More About Steroid Therapy
First, all of these compounds have 4 carbon rings with various
molecules attached to the corners of these rings. It is the
difference in these attached molecules that make the difference
between estrogen and testosterone for example.
Second, this is the "natural" way that hormones are made in the
human body. Therefore, if we manufactured these exact same hormones
in a laboratory we can say they are "Bio- identical". That means
they are indistinguishable from the hormones we make in our own
bodies.
Third, if we tinker with the molecules on the hands of these carbon rings, we create compounds that are not naturally occurring and we call these "Synthetic hormones". Synthetic hormones may act similar to bio identical hormones but will often have effects in the body that are stronger or weaker than bio identical hormones. They may have side effects that don't usually occur with bio identical hormones.
Fourth, while there are several steroid hormones, testosterone is the one responsible for increasing bone and muscle mass. For this reason we call it an "Anabolic hormone".
Fifth, as early as the 1930s, and German scientists inadvertently made synthetic anabolic hormones in the laboratory. What did I just say? They made non-naturally occurring compounds derived from cholesterol that had positive effects on bone and muscle like testosterone!
Over the years synthetic anabolic hormones derived from cholesterol came to be known as "Steroids". These steroids are still manufactured today primarily in Eastern Europe. They are not manufactured in United States except in underground laboratories. They have names like Dianabol, Winstrol, Deca-durabolin,and Anadrol-50. They are used by male and female body builders and other athletes because of their profound effect on increasing bone and muscle. They are illegal, synthetic anabolic hormones take in in very high nonphysiologic doses. They have nothing in common with the hormones we use in HRT.