Deca Durabolin Improves Immune Function

Deca Durabolin, which is also known as Deca and Nandrolone decanoate, is a popular anabolic steroid that is commonly recommended to provide dramatic relief to HIV/AIDS patients and use of this steroid is associated with immune system enhancements. Belonging to the category of anabolic-androgenic steroids and classified as a 2.16 anabolic steroid, it has the ability of stimulating endurance and muscle function gains and promoting muscle growth and size to a significant extent.

It is also beneficial to mask minor joint pain and old nagging injuries and for reducing the inflammation of soft tissues; Deca is also used for the development and maintenance of masculine (secondary sexual) characteristics, including growth of the vocal cords, testicles, and body hair.

Deca Durabolin Improves Immune Function

One of the biggest benefits why Deca Durabolin is extremely popular with sportsmen and fitness conscious people, especially those looking for immune function improvements, is that it improves cell-mediated immune response and improves the activity of macrophages besides reducing the incidence of post-operative infection. It is equally effective in improving immune function, like increasing CD8+ (Cytotoxic cells with CD8 surface protein) count that is highly correlative with improved survival in HIV.

In addition to this, the use of this anabolic steroid is characterized by significant anabolic effects and minimal androgenic side effects. The fact that the side effects of other steroids and performance enhancing drugs like gynecomastia and problems with liver enzymes, blood pressure, or cholesterol levels are rarely seen with the use of this drug means that it is best for even those who are prone to such side effects.

Deca is commonly stacked with Dianabol, Anadrol, and Sustanon and is best known for its abilities to promote good muscle size and strength gains while reducing body fat. It is also trusted by sportsmen to alleviate sore joints and tendons. Moreover, sportsmen who tend to experience sore shoulders, knees, and/or elbows while using Deca experience no pain and the associated pain is primarily due to intense workouts. However, the use of Deca Durabolin for a period of six to eight weeks can almost nullify this problem as the steroid can dramatically improve nitrogen retention and recuperation time between workouts.

Deca Durabolin Improves Immune FunctionIf that was not all, sportsmen who are regular or first-time users of anabolic steroids and worry about skin, scalp, and prostate complications can use this drug without second thoughts as Deca is converted to a less-potent compound by 5 alpha-reductase, the enzyme which converts testosterone to the more-potent DHT. In other words, this anabolic androgenic steroid gets somewhat deactivated in the prostate, skin, and scalp and all these tissues tend to experience an effectively-lower androgen level than other parts of the body that also means that hair loss, prostate complications, and skin problems are very rarely seen with the use of this steroid. In order to reap the optimum advantages of Deca, it is best used with testosterone. It is best used in moderate doses of 400 mg per week and the long life of this steroid makes it best suited to more traditional cycles and not the short alternating cycles.

COMING OFF ANABOLIC STEROID CYCLES

Sure, it’s easy to compile a drug stash, and if you can get past needle phobias, can successfully stack anabolic steroids, and suffer through the side effects of your cycle, you’re doing better than a lot of bodybuilders. But there’s one more hurdle for you to get over… how to come off of your cycle, relatively unscathed.


In the old days (the late 80’s and early 90’s), bodybuilders came off steroids much more often than they do today. A lot of that is because the number of appearances that bodybuilders made in the late 80’s, for instance, were far fewer than the number of appearances they make today. In fact, most pro bodybuilders are gone at least 2 weekends every month in between competitions. If they’re sponsored by or under contract with a major supplement company, they are often on the road far more than that. Because of the number of appearances these days, the pros—and many amateurs—need to remain in good condition, and that necessitates longer drug cycles. The fear that accompanies longer drug cycles is the catabolic phase—the one that will usher in muscle loss, fat gain, slower metabolism, etc.

In the late 80’s, I remember a friend of mine (a popular IFBB pro) who told me that he hadn’t gone off a drug cycle in well over a year. No breaks whatsoever! At that time, staying on a cycle for longer than 16-20 weeks was almost unheard of. So, I was inclined to believe it based on his hair-trigger temper, the quality of his physique (he had a perpetual “androgen sunburn”) and the odd hardness and mottled appearance he displayed.

I asked if staying on that long was messing with his head, and he proceeded to tell me that he had recently experienced suicidal feelings and tendencies. I asked, “Do you think there’s a correlation between being on steroids non-stop, and feeling suicidal, or at least, ‘pent up’?” He said he did, but that he was deathly afraid to go off of a cycle for fear he’d “lose size” and not be competitive enough in the current climate.  Today, that would be an even bigger concern, and the bells and whistles in this guy’s head would be deafening.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not into telling pathetic cautionary tales, warning against the evils of ‘roids. My honest feeling is that most people can maintain a drug cycle for an extended period of time, and be healthy, if they know what they’re doing. It’s the coming off that is the hard part; whether over a short period of time or a long one. Naturally, coming off after 24 weeks is going to be harder than coming off after 10 weeks. 

Symptoms that follow going off an anabolic steroid cycle include: weight loss, muscle atrophy, loss of body strength, fatty deposits, as well as depression, lack of motivation and discipline and an actual aversion to the gym. In general, symptoms worsen when the individual has been on the cycle for an extended period of time. It’s the proportional kick in the ass!  The body gives back what you give it.

Drug Trade – Why We Make it More Difficult for Ourselves
Part of why people experience side effects in coming off a drug cycle is the fact that they haven’t planned for impending side effects while on the drugs. In other words, they start out planning for a 12 week cycle and choose drugs in combination that would suit that length of time. Once they decide to remain on a longer cycle, however, the game changes and the drugs they have been using during that 3 month cycle aren’t terribly conducive to the longer 18-20 week cycle. When they try to continue with the original drugs they’ve been taking, and extend the time alone, it becomes increasingly difficult to come off in any way that is correct or safe. In my experience, this is when bitch tits occur most often because people miscalculate the half-life of drugs and don’t take enough drugs to counteract aromatization, or to kickstart testosterone production. The latter provides a whole other set of side effects when facilitated improperly. 

Different Drugs…
Resuming testosterone production is the trickiest part of going off of any cycle, but particularly tricky following a long one. All steroids will cause a certain amount of lag in testosterone resumption, but among steroids some are worse than others. For instance, moderate testosterone suppressing drugs such as Primobolan, D-bol, Winstrol or Deca aren’t going to suppress testosterone production as much as hardcore drugs like Testosterone Propionate or Cypionate. However, testosterone suppression shoots up to about 30%-40% after just 10 days on a cycle. That doesn't mean that 100 days will put suppression into the negative zone, because it is not exponential. Testosterone suppression does level off at a certain point, but what happens is that the body’s own production of testosterone takes much longer to resume, the longer that body remains on a cycle. So, a male bodybuilder on a 10 week cycle, for instance, will have less time between cessation of the cycle and resumption of their own testosterone production than someone who stays on a cycle for 20 weeks. This is an important consideration because it dictates how much Clomid and HCG to take in order to get normal testosterone production back. 

Direct Relief
Clomid and HCG are the obvious choices to kickstart testosterone production again, but there are a host of other problems to tackle, too. Let’s first deal with this combination of drugs and then move on to some others that will help bridge the gap between your cycle and life off steroids. In order to re-start or increase the body's own testosterone production, doses of HCG are necessary. Essentially, what HCG does is directly and rapidly stimulate the testes’ Leydig’s cells. This is where testosterone production begins. But Clomid is also necessary because it completes the hypothalamohypophysial testicular axis. But Clomid therapy must begin prior to HCG therapy since it takes longer to become effective and has a great deal to do with half-life of steroids ingested over the period of time in question.
Roughly, this is approximately what a bodybuilder/ athlete should inject:

Administration of HCG: Middle of the last week of discontinuance of anabolic steroids
                                   5000i.u./ per day x 3 days (total: 3 days)
                                   5000i.u./every 5 days x 3 shots (total: 15 days)

The administration of Clomid is taken over the course of 2 weeks, and usually after HCG therapy begins:
                                   Two-50mg tablets/day x 7 days
                                   One-50mg tablet/ day x 7 days

Note: For those people who remain on cycles for longer than 12 weeks, I always recommend HCG injections that are a little more frequent in the last 15 days. I recommend 5 shots, in fact, rather than 3. I also recommend for everyone that they take additional steps to see that their exit from a cycle is a smooth and graceful one.

A Graceful Exit
Gracefully exiting a cycle in a general sense is listed above. But there is little information out there on other ways to bridge the gap between being full of anabolic steroids and being free of them. One thing you need to get over, however, before ever starting a cycle, is the notion that you can actually ameliorate symptoms by using natural means. Sure, these ergogenic aids can’t hurt you, but you’re going to be wasting money that you could be spending on legitimate non-steroidal chemical bridges, such as Cytadren, Clenbuterol and Cytomel.

Cytadren: It reduces cortisol levels exceedingly well just following the completion of a cycle. Typically, athletes will cycle it and gradually go from higher doses down to low doses in the hope to let the body’s production of cortisol trickle in slowly until the body becomes accustomed to it. Elevated cortisol levels are, of course, associated with a lot of undesirable symptoms, such as loss of strength, loss of muscle size, and fatty deposits. Typically, a 2-4 week cycle of Cytadren is common. Dose depends upon length of time on cycle, weight of athlete and other pharmaceuticals being used in conjunction.

Clenbuterol: This is also a successful cortisol blocker, and can and should be used in conjunction with Cytadren. Clenbuterol can also contribute to increases in strength gains or, in the case of a person just exiting a cycle, maintain current strength relatively well. Keeping fat stores at bay after stopping a cycle can also be an issue, but Clenbuterol can help athletes remain lean. Begin taking Clenbuterol about 1-2 weeks prior to cessation of the cycle, to overlap and ‘bridge’ the gap between the anabolic steroid cycle and the weeks that will be spent ‘resting’. Usually, I recommend people stay on Clenbuterol for about 8-10 weeks, including the overlapped time.

Cytomel: Many athletes take Cytomel in an effort to drop fat prior to a competition. This is a fairly serious investment in a potential future of obligatory intake of something for life. I do think it has its place after a cycle, however, because it can smooth rough edges of a metabolic rate that will inevitably dip below normal once the cycle has ended. I don’t advocate its use for women as much as for men, but if either feel the need to take it, take no more than 25-40mcg daily for no more than 30 days. Taper off by cutting pills in half until you are down to a few days of 12.5mcg at the end.

High Testosterone

From magazine adds to TV commercials, with increasingly regularity you hear talk of those suffering from low testosterone. You’ve seen the commercials talking about “Low-T” and the treatment of the condition, but what about high testosterone, what about those suffering from high testosterone? Let’s be clear, if you’re a man with high testosterone you’re not suffering, in-fact, your quality of life is more than likely far greater than the man next to you. To understand this, we only need to understand two things, what testosterone is and what happens when our levels fall. Once we understand these two simple, very simple things, then we can have a grasp on what high testosterone can do for you.
Understanding Testosterone

Testosterone is the primary male hormone, the primary androgen, and by its nature is responsible for male sexual development and the male characteristics. While testosterone is the primary male hormone it is also produced by women, although in far lesser amounts. In either case, with men and women testosterone is essential to our health and function; men simply require more, about ten times the amount. By design, testosterone affects both our physical and mental state, as well as our overall sexual function.
Low Testosterone

Millions upon millions of men worldwide suffer from low testosterone; in the U.S. alone it is estimated to be between 15-20 million. Many women suffer from testosterone related issues too; women who are on birth control often find their levels suppressed, and post-menopausal women often find they have a problem. Even so, it will be men who carry the brunt of the weight and when levels fall rest assured it is no fun for anyone. Low testosterone can cause many unwanted symptoms, including but not limited to:

Loss of Libido

Erectile Dysfunction

Loss of Muscle Mass

Loss of Strength

Depression

Increased Body-Fat

Inability to Lose Body-Fat

Loss of Focus

Loss of Energy

Insomnia

Lethargy
The Reverse

When we have high testosterone levels, we can take the list above and completely flip it around. When we have high testosterone levels, not only will the above symptoms never occur, but regarding each one that area of our life will be improved upon. No, this does not automatically mean those with high testosterone will be behemoths of muscle and strength, training and diet will still dictate this end. However, men with high testosterone will be in better shape, enjoy a higher quality of life and simply possess a better sense of well-being. Men with high levels can expect the following:

Increased Muscle Mass

Increased Strength

Decreased Body-Fat

Increased Clarity of Thought

Increased Energy

Enhanced Mood

Increased Libido

Better Rest

Increased Rate of Recovery

Obtaining High Levels

There is no set in stone normal testosterone level. As individuals, we all produce varying amounts of the hormone, and the amounts naturally produced can vary dramatically from person to person. In any case, in most therapeutic circles a total testosterone reading of 300ng/dl or below is considered low with anywhere from 500ng/dl-700ng/dl being considered adequate. As you can see, that’s quite a variation.

In any case, we can describe high testosterone as any amount above your baseline average, and to obtain it there is only one true way; anabolic steroids. If you desire high testosterone levels you will need to supplement with the primary anabolic steroid testosterone. If you need more gas in your car then guess what, you need to put gas in the car, and if you want more testosterone in the body you’re going to have to give the body testosterone. There are certain foods you can eat that will naturally stimulate production and there are a few testosterone boosting supplements, but to obtain true high levels, pure exogenous testosterone is the only way.

Anabolic steroids making musclemen infertile

Bodybuilders destroying their chance of becoming fathers in their quest to bulk up, specialists report.



Growing numbers of men are becoming infertile because they take anabolic steroids in their quest for a muscular body, doctors have warned.

Urologists are seeing more and more men whose difficulty in becoming a father is linked to consumption of the muscle-boosting drugs.

Steve Payne, a consultant urologist at the Manchester Royal Infirmary and a council member of the British Association of Urological Surgeons, said: "Many fit young men who believe they are at the peak of physical perfection don't believe it could be their fault when their wives or girlfriends find it difficult to become pregnant.

"They are insulted when it is suggested that they undergo a sperm test, and horrified when the results of those tests show an absence of sperm in the sample."

Such men are then referred to a urologist, and undergo a blood test. If they have been using steroids, they often have what Payne calls deranged levels of sex hormones.

Men who regularly go to the gym should avoid taking steroids to bulk up, Payne added.

Acne, aggression and an unexplained, orangey skin tone akin to a tan are also associated with use of steroids.

Dr Allan Pacey, a senior lecturer in andrology at Sheffield University, warned: "It is a very real risk that men who take anabolic steroids will become infertile. It's almost certain that they [the steroids] will have an effect of some sort on their fertility and, in the worst-case scenario, that sperm production will stop altogether.

"These patients walk through the door looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his younger days. They are having fertility problems, and it suddenly becomes obvious where the problem may lie."

Some men who stop taking steroids never regain their reproductive capacity and for others it takes years for normal sperm production to resume, Pacey added.

Boost Your Anabolic Hormone Levels

Anabolic steroids use appears to be on the rise. With the great increase in modern recombinant DNA technology, steroids such as growth hormone, growth factors and testosterone-based analogs have become increasingly more available and affordable. Despite their renewed popularity however, anabolic steroids are illegal and have negative effects on health, reproductive status and even personality. In response, this article aims to provide some basic information on anabolic steroids and how to boost the body's own production levels naturally, using exercise.

What is an anabolic hormone?

The definition of anabolic is "to build up"- therefore anabolic steroids are hormones that cause increases body and muscle size. Actually, not all "anabolic steroids" are steroids but they are all hormones. An example of an anabolic steroid hormone is testosterone and its analogs. An example of an anabolic polypeptide/non-steroid hormone is growth hormone. Basically, hormones are chemical messengers released from certain tissues into the blood in response to a stimulus. Their role is essentially to help the human body adapt and remain in a state of balance or "homeostasis". While the body is quite efficient at regulating its anabolic state on its own - the temptation exists to use large quantities of anabolic hormones to magnify the results. As recently as 15-20 years ago, growth hormone had to be extracted form the pituitary glands of cadavers. Now however, modern science is able to manipulate the DNA of bacteria to produce large quantities of the hormone. Steroid use has always been rife in bodybuilding arena, but with peer pressure and ever-increasing expectations of sport performance, anabolic steroid use has become commonplace in sports too - even among high school age athletes.

How do I boost my levels of testosterone and growth hormone?

It is possible to increase anabolic hormone production naturally however - the simplest method of doing this is by regulating the intensity of the weightlifting session. This is achieved by manipulating volume (sets and reps), load (%1RM*) and rest periods. Evidence indicates that exercises that recruit large muscle groups (legs and back) in exercises such as squats and deadlifts and that are performed with high intensity and moderate volume boost serum testosterone concentrations. Therefore the exerciser should use heavy loads (85-95% 1 RM) and multiple sets/exercises separated by short rest periods (30 -60s). Testosterone, the male sex hormone is responsible for the increased muscle mass and strength observed in men. This steroid hormone operates both on a gene level to increase muscle protein production (increased gene transcription). It is also suspected to work on the central nervous system, allowing greater muscle activation by motor neurons, resulting in greater force production. (It is unlikely that herbal testosterone "precursors" such as tribulus terestris have a large impact on production - the exerciser should save his time and money and devote more effort into sensible eating and exercising according to these guidelines.)

Human growth hormone (HGH) is a polypeptide (non steroid) hormone released form the pituitary gland at the base of the brain, and its release similar to testosterone, is dependent on the level of "stress" experienced by the body. Its main functions are to increase the transport of amino acids over cell membranes and to increase the synthesis of muscle protein, connective tissue (e.g. collagen) bone and cartilage thus directly causing "growth". It also is responsible for increasing the level of glucose and fatty acids in the blood, and therefore has a direct body-fat reducing quality. Studies involving the release of growth hormone during exercise indicate that a typical bodybuilding program of multiple sets (higher volumes) of moderate intensity (e.g. 10RM) separated by short (1 min.) rest periods produce the largest increases. Many of the actions of growth hormone are actually mediated by another hormone called IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) released by the liver and other organs in response to HGH. The release of this powerful stimulator of muscle growth has been shown to increase in response to the consumption of a carbohydrate and protein supplement before and immediately after a weightlifting workout.

In conclusion, it is hoped that this article has demonstrated that there are alternatives to using illegal and health threatening anabolic steroids. The human body is a marvel at adapting to stresses such as exercise and weightlifting without the need for external hormone administration. This article has highlighted that is in fact possible to manipulate the body's own natural production of the same substances simply by regulating the intensity of the weightlifting session.

*1RM = the maximum amount of weight that can be lifted with good form for a single repetition.

Can Steroids Cause a Low Sperm Count?

 The bottom line is that steroids can really affect male fertility, especially causing a low sperm count. Find out if the effects are reversible.

There are many things that can cause a low sperm count. From diet, to medical issues, to lifestyle choices, these are all things that can affect sperm count and quality. Today we are going to find out if steroids are another thing that can cause a low sperm count. Keep reading to learn more.

What are steroids?

Steroids are commonly used drugs. They are often used by men who play sports or wish to build muscle. Basically, anabolic steroids are a synthetic form of testosterone, which is the male hormone. Most men inject them, but they can also be taken orally.

The problems with steroids

There can be many problems attributed to steroid use and abuse, but one of the most prominent side effects is low sperm count. Most men don’t see lowered sperm counts right away, but they do see them months, or even years down the road. Even if your man doesn’t take steroids now, but has done so in the past, he could still be suffering from low sperm count due to his steroid use.

Other reproductive problems

Steroids can cause widespread problems with a guy’s reproductive tract, not just low sperm counts. Steroid use can cause impotence and low sex drive in men. Steroid use can also cause shrinking of the testicles and other male reproductive problems. Some of these problems can be reversed by stopping the use of the drugs, but some of the side effects could possibly be permanent.

What to do

Of course, the most important thing to do if you are taking anabolic steroids is to stop right away. While some of the effects of steroid use can be reversed just by quitting, that is not always the case. Sometimes, doctors will be able to help the body to begin producing testosterone again by prescribing Clomid, often used to help jump start ovulation in women. Sometimes an aromatase inhibitor can do the trick as well.

What this means

The bottom line is that steroids can really affect male fertility, especially sperm count. The best option is to never, ever use steroids at all. If you know someone who is using steroids, and they want to have a baby, they need to stop using them all together. Doctors can also help figure out if the steroid damage is permanent or if it is something that can be reversed. The best advice is that if you have a history of steroid use; seek the advice and help of a doctor as soon as possible.

The Effects Of Steroids On Fertility And Reproductive Organs

The use of steroids may have a severe side effect on the reproductive system of both males and females and may affect fertility permanently ...
The synthetic form of the male sex hormone testosterone is called steroid. Consequently, use of steroids may have a severe side effect on the reproductive system of both males and females and may affect fertility permanently. The use of any steroid can lead to anabolic (tissue building) and androgenic (masculinizing) effects.
More than 70 side effects of use of steroids have been identified so far. These side effects may range from liver cancer to acne. The areas of the human body most affected by steroids are the liver, the cardiovascular and the reproductive systems. Some side effects like heart attacks or strokes may not be recognized for a long time. On the other hand, side effects like stunted growth may even remain unnoticed.
Steroid is used either in tablet form or by injection. However, the use of injection forms of steroids involves the risk of infection in a case the needles are shared. Thus, it carries the risk of contracting AIDS.
Often steroids are taken by sports people to increase their performance or by occupational users like bouncers, security personnel etc. to increase their muscle size and strength.
 
Effect of Steroids Use on Male Fertility

Steroid use in men leads to enlargement of the prostrate gland and may increase the chances of prostrate cancer. Besides these, it may lead to accelerated male pattern hair loss. Since steroids are a synthetic form of testosterone, their effect on the reproductive system is obvious. Supra physiological elevations of testosterone are also the result of use of steroids.
Long time use of steroids in high doses results in hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, along with reduced serum elevations of LH and FSH and testosterone.
Atrophy of the testes and decreased sperm cell production are caused by a moderate reduction in gonadotropin secretion. It has been reported that oligo, azoospermia and increased sperm cells have been identified in athletes, thus resulting in a decreased fertility.
Steroids cessation will make gonadal functions normal within few months. Also, changes in fertility that occur due to steroids use usually can be reversed within a few months. However, it may take some more time than usual in some cases.

Effects of Steroids Use in Female Fertility

In a normal female body, testosterones are produced in a small amount. Similar to males, synthetically elevated testosterones due to anabolic steroids use can affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The production and release of LH and FSH gets hampered due to increase in circulating androgens.
Consequently, serum levels of LH, FSH, estrogens and progesterone are reduced. It may lead to follicle formation, ovulation and an irregular menstrual cycle. Other side effects of steroids use in females include increased sexual desire and clitoral hypertrophy.
However, steroids used by pregnant women may result in the slow growth of the female fetus. More adversely, it may even lead to fetal death.
Besides all these, if steroids are used during adolescence, then it may lead to stunted growth. The condition of acne gets worse with the use of steroids. Also, prolonged use may have long-term undesirable effects on fertility.