Androstenedione

What is it?

Androstenedione, also called andro, is a hormone everyone's body makes. The body turns andro into the hormone testosterone and a form of the hormone estrogen.

Andro can be made in a lab. Some drugmakers and workout magazines claim that andro products help athletes train harder and recover faster. But some studies show that andro doesn't boost testosterone. They also show that muscles don't get stronger.

Andro is legal to use only if a health care provider prescribes it. It's not legal to use as a doping drug in the United States.

Risks

Side effects of andro in men include:

• Acne.
• Testicles that shrink or make less sperm.
• Breast growth.

Side effects in women include:

• Acne.
• Deeper voice.
• Loss of hair on the head.

Andro can damage the heart and blood vessels in anyone who takes it. This raises the risk of a serious problem that can happen when the heart doesn't get enough blood, called a heart attack. It also raises the risk of a condition that keeps the brain from getting enough oxygen, called a stroke. Heart attack and stroke can be deadly.