Androgenic Steroids Use and Abuse: Past, Present, and Future

Androgenic steroids have been abused by elite athletes for decades. Their performance-enhancing properties for sports that involve strength and power have been confirmed, and this class has been banned from most elite athletic competitions since the mid-1970s. There is a risk of a withdrawal syndrome that includes severe depression, and there seems to be an increased risk of cardiovascular disease associated with chronic abuse. In contrast to high-dosage androgen abuse, androgen therapy at near-physiological dosages is generally safe and effective for male hypogonadism and potential use in sarcopenia and male hormonal contraception.