Highlights & Basics
- Anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS; also known as anabolic steroid) use is the illicit use of testosterone derivatives to improve athletic performance and/or to increase lean body mass and muscle size.
- Users take other drugs to minimize the unwanted effects of AASs, or to mask their use.
- Focus of treatment is supporting AAS discontinuation and managing complications associated with chronic AAS use.
- Cardiac complications are the major cause of sudden and premature death.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
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Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
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Citations
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Handelsman DJ. Androgen misuse and abuse. Endocr Rev. 2021 Jul 16;42(4):457-501.[Abstract][Full Text]
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG committee opinion no. 484 (reaffirmed 2021): performance enhancing anabolic steroid abuse in women. Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Apr;117(4):1016-8.[Abstract][Full Text]
National Institute on Drug Abuse. Anabolic steroids and other appearance and performance enhancing drugs (APEDs). May 2023 [internet publication].[Full Text]
Pope HG Jr, Kanayama G. Body image disorders and anabolic steroid withdrawal hypogonadism in men. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2022 Mar;51(1):205-16.[Abstract]
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