Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic Steroids

Syllabus

• Prelims- Science and Technology

Why in News: Two of the Indian track-and-field Tokyo Olympians have failed a dope test for using banned anabolic steroids

Anabolic Steroids

• Anabolic steroids are essentially lab-made versions of the male hormone testosterone and have a similar effect of increasing muscle mass as the natural hormone does.

How are they different from Prescription Steroids?

• Prescription steroids are the steroids prescribed by the doctors for inflammations, several autoimmune diseases etc
• These medicines are called corticosteroids and are lab-made molecules that mimic the action of the hormone called cortisol which controls the body’s stress response, metabolism, and inflammation.
• Anabolic steroids are mainly misused by athletes and sportspersons nowadays

Anabolic steroids used for treatments

• Anabolic steroids have a very limited medical role and are mainly used by doctors to help patients gain weight after a severe illness or injury.
• Prescribed in small doses to the elderly to build muscle mass and in some cases also helps to treat anaemia.
• To treat men who have low levels of natural testosterone.

Impacts

Male

• In the short term can cause acne and hair fall.
• Extended misuse of the substance can also lead to gynecomastia (growth of breasts in men) and erectile dysfunction.

Female

• It can lead to the growth of facial hair.
• It also causes extreme anger, paranoia, and impaired judgement.

Source: Indian Express