Androgens

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.