androgenic steroid

biochemistry

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Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

Androgenic steroids are synthetic drugs that mimic the male hormone testosterone. They are used medically to treat conditions like anemia, hypogonadism, and malnutrition, and in veterinary medicine to aid recovery. These steroids work by targeting the androgen receptor, which promotes muscle growth and the development of male secondary sex characteristics, such as increased libido and voice deepening.1

However, the abuse of anabolic steroids can lead to serious health issues, including heart disease, liver damage, reproductive disorders, and aggressive behavior. In females, abuse can cause irreversible masculinization. While androgens are linked to aggressiveness and sexual drive, hormones do not determine sexual orientation.213

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physical culture
Weightlifting
…Rochester graduate student, anabolic and androgenic steroids were used in limited fashion for the recuperation of wounded soldiers in the 1940s and by Russian weightlifters in the 1950s. John Ziegler, a Maryland physician, pioneered their use on American (York) lifters in the early 1960s, and their use quickly spread to…
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…Rochester graduate student, anabolic and androgenic steroids were used in limited fashion for the recuperation of wounded soldiers in the 1940s and by Russian weightlifters in the 1950s. John Ziegler, a Maryland physician, pioneered their use on American (York) lifters in the early 1960s, and their use quickly spread to…
Read More