Despite the amount of media-bashing anabolic steroids have received over the years, it may surprise you to learn that there are legitimate medical uses for muscle building hormones. In males, testicular cancer often requires the removal of the testes. After surgery, these men are often prescribed anabolic steroids to replace the testosterone that their bodies are no longer able to synthesize. This form of replacement therapy helps preserve the mens musculature as well as such secondary sex characteristics as body hair, deep voice, and sex drive (which are some of the side effects anabolic steroids produce in bodybuilders.

There are also medical steroids for teens with hormone conditions. Adolescent males with pituitary problems can be treated with anabolic steroids when they reach the appropriate age for puberty. Anabolic steroids are usually given for four to six months to initiate the growth spurt and development of secondary sex characteristics.

After certain kinds of surgery and cancer, most patients experience a loss of muscle tissue. Anabolic steroids can be used in such cases, with exercise and diet, to promote the regaining of lean muscle tissue without serious side effects.

A final use for anabolic steroids is to see if one day they may be used as male oral contraceptives. Unfortunately the amount of negative press that steroids have received over the past number of years severely hampers this promising area of research.