Methenolone (also known as primobolan) was described in 1960. Squibb Company began producing injectable drug in 1962. Methenolone originally was prescribed in case of muscle loss after operations, infections, long-term illnesses, aggressive therapy with corticoids or malnutrition, and in some cases it was used to treat osteoporosis and breast cancer. Methenolone was commonly used to promote weight gain in infants, weighing less than normal, without any side effects. Methenolone is an anabolic steroid, modification of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with weak androgenic activity and a moderate anabolic effect. A notable trait of methenolone is that it can firmly bind to androgen receptors, stronger than testosterone. Adult doses for the treatment of aplastic anemia are usually in a range of 1–3 mg/kg per day. Adverse side effects include fluid and electrolyte retention, hypercalcaemia, increased bone growth and skeletal weight. In men, additional side priapism, azoospermia, hirsutism, male pattern baldness, acne andoedema. In women, side effects include virilization, amenorrhoea, menstrual irregularities, suppressed lactation, and increased libido. In children, side effects may include virilization symptoms. Metenolone may enhance effects of antidiabetics, ciclosporin, levothyroxine, warfarin. Resistance to the effects of neuromuscular blockers may occur, and metenolone also has the potential to interfere with glucose tolerance and thyroidfunction tests. Metenolone enanthate (methenolone enanthate) is an ester derivative of methenolone sold commonly under the brand names Primobolan (tablet form) orPrimobolan Depot (injectable). When it interacts with the aromatase enzyme it does not form any estrogens. It is used by people who are very susceptible to estrogenic side effects, having lowerestrogenic properties than nandrolone. This trait makes primobolan to be a good fat burner. Primobolan does not convert into estradiol. As an anabolic steroid, the use of metenolone is banned from use in sports governed by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Belarusian shot putter Nadzeya Ostapchuk was stripped of her gold medal after testing positive for metenolone at the London 2012 Olympic Games. She has been excluded from future IOC events. The NBA and NBPA also banned the use of methenolone under the Anti-Drug Program. In February 2013, Hedo Türkoğlu of the Orlando Magic was suspended for 20 games without pay by the league after testing positive for methenolone. In December 2013, Natalia Volgina was stripped of her 2013 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon title and received a two-year competition ban, subsequent to a final guilty verdict for using the steroid Metenolone.

Mesterolone is an androgen receptor agonist which was developed for hormone replacement therapy in males suffering from androgen deficiency and related disorders. Mesterolone is known under the name Proviron. The drug is also used by bodybuilders and athletes.

Bolandiol (INN), also known as 19-nor-4-androstenediol, estr-4-en-3β,17β-diol, or 3β-dihydronandrolone, is an anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) that was never marketed. Bolandiol bound with lower affinity to the recombinant rat androgen receptor (AR) than the other androgens and had low, but measurable, affinity for recombinant human progestin receptors (PR-A, PR-B), and estrogen receptors (ERalpha and beta-1). Functional agonist activity was assessed in transcription assays mediated by AR, PR, or ER. Bolandiol that until recently was available as a dietary supplement used by athletes to enhance performance. Bolandiol is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of prohibited substances and is therefore banned from use in most major sports. It is a potential metabolic precursor to nandrolone. However, several clinical studies have concluded that bolandiol does not alter the strength, body composition, or exercise performance. Bolandiol suppresses gonadotropins and endogenous testosterone production.

Oxabolone is a synthetic anabolic steroid. It can be formulated as the cipionate ester prodrug oxabolone cipionate. Oxabolone cypionate is a structural derivative of nandrolone. It differs via the additional 4-hydroxyl group that is attached, therefore making oxabolone cypionate 4-hydroxynandrolone. Oxabolone is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of prohibited substances, and is therefore banned from use in most major sports. Oxabolone cypionate is a relatively rare drug that was once produced in Europe for human use. Was used for the treatment of osteoporosis. It is no longer produced by pharmaceutical companies; Upjohn and Pharmacia were the primary producers of it previously.

Mestanolone is an oral analogue of dihydrotestosterone. This steroid is a 17-alpha methylated form of this potent endogenous androgen, being essentially (in structure) to dihydrotestosterone what methyltestosterone is to testosterone. Overall, mestanolone has an activity profile not very dissimilar from the hormone it is derived from. Like dihydrotestosterone, mestanolone is primarily androgenic in nature, displaying a low level of anabolic activity. Both dihydrotestosterone and mestanolone are also devoid of estrogenic activity. Dihydrotestosterone was synthesized in 1935. After that 17-alpha-methylated version also appeared. This steroid was not frequently used in clinical medicine. It was produced under the name of ermalon for short period of time. Most studies involving mestanolone were carried out in the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1970s and 1980s it was used as part of the East German doping machine. Mestanolone was evaluated not for its anabolic ability but for its androgenic essence. It improved the functioning of the CNS and neuromuscular interaction. Athletes claimed that it did not make them huge, but gave them speed, strength, aggression, stamina and resistance to stress. Mestanolone is still valued as an oral androgen.

Normethandrone (Orgasteron; Metalutin; Methalutin) is a progestin and androgen/anabolic steroid agent which is used in combination with an estrogen in the treatment of menstruation disorders in women. Normethandrone is a modified form of nandrolone. It differs by the addition of a methyl group at carbon 17-alpha to protect the hormone during oral administration. Normethandrone is aromatized by the body, and converts to a synthetic estrogen with a high level of biological activity (17alpha-methyl-estradiol). Orgasteron has been used as progestational agent and as an androgen. Normethandrone is available in combination with methylestradiol or estradiol valerate in a few countries, including Brazil, Indonesia, and Venezuela. This is a controlled substance (anabolic steroid): 21 CFR, 1308.13, as defined in 1300.01. Normethandrone was first described in 1954. Shortly after, it was developed into a medicine by Organon (now Merck/MSD), which introduced it under the Orgasterone brand name in Belgium and Switzerland, and as Orgasteron in the Netherlands. This steroid had also been sold by other manufacturers in various parts of Europe as Methalutin, Lutenin, and Matdonal. Although a simple oral methylated nandrolone, with strong properties as an anabolic steroid, Normethandrone exhibits such strong progestational activity that it was marketed as an oral progestin. Its anabolic effects were more looked at as secondary applications for the drug, and accounted for very little medical interest.

Furazabol is an anabolic steroid used in sport for growth of muscle. Furazabol is considered to be a doping.

Penmesterol (penmestrol, 17α-Methyl-4-hydro-δ3,5-testosterone 3-cyclopentyl ether) is a synthetic, orally active anabolic androgenic steroid that was developed in the early 1960s.