testosterone, and DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) have been studied for their impact on physiological as well as psychological functions and actions.
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Medical and Non-Medical Use of Steroid Hormones
The most common medical usage of steroid hormones is in the treatment of conditions involving endocrine or glandular malfunction and dysfunction as well as autoimmune conditions.
Some of the most common uses in medical treatments include those associated with:
- Hypogonadism (low testosterone levels as well as malfunction/dysfunction/ diminished functional ability and activity of the gonads – testes in males and ovaries in females
- The treatment of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Delayed puberty in males
- Adrenal insufficiency
Steroid hormones bodybuilding use is the primary use outside of the medical world.
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Steroid Hormones Side Effects
Whether prescribed or not, steroid hormones and their treatments can contribute to a number of side effects and adverse reactions.
It all depends on the type of steroid, the condition being treated, and other factors such as age, current health status, weight, and lifestyle.
Synthetic anabolic steroids, commonly used and abused by bodybuilders and athletes, also cause a number of side effects and adverse reactions.
Dosage and milligram strength are two factors involved in the frequency and/or severity of side effects. Athletes and bodybuilders often inject extremely high amounts of steroid hormones into their body for accelerated benefits.
Side effects of steroid hormones can range from mild to severe to life-threatening and may either be temporary or have longer-lasting effects – sometimes years into the future.
Most Common Steroid Hormone Side Effects
In order of the lesser to greater, some of the most common side effects associated with steroid hormones include but are not limited to:
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- Headache
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- Temporary pain at the injection site
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- Muscle pain and stiffness
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- Mood swings (and other psychological side effects including an increased sense of paranoia, irritability, and aggression)
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- Testicular atrophy (this shrinkage of testicles is commonly seen with long-term and excessive use of testosterone injections). The body senses that testosterone levels are adequate so it sends instructions to the testes to cease manufacture of testosterone.
The testicles then shrink in size. This is also seen in structural (musculoskeletal) muscle. The phrase, “use it or lose it” applies to numerous aspects of body growth and development.
- Testicular atrophy (this shrinkage of testicles is commonly seen with long-term and excessive use of testosterone injections). The body senses that testosterone levels are adequate so it sends instructions to the testes to cease manufacture of testosterone.
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- Increased blood pressure – hypertension (high blood pressure) can contribute to increased risk of heart attack and/or stroke.
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- Increased levels of bad (LDL or low-density lipoprotein) levels of cholesterol which also contribute to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries caused by plaque buildup inside the artery walls), also contributing to an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke.
- Enlarged organs – including the intestines and the heart muscle. The heart is a muscle, and will be affected by accelerated growth potential just as the muscles can be.
Use caution when it comes to steroid hormones. While they do provide a number of medically based benefits, misuse and abuse of steroids often causes unexpected and unpleasant side effects.
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- Trenton AJ. Behavioural manifestations of anabolic steroid use. CNS Drugs. 2005.
- Frati P. Smart drugs and synthetic androgens for cognitive and physical enhancement: revolving doors of cosmetic neurology. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2015.
- Kanayama G. Treatment of anabolic-androgenic steroid dependence: Emerging evidence and its implications. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2010.
- Cunningham RL. Androgenic anabolic steroid exposure during adolescence: ramifications for brain development and behavior. Horm Behav. 2013.
- Brower KJ. Anabolic steroid abuse and dependence in clinical practice. Phys Sportsmed. 2009.
- Bruno M. [Anabolic steroids and their abuse in sports]. Clin Ter. 1990.
- Drillich A. Androgen therapy in women: what we think we know. Exp Gerontol. 2007.
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