Androgenic-anabolic steroids abuse in males.

Androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) is an official definition for all male sex steroid hormones, their synthetic derivatives and their active metabolites. AAS are drugs with specific therapeutic indications, yet they are popularly known because of their worldwide non-therapeutic use in a large number of healthy individuals. Doping with AAS has become so widespread in athletics that it affects the outcome of sports contests. Furthermore, AAS non-therapeutic use is increasing particularly among adolescents and females, becoming one of the main causes of iatrogenic diseases due to drug abuse. All physicians must be aware about the large diffusion and side effects related to AAS non-therapeutic use, in order to discover clinical signs of AAS abuse and/or to start adequate preventive and/or therapeutic actions.