Anabolic steroid
Classes Androgen Chemical name Features
Testosterone 4-Hydroxytestosterone 4-Hydroxytestosterone -
Testosterone Androstenediol 5-Androstenediol ( androst-5-ene-3β,17β-diol ) Prohormone
Testosterone Androstenedione 4-Androstenedione ( androst-4-ene-3,17-dione ) Prohormone
Testosterone Boldenone 1-Dehydrotestosterone -
Testosterone Boldione 1-Dehydro-4-androstenedione Prohormone
Testosterone Clostebol 4-Chlorotestosterone -
Testosterone Cloxotestosterone Testosterone 17-chloral hemiacetal ether Ether
Testosterone Prasterone 5-Dehydroepiandrosterone ( androst-5-en-3β-ol-17-one ) Prohormone
Testosterone Quinbolone 1-Dehydrotestosterone 17β-cyclopentenyl enol ether Ether
Testosterone Silandrone Testosterone 17β-trimethylsilyl ether Ether
Testosterone Testosterone Androst-4-en-17β-ol-3-one -
17α-Alkylated testosterone Bolasterone 7α,17α-Dimethyltestosterone -
17α-Alkylated testosterone Calusterone 7β,17α-Dimethyltestosterone -
17α-Alkylated testosterone Chlorodehydromethylandrostenediol 1-Dehydro-4-chloro-17α-methyl-4-androstenediol Prohormone
17α-Alkylated testosterone Chlorodehydromethyltestosterone 1-Dehydro-4-chloro-17α-methyltestosterone -
17α-Alkylated testosterone Chloromethylandrostenediol 4-Chloro-17α-methyl-4-androstenediol -
17α-Alkylated testosterone Enestebol 1-Dehydro-4-hydroxy-17α-methyltestosterone -
17α-Alkylated testosterone Ethyltestosterone 17α-Ethyltestosterone -
17α-Alkylated testosterone Fluoxymesterone 9α-Fluoro-11β-hydroxy-17α-methyltestosterone -
17α-Alkylated testosterone Formebolone 1-Dehydro-2-formyl-11α-hydroxy-17α-methyltestosterone -
Chemistry
See also : List of androgens/anabolic steroids , List of androgen esters , and Structure–activity relationships of anabolic steroids AAS are androstane or estrane steroids . They include testosterone ( androst-4-en-17β-ol-3-one ) and derivatives with various structural modifications such as : [ 1 ] [ 180 ] [ 62 ] 17α-Alkylation : methyltestosterone , metandienone , fluoxymesterone , oxandrolone , oxymetholone , stanozolol , norethandrolone , ethylestrenol 19-Demethylation : nandrolone , trenbolone , norethandrolone , ethylestrenol , trestolone , dimethandrolone 5α-Reduction : androstanolone , drostanolone , mestanolone , mesterolone , metenolone , oxandrolone , oxymetholone , stanozolol 3β- and/or 17β-esterification : testosterone enanthate , nandrolone decanoate , drostanolone propionate , boldenone undecylenate , trenbolone acetate As well as others such as 1-dehydrogenation ( e.g. , metandienone , boldenone ) , 1-substitution ( e.g. , mesterolone , metenolone ) , 2-substitution ( e.g. , drostanolone , oxymetholone , stanozolol ) , 4-substitution ( e.g. , clostebol , oxabolone ) , and various other modifications . [ 1 ] [ 180 ] [ 62 ]
Anabolic steroids, also known more properly as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), are steroidal androgens that include natural androgens like testosterone as well as synthetic androgens that are structurally related and have similar effects to testosterone. They are anabolic and increase protein within cells, especially in skeletal muscles, and also have varying degrees of androgenic and virilizing effects, including induction of the development and maintenance of masculine secondary sexual characteristics such as the growth of facial and body hair. The word anabolic, referring to anabolism, comes from the Greek ἀναβολή anabole, that which is thrown up, mound. Androgens or AAS are one of three types of sex hormone agonists, the others being estrogens like estradiol and progestogens like progesterone. AAS were synthesized in the 1930s, and are now used therapeutically in medicine to stimulate muscle growth and appetite, induce male puberty and treat chronic wasting conditions, such as cancer and AIDS. The American College of Sports Medicine acknowledges that AAS, in the presence of adequate diet, can contribute to increases in body weight, often as lean mass increases and that the gains in muscular strength achieved through high-intensity exercise and proper diet can be additionally increased by the use of AAS in some individuals. Health risks can be produced by long-term use or excessive doses of AAS. These effects include harmful changes in cholesterol levels (increased low-density lipoprotein and decreased high-density lipoprotein), acne, high blood pressure, liver damage (mainly with most oral AAS), and dangerous changes in the structure of the left ventricle of the heart. These risks are further increased when, as they often do, athletes take steroids alongside other drugs, causing significantly more damage to their bodies. The effect of anabolic steroids on the heart can cause myocardial infarction and strokes. Conditions pertaining to hormonal imbalances such as gynecomastia and testicular size reduction may also be caused by AAS. In women and children, AAS can cause irreversible masculinization.