Discussion Anabolic steroids are male sex hormones , or androgens, that promote muscle growth. Your body produces them naturally, but they can also be produced synthetically in a laboratory. Both men and women produce these steroids.
Men produce more steroids than women which tends to make men's muscles larger and stronger.
Synthetic steroids are very similar to natural ones. Physicians can use anabolic steroids as a treatment for a variety of conditions. In very small and controlled doses, steroids can, among other things, encourage people with muscle-wasting conditions to gain weight, control certain breast cancers, treat blood disorders, heal severe burns and relieve bone pain for people who have osteoporosis. Not all steroids are made from hormones, nor are all hormones made of steroids. Physicians use another steroid called corticosteroid, also known as cortisone .