Bodybuilders take anabolic steroids in large quantities and often combine several different hormones. But large doses are not made permanent. Steroid use lasts from 4 to 18 weeks, then it’s stopped for a period of 1 to 12 months. This is called a "cycle". The combination of anabolic steroids and cycles vary greatly, depending on the hormones that are used and those who use it. All information about steroids use is transmitted mainly by word from one steroid user to another.

Doses, which are now used by young bodybuilders are at least 36% higher than the doses used in the past. There is no official research being made in this area nowadays and nobody knows exactly how and what doses is better to use. Anabolic steroids are mostly bought online. This encourage a lot of people to sell fake steroids online.

Just like all the drugs on black market, counterfeit steroids are produced in underground laboratories. They look just like the real thing, but the active elements in them may be different or underdosed. For example, methandrostenolone was a very popular anabolic steroid. After the official producers have removed it from the market, it continues to be sold illegally.

Injectable steroids, in addition to not containing the needed active substances, can be unsterile. As with any drug, the higher the dose, the more likely to experience some side effects. This is also true for anabolic steroids. In order to neutralize these effects, it is necessary to use other drugs such as estrogen blocker to prevent the development of breast tissue, diuretics to control water retention in the body, gonadotropin to prevent testicular atrophy, human growth hormone to increase the size muscles and overall body size. Each of these drugs cause their own side effects.