- Produced in testes, adrenals, and ovaries
- Regulated by LH
- Promotes growth
- Regulates reproductive organs
- Spermatogenesis
- Closes epiphyseal plate
Anabolic Properties of Androgens
- Increase muscle mass
- Increase nitrogen balance
- Increase production of RBC’s
Therapeutic Use
- Hypogonadism
- Promote anabolism in chronic debilitating diseases
- Treatment of Anemia
- Treatment of estrogen induced cancers
Side Effects
- Masculinization in females – baldness, atrophy of sex organs
- Decrease growth in children
- Sodium and Water Retention
Other concerns
- Hepatic Cancer
- Hypercalcemia
Contraindications: Cancers stimulated by androgens
Androgenic vs. Anabolic Testosterone
Male hormones, principally testosterone, are partially responsible for the tremendous developmental changes that occur during puberty and adolescence. Male hormones have androgenic and anabolic effects.
Androgenic effects are changes in primary and secondary sexual characteristics. These include enlargement of the penis and testes, voice changes, hair growth on the face, axilla, and genital areas, gynocomastica and increased aggressiveness. Androgenic effects are generally the unwanted side effects of therapy.
Anabolic effects include accelerated growth of muscle, bone, and red blood cells, and enhanced neural conduction.
Anabolic steroids have been manufactured to enhance the Anabolic (tissue building) properties of the androgens and minimize the Androgenic (sex-linked) properties. However, no steroid has eliminated the androgenic effects because the so-called androgenic effects are really anabolic effects in sex-linked tissues. The effects of male hormones on accessory sex glands, genital hair growth, and oiliness of the skin are anabolic processes in those tissues. The steroids with the most potent anabolic effect are also those with the greatest androgenic effect.
Androgenic Agents
- Fluoxymesterone (Halotestin) – p.o.
- Methyltestosterone (Oreton) – p.o.
- Testosterone Cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) – inj
Anabolic Agents
- Nandrolone Decanoat (Deca-Durabolin) – inj
- Stanozolol (Winstrol) – p.o.
