The first clinically used AAS was testosterone which was discovered in 1935 and first approved for medical use in 1939. Both SARMs and testosterone have the power to increase muscle mass and enhance performance, but the key difference lies in safety and side effects. Testosterone and anabolic steroids are classified as controlled substances in many countries, requiring a prescription for medical use. However, this also comes with increased androgenic effects, impacting other tissues in ways that can cause long-term damage. Since then, it has been widely used by bodybuilders, athletes, and even medical professionals for conditions like muscle wasting and delayed puberty. Anabolic steroids have been around for decades, with their origins dating back to the 1930s when scientists first synthesised testosterone to treat men with low hormone levels. Research shows that SARMs aren’t as powerful for muscle building as traditional steroids, but they’re certainly more effective than anything natural you can take (like creatine). Finally, because SARMs are less powerful than regular steroids, they don’t suppress natural testosterone production as heavily, making them easier to recover from. One key characteristic of SARMs is they’re not easily converted into an enzyme called 5α-reductase, which converts testosterone into DHT, a driver of many of the undesirable effects of steroid use. SARMs are a type of therapeutic drug chemically similar to anabolic steroids. Due to their tissue selectivity, SARMs have the potential to treat a wide variety of conditions, including debilitating diseases. Furthermore, each steroidal androgen or non-steroidal SARM uniquely influences distinct pathways depending on cell type. In vitro testing of the SARMs enobosarm (ostarine) and YK-11 showed that they bound to the AR, but unlike full AR agonists, they blocked interaction between the N-terminus and C-terminus of AR which resulted in a mixed agonist/antagonist mode of action. Conversely, in tissues where corepressors are in excess (such as prostate), SARMs act as partial agonists or antagonists. Furthermore, the ratio of coactivators to corepressors is known to vary depending on tissue type. AR agonists such as testosterone recruit coactivator proteins to AR that facilitate upregulation of gene expression while antagonists recruit corepressors which down regulate gene expression. SARMs are used by bodybuilders and competitive athletes due to their anabolic and lack of androgenic effects, particularly in the United States, Europe, and other western countries. Phase II trials of enobosarm for stress urinary incontinence—considered promising, given that the levator ani muscle in the pelvic floor has a high androgen receptor density—did not meet their endpoint and were abandoned. As of 2020update, there are no drugs approved to treat muscle wasting in people with chronic diseases, and there is therefore an unmet need for anabolic drugs with few side effects. These include the non-activation of SARMs by 5α-reductase, tissue selective expression of androgen receptor coregulators, non-genomic signaling, and tissue selective uptake of SARMs. However, SARMs are not FDA-approved for human consumption, and they’re not prescribed by doctors for any kind of hormone optimization. They were originally developed as a potential treatment for muscle-wasting diseases, osteoporosis, and other age-related issues. Feel free to ask us any question you would like about TRT, medical weightloss, ED, or other topics related to men's health.