Steroid Therapy
The word "Steroid", is in my opinion the most misunderstood word in the medical lay press. The word "Steroid" is derived from the word cholesterol.
Everyone knows cholesterol is a fat and most lay people believe cholesterol is a bad thing that is not completely correct. Too much cholesterol particularly the "bad" kind or LDL does cause fat deposits in the arteries and leads to atherosclerosis.
However, cholesterol is essential for life. It is derived from our diet but our liver is capable of manufacturing it. In fact there may people of high cholesterol levels who eat a low-fat diet but had a genetic disposition to manufacturing excessive amounts of bad cholesterol.
Steroids or preferably "steroid hormones" are derived from cholesterol and play a number of important physiologic roles. Steroid hormones, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and cortisone are synthesized mainly by endocrine glands such as the gonads, (testicle and ovary), the adrenal glands and during pregnancy the placenta.
Let me emphasize again, medically speaking "Steroids" simply mean hormones derived from cholesterol.