Healthdirect Free Australian health advice you can count on.

Medical problem? Call 1800 022 222. If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately

healthdirect Australia is a free service where you can talk to a nurse or doctor who can help you know what to do.

beginning of content

Anabolic steroids

5-minute read

What are anabolic steroids?

Anabolic steroids are synthetic (man-made) drugs that are similar to the male hormone testosterone. Their proper name is anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). They are swallowed as tablets, applied as a gel, or injected into a muscle.

Anabolic steroids are different from corticosteroids, which are medicines used to treat conditions such as arthritis or asthma. Both are sometimes referred to simply as ‘steroids’.

Anabolic steroids can be used for medical purposes, but people also sometimes take them to improve their performance in sport, their appearance or their body image.

When used for performance, anabolic steroids are classed as performance and image-enhancing drugs. Users sometimes call them ‘roids’, ‘gear’ or ‘juice’.

What are anabolic steroids used for?

A doctor can prescribe anabolic steroids to treat hormonal problems, such as:

Anabolic steroids can also be prescribed to replace muscle lost because of conditions such as cancer or AIDS, or to treat types of breast cancer and anaemia.

Some competitive athletes, body builders and people who need strong muscles for their work take anabolic steroids to:

  • build lean muscle
  • increase strength and endurance
  • reduce recovery time following an injury

Young men and women who are worried about their body image may take anabolic steroids because the drugs can help to reduce body fat.

What are the side effects of anabolic steroids?

The short-term side effects of anabolic steroid use include:

  • water retention and bloating
  • fatigue and sleeping problems
  • irritability, mood swings or aggression
  • changes in sex drive
  • male pattern baldness (in both men and women)
  • acne

Women may also experience:

  • male pattern hair growth including facial hair
  • decreased breast size
  • irregular periods
  • deeper voice
  • enlarged clitoris
  • effects on an unborn daughter if the steroids are used during or before pregnancy

Men may also experience:

The long-term side effects of anabolic steroids include:

People who misuse anabolic steroids (for performance or weight-loss purposes) are more likely to experience these side effects because they are often taken in doses that are higher than medical doses. They might also experience nerve damage from injecting and injuries from excessively intense gym workouts.

Using anabolic steroids can lead to addiction because people rely on the drugs for confidence and self-esteem.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

It is only legal to use anabolic steroids in Australia if they have been prescribed by a doctor for proper medical reasons. It is against the law to keep, make, use, sell or give away, or to inject someone else with anabolic steroids.

The penalties for supplying anabolic steroids are different in each state and territory. In some states, they are classified in the same drug category as heroin or ice (crystal meth), and suppliers can face imprisonment.

Anabolic steroids are banned in competitive sport. Using them can result in fines, suspensions or permanent bans.

Can steroids be used safely?

Anabolic steroids cannot be used safely except under a doctor’s supervision. However, if you have chosen to use anabolic steroids for non-medical purposes, you might be able to reduce the risk of side effects if you:

  • lower the dose, or limit use to a few weeks at a time, to give your body a rest
  • never inject anabolic steroids directly into the same area of your body
  • do not inject them into the biceps, calf or pectoral muscles (to avoid nerve damage)
  • always use clean needles to reduce the risk of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and other blood-borne viruses — never share needles with other people
  • do not combine anabolic steroids with caffeine or alcohol (which remove water from the body), or with other drugs such as amphetamines

Resources and support

  • If you are worried about anabolic steroid use, talk to your doctor.
  • Visit the Drug Help website for information on how to get help with anabolic steroid use.
  • You can also call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: June 2021


Back To Top

Need more information?

These trusted information partners have more on this topic.

Top results

Anabolic steroids - Better Health Channel

Prolonged misuse of steroids can cause liver damage and severe mood swings.

Read more on Better Health Channel website

Anabolic Steroids and Performance Enhancing Drugs Side Effects | Your Room

Anabolic Steroids and performance enhancing drugs come with many short and long term side effects.

Read more on NSW Health website

Anabolic Steroids: What They Are, Uses, Side Effects & Risks | Healthy Male

What you need to know about anabolic steroids, whether they are legal in Australia, the side-effects and health risks of steroid misuse and abuse.

Read more on Healthy Male website

Health consequences of androgenic anabolic steroid use | Healthy Male

Authors Horwitz H., Andersen J.T. and Dalhoff K.P. Review Date December 2018 Citation J Intern Med. 2018 doi: 10.1111/joim.12850. [Epub ahead of print]  

Read more on Healthy Male website

Steroids - Alcohol and Drug Foundation

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

Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website

Recreational drugs | Your Fertility

Taking anabolic steroids for body building or competitive sports causes testes to shrink and stops the production of sperm

Read more on Your Fertility website

Performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) - Alcohol and Drug Foundation

Performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) are substances taken by people who would like to change their physical appearance, enhance their sporting performance, or both. There are several types of PIEDs, including anabolic steroids, peptides, and hormones.

Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website

What happens when you start and stop using steroids | Healthy Male

Using anabolic androgenic steroids can come with significant side effects and health impacts. It can take a while for these to resolve once you stop taking steroids. Here's what happens when you stop taking steroids.

Read more on Healthy Male website

Corticosteroid injections - MyDr.com.au

Corticosteroids are medicines used to treat inflammation. Depending on the condition, steroid injections can relieve pain for several weeks to months.

Read more on myDr website

How IBD is Treated? or Treatment of IBD - IBDclinic.mindovergut.com

How IBD is Treated? or Treatment of IBD varies considerably depending on the person, their diagnosis, and the characteristics of their IBD

Read more on Mindovergut.com website

Healthdirect 24hr 7 days a week hotline

24 hour health advice you can count on

1800 022 222

Government Accredited with over 140 information partners

We are a government-funded service, providing quality, approved health information and advice

Australian Government, health department logo ACT Government logo New South Wales government, health department logo Northen Territory Government logo Government of South Australia, health department logo Tasmanian government logo Victorian government logo Government of Western Australia, health department logo

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.