Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Use Vocabulary

Vocabulary and key clinical terms related to the pathophysiology, practices, diagnosis, and treatment of anabolic androgenic steroid use.

Androgenic effects

Effects associated with anabolic androgenic steroids that include changes in hair, changes in libido, and aggressiveness.

Anabolic effects

Effects associated with anabolic androgenic steroids that include increased protein utilization and increased muscle mass.

Cycling

A practice where athletes take a fixed dose of one or multiple kinds of anabolic androgenic steroids for a certain period, stop, and then start again several times a year.

Stacking

The practice of using multiple kinds of anabolic androgenic steroids simultaneously, often utilizing different routes of administration (oral, IM, or transdermal) at the same time.

Pyramiding

The technique of starting from a small dose of an anabolic androgenic steroid, increasing the dose gradually, and then tapering the dose back down to zero.

Bridging

The practice of stopping long-lasting anabolic androgenic steroids and replacing them with shorter-acting formulations to avoid positive anti-doping tests.

"Roid rage"

A psychologic effect characterized by increased aggressiveness, commonly associated with very high doses of anabolic androgenic steroids.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry

The laboratory urine analysis method used to test for and detect anabolic androgenic steroids.

Testosterone:epitestosterone ratio

A diagnostic measurement where a value $> 6:1$ is suggestive of exogenous testosterone use.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs)

Medications such as clomiphene and enclomiphene used to restore the HPG axis and spermatogenesis following steroid-induced infertility.

Aromatase inhibitors

Medications such as anastrozole and letrozole used to help restore the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and spermatogenesis.