Fragile femininity, embodiment, and self-managing harm: an interpretative phenomenological study exploring the lived experience of females who use anabolic-androgenic steroids

Little research exists on the lived experiences of female anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use from a harm reduction perspective. This study aims to address this gap and explore experiences, perceptions, perspectives AAS-using females through their journeys starting, using, coming off AAS facilitate appropriate public health policies. Four females, recruited using opportunistic purposive sampling, participated in semi-structured interviews. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), four superordinate themes clarify narratives detailed by participants: preparation anxiety (before AAS); deviation feminine identity (during use); turbulence cessation (end rediscovering femininity (post-AAS reflections). The results show how arising is characterised development virilising effects complex framing identity, providing clearer image defined managed population. While participants anticipated adverse side effects, did not prevent negative emotions development. Our also suggest that gender unique population inseparable but irreconcilable with changing body. Illuminating specific facet can inform holistic, meaningful, more inclusive measures adding experiential information understudied hard-to-reach group.