So you train and train, but you seem to be having little progress in achieving your bodybuilding goals and that’s why you finally decided to buy and use steroids. But before you buy steroids, there are some things you need to learn first about these compounds. Read on and be an informed user of steroids.

Steroids are scheduled drugs, and this means that you need valid prescription in order to buy them. Mere possession of steroids without that precious prescription can land you to jail; plus, you will be compelled to pay a monetary fine that can amount to thousands of dollars.

When you buy steroids, be sure to purchase them from legitimate sources only. Counterfeit products outnumber legit steroids today. This is because steroids are in great demand but, due to their legal status, they are hard to obtain. Now, there are scammers out there who are just waiting for a chance to rip you off your money – selling you gear that are underdosed or, worse, contaminated compounds. There are troubling reports that a good number of steroids manufactured by underground labs contained toxic metals like mercury, lead, and arsenic. As such, steroid users are cautioned against buying steroids from these sources.

Beware of steroids sourced out from these countries – Mexico, Ukraine, Russia, Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Austria, and the Philippines. Steroids coming out of these countries are almost always of dubious quality.

Before you buy and use steroids, remember that you can suffer from any of the following side effects.

1- Liver damage. Oral steroids, especially those that are c17 alpha-alkylated, are known to cause strain to the liver. To avoid this adverse effect, you can opt for injectables or you can limit your intake of oral steroids to a cycle of 6 to 8 weeks.

2- Increased total cholesterol levels. Use of steroids can negatively impact your body’s cholesterol levels, i.e., decreased level of high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol) and increased level of low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol).

3- Skin problems. Oily skin and acne outbreaks can occur during steroid use, especially if the individual is predisposed to these conditions. Many solve this problem with frequent face and body washing using anti-bacterial or anti-acne soap. One can buy the anti-acne medication Accutane if the problem persists.

4- Gynecomastia. This is the one of the common concerns of steroid users. Gynecomastia is one of the feminization symptoms that can be experienced by males. This can be prevented by use of drugs like Arimidex or Nolvadex.

Other things you need to know when you buy steroids are, of course, dosage information and cycle duration. Most of the side effects of steroids are avoidable if only proper dosage and cycling is observed.

Also, other information you need to know before you buy and use steroids are storage information, precautions, procedures to be taken if overdosing occurs, as well as contraindications.

If you buy injectable steroids, be sure to know about proper injection procedure. This way, you can avoid uncomfortable self-administration and the occurrence of infection.

You must also check regularly with a health professional before, during, and after your steroid cycle. This is to ensure that you are not undergoing health risks when you’re taking steroids.