What is a steroid? describe at least three properties that all steroid molecules have in common.

A steroid is a type of lipid that has four rings of carbon atoms.

Properties that all steroid molecules have in common include:

1.  They are all organic compounds.

2. They all have three 6-sided carbon rings and one 5- sided carbon ring.

3. They are insoluble in water.

Steroids are important in biology, chemistry and medicine. Steroids include all the sex hormones, adrenal cortical hormones, bile acids and sterols of vertebrates.

They are used to make anti-inflammatory medicine and also oral contraceptives.

the menstrual cycle – higher tier. negative feedback mechanisms affect the production of hormones in the menstrual cycle. oestrogen also stimulates the release of lh (luteinising hormone) from the pituitary gland, which in turn controls the production of progesterone.