The CASTRO study: Unsafe sexual behaviors and illicit drug use among gay and bisexual men who use anabolic steroids.

Background And Objectives: The majority of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) studies have focused on the general male population. Approximately 15% of gay or bisexual men are seropositive for HIV and many AASs are administered via injection. Thus, AAS use among gay and bisexual men likely poses a greater risk of spreading infectious disease.

Polypharmacy, Infectious Diseases, Sexual Behavior, and Psychophysical Health Among Anabolic Steroid-Using Homosexual and Heterosexual Gym Patrons in San Francisco's Castro District.

Background: Limited studies based in England and Australia reported misuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) among homosexual men to enhance body image. Anecdotally, AAS are also being misused by homosexual men in the United States. Since many AAS and certain performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) are administered via injection, this poses a potential vector for the spread of infectious disease in an already at-risk population.

Characteristics and Behaviors of Older Male Anabolic Steroid Users.

Objective: To compare and contrast the characteristics of 2 groups of men ≥40 years old: reported anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users and nonusers.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Thirty-eight online fitness, weight lifting, bodybuilding, and steroid Web sites.

Psychological and physical impact of anabolic-androgenic steroid dependence.

Study Objective: To contrast the characteristics of two groups of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users-those with versus those without AAS dependence.

Design: Subanalysis of data from the Anabolic 500, a cross-sectional survey.

Participants: One hundred twelve male AAS-dependent users and 367 AAS-nondependent users who completed an online survey between February 19 and June 30, 2009.

Weightlifting's risky new trend: a case series of 41 insulin users.

Use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) is common among strength-trained individuals, and a growing concern is the misuse of insulin. A 99-item Internet-based survey was posted on discussion boards of various fitness, bodybuilding, weightlifting, and anabolic steroid Web sites between February and June 2009. A case series of 41 nondiabetic insulin users is described.

The Anabolic 500 survey: characteristics of male users versus nonusers of anabolic-androgenic steroids for strength training.

Study Objective: To contrast the characteristics of two groups of men who participated in strength-training exercise-those who reported anabolicandrogenic steroid (AAS) use versus those who reported no AAS use.

Design: Analysis of data from the Anabolic 500, a cross-sectional survey.

Participants: Five hundred six male self-reported AAS users (mean age 29.

Women and anabolic steroids: an analysis of a dozen users.

Objective: To provide an in-depth analysis of 12 female self-reported anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users.

Design: Web-based survey.

Setting: A Web-based survey was posted on 38 discussion boards of various fitness, bodybuilding, weightlifting, and steroid Web sites between February and June 2009.

The touro 12-step: a systematic guide to optimizing survey research with online discussion boards.

The Internet, in particular discussion boards, can provide a unique opportunity for recruiting participants in online research surveys. Despite its outreach potential, there are significant barriers which can limit its success. Trust, participation, and visibility issues can all hinder the recruitment process; the Touro 12-Step was developed to address these potential hurdles.