Anabolic steroids, and the athletes that use them, are once again making headlines. Despite banning these substances from amateur and professional sports, the athletes keep on using them. Why do they continue to use these drugs? Because they work. But, they also can ruin an athlete's health. Here is a primer on what anabolic steroids are, how they work, and their side effects.

What are Anabolic Steroids?

Anabolic steroids are drugs that are molecularly similar to male sex hormones. They are a sub-class of drugs in the general category of “steroids”, which includes both anabolic steroids and corticosteroids. Corticosteroids have a variety of medical uses, most involving decreasing inflammation in the body. Anabolic steroids, on the other hand, are derived from male sex hormones, and have much fewer legitimate medical uses than do corticosteroids. Medical uses of anabolic steroids usually involves combating “wasting” diseases (conditions that lead to abnormal loss of weight and muscle).

How do Anabolic Steroids Work?

Anabolic steroids act in a similar manner to the male hormone testosterone. Anabolic steroids work by stimulating protein synthesis (creation) by muscles, which allow for rapid muscle growth. Of course, the growth doesn't occur just from taking drugs. The muscles must be stimulated to grow, usually through weight training. Weight training generally causes “microtrauma” to muscle fibers – that is, microscopic damage to the fibers. The body responds to this trauma by healing the micro-tears through protein synthesis. Anabolic steroids accelerate this healing process, allowing for more intense and more frequent workouts. This, in turn, leads to accelerated muscle growth.