By lowering the amount of Sexual Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) and, thereafter, raising the serum testosterone level in a persons body, an effective method for treating gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohns Disease and ulcerative colitis, is achieved. First and second androgens, namely, anabolic steroids, are used to lower the SHBG and, thereafter, raise the serum testosterone level in the body, respectively. The SHBG is lowered and the testosterone level is increased until an equilibrium between the SHBG and the second androgen is reached which normalizes the Free Androgen Index (FAI) in the persons body. Preferably, the first androgen used herein to lower the SHBG is stanozolol and the second androgen used herein to normalize the FAI is testosterone.
