An anabolic steroid, also sometimes called an anabolic androgenic steroids is a natural and synthetic drug that models naturally produced testosterone. An anabolic steroid is often used because they promote cell growth which helps the growth of tissues (particularly muscle). There are many different types of an anabolic steroid and they each have their own combination of anabolic and androgenic properties to make them unique and better suited for different results.
The term anabolic steroid refers to the process of building muscle or other body mass including bone and other tissues. While this is good, an anabolic steroid is not a miracle drug. The side effects associated with an anabolic steroid include increased cholesterol levels, kidney and liver problems and elevated blood pressure. There are also non-life-threatening side effects of any anabolic steroid. These include acne, increased body hair, cessation of natural production of hormones, premature baldness and deepening of the voice.
Even with these side effects, an anabolic steroid does have many positive effects as well. Specific medical uses of an anabolic steroid include bone marrow stimulation, growth stimulation, treatment for chronic wasting, induction of puberty in males and hormone replacement therapy.
Whether the anabolic steroid is being used for medical purposes or for general body building and athletic enhancement, the combinations, dosages and regimens need to be refined to get the best possible effects of the anabolic steroids with the least amount of negative side effects.
Most of the time, an anabolic steroid is in the news due to its use and abuse by athletes. Athletes often refer to the "competitive edge" as a reason to use an anabolic steroid – including teens who are involved in sports. Other people who use an anabolic steroid are non-athletes that want to improve their appearance and strength in general. An interesting fact about anabolic steroids is that their users are often known to educate themselves about each specific anabolic steroid before using it more so than any other type of drug use.
