Most anabolic androgenic steroids are synthetic products based on the structure of testosterone, the natural male sex hormone responsible for the development of masculine characteristics.
Anabolic means tissue building and muscular development and androgenic means male producing, and is responsible for the development of secondary male sex characteristics such as deepening of the voice and increased body hair.
Anabolic steroids are very different from steroids commonly used for medical treatment (corticosteroids) such as prednisone, which is used to treat asthma.
Download the anabolic steroids fact sheet.
