Anabolic-androgenic steroids are synthetic derivatives of testosterone. Testosterone, the natural male hormone that is produced primarily by the testes in men, is responsible for the masculinizing and tissue-building effects noted during male adolescence and adulthood.
Using Anabolic steroids, in the presence of adequate diet and exercise it can contribute to increases in body weight and muscular strength as lean mass increases.
The goals of individuals who use anabolic steroids depend on the activities in which they participate. Bodybuilders desire more lean mass and less body fat. Weightlifters desire to lift the maximum amount of weight possible. Field athletes want to throw the hammer or discus farther than competitors. Swimmers and runners hope to perform their high-intensity workouts without physical breakdown. Soccer or Rugby players want to increase their lean body mass and strength so that they can be successful enough to make top teams. Another group of users of anabolic steroids simply wants to look good, which currently for many means big and muscular. In addition, there are others, such as fashion models, film actors/actresses, rock and roll band members, and dancers who, although they do not necessarily strive to be big, nonetheless want to be lean and muscular ("ripped," "cut," "defined," "buffed"). There also appears to be a segment of the population-for example, bouncers, police officers, and soldiers-who use steroids to, in their mind, improve their job performance.
The information contained on this website is not a scientific reference to the biochemistry behind steroids, but rather a guide to provide the reader with the basic concept of recreational steroid usage.