What are anabolic steroids?

Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones that help with the growth and repair of muscle tissue. They imitate the male sex hormone, testosterone.

There are legitimate medical uses for anabolic steroids. Doctors prescribe them to treat hormonal problems (such as delayed puberty in males or loss of muscle caused by diseases like cancer or HIV).

Anabolic steroids are also misused. People who illegally use anabolic steroids often do so to increase lean muscle mass, reduce fat and speed up recovery from injury.

Anabolic steroids can take the form of tablets, capsules or injectable liquids, depending on the brand.

Common slang terms for steroids include ‘roids’, ‘gear’ and ‘juice’.

Anabolic steroids are classed as performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs).