In a broad sense, steroids can be grouped by their purpose and how they act in the body. Anabolic‑androgenic steroids, such as testosterone and its derivatives, are designed to increase muscle mass, strength, and recovery but also carry androgenic effects like hair changes and acne. Corticosteroids, like prednisolone or hydrocortisone, are medical drugs used to reduce inflammation in conditions such as asthma, autoimmune disease, or severe allergic reactions, and are not intended for physique enhancement. There are also sex‑hormone steroids such as estrogens and progestogens, which play roles in reproductive health, contraception, and hormone‑replacement therapy. In the muscle‑building community, “steroids” almost always refers specifically to the anabolic‑androgenic group rather than these other medical classes