Anabolic steroids are synthetic versions of testosterone . They are often used to promote growth of muscle and bones because of their ability to increase cell growth and division but can also increase growth in other bodily tissues as well.

There are many different types of anabolic steroids and they each have a different combination of anabolic and androgenic characteristics. They are sometimes referred to as AAS or Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids.

First discovered in the 1930′s anabolic steroids have many medicinal uses. Bone growth, appetite, puberty and muscle growth can all be stimulated with use of anabolic steroids. They have also been proven successful in treatment for chronic wasting in cancer and AIDS patients. Anabolic steroids work for these purposes because they increase protein synthesis, muscle mass and strength. On the other side of the spectrum, however, are the negative effects that overuse of anabolic steroids can produce. These include increases in LDL cholesterol and decreases in HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure and liver damage.

Even with the great benefits anabolic steroids have for medicinal purposes, they are controversial because athletes have found benefits in using them for training purposes. Thus, anabolic steroids have also had many effects on competitive sports.

Because of the potential health effects of anabolic steroids, they are a controlled substance in the United States and other countries.

Medical Uses of Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic steroids have been researched for medicinal purposes since the middle of the twentieth century. The most popular medical use for steroids is to help counter the effects of chronic wasting by stimulating appetite and increasing muscle mass. However, they have many different and successful uses. These include the following:

• Bone Marrow Stimulation: Anabolic steroids are now being replaced by synthetic proteins.
• Growth Stimulation: Since the 1980′s use of anabolic steroids has been replaced with growth hormones instead.
• Hormone Replacement Therapy: This helps men with low levels of natural testosterone.
• Puberty Induction: While testosterone is most widely used, anabolic steroids have been used to help boys who have extreme delays in the onset of puberty.

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