Steroid is the synthetic drug or natural compound, or steroid hormone that promotes general growth or the growth or function of the reproductive organs and the development of secondary sex characteristics. There are many types of synthetic drug or natural steroids. The natural steroid alcohol derived from plants or animals is called sterol. Sterol is waxy insoluble substance.

The steroid that helps to build hormones estrogen and androgen in body is known as steroid hormone, sex hormone, or sex steroid. The steroid hormone or sex steroid interacts with vertebrate androgen or estrogen receptors. The natural sex steroid is naturally produced by the gonads (ovaries or testes), by adrenal glands, or by conversion from other sex steroids in other tissues such as liver or fat. It is sometimes also known as gonadal steroid.

Sex steroid or steroid hormone plays key role in primary sex characteristics and secondary sex characteristics of body. It controls the development of both primary and secondary sexual characteristics. Steroid hormones are mainly categorized as androgens, estrogens, and progestagen. Androgens steroids are also known as anabolic steroids. Progesterone is the most important and only naturally occurring human. The androgens include testosterone, androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and anabolic steroids. The estrogens include estradiol and diethylstilbestrol. The progestagens include progesterone and progestins. Steroid hormones are also categorized as progestagen. glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoid, and vitamin d

Synthetically contrived steroids and sterols are often used for various medical purposes. There is a wide range of synthetic steroids and sterols available on the market. The majority of drugs are steroid, but non-steroid molecules can interact with the steroid receptors because of a similarity of shape. Some of synthetic steroid drugs are weaker and some are much stronger, than the natural steroids whose receptors they activate.

Some of synthetic steroid hormones include; glucocorticoids- prednisone, dexamethasone, triamcinolone; mineralocorticoid- fludrocortisone; vitamin d- dihydrotachysterol; androgens- oxandrolone, decadurabolin; estrogens- diethylstilbestrol (des); and progestins: norethindrone, medroxyprogesterone acetate.