Few compounds have sparked as much curiosity in both medicine and basic science as estrone. Researchers first pulled estrone from pregnant mare urine back in the 1920s. Its role in the hormone landscape quickly became clear—estrone shaped modern endocrinology, especially for women’s health. With isolations from natural sources giving way to synthetic production, the pharmaceutical industry found ways to make estrone cleaner and cheaper. Decades of investigation followed, uncovering new connections between estrone and estrogen-related diseases.
Estrone stands out as a naturally occurring estrogenic hormone, often manufactured for pharmaceutical purposes. It shows up as a white crystalline powder, stable except under strong acid, base, or oxidizing conditions. Its molecular structure, C18H22O2, supports vital biological activity. Pharmaceutical companies have used estrone as a treatment for estrogen deficiency, especially in menopausal therapy. Accessible oral and parenteral preparations, whether in pills, creams, or injectables, keep practitioners’ hands full of choices.
Estrone presents as a white to off-white crystalline solid. Its melting point hovers around 254°C, and it dissolves sparingly in water but more freely in ethanol, chloroform, and ether. That solubility shapes both how estrone circulates inside the human body and how labs handle it for synthesis and testing. The molecule’s aromatic A-ring, characteristic of all estrogens, allows it to bind selectively to estrogen receptors. Estrone remains sensitive to light and air, so packaging with proper barriers prevents degradation during storage and transit.
Medicinal estrone needs strict quality standards, usually above 98% purity, for safe human use. Labels spell out concentration, excipient additives, batch number, and manufacturer in detail. Pharmacopeias like the USP or EP lay down rules that producers must follow to avoid cross-contamination or impurities. For drugs, that means tracking origin and expiration precisely. Each vial, tablet, or pre-filled syringe must include instructions on temperature, humidity, and light exposure—small differences can change potency and shelf life considerably.
Industrial-scale preparation depends mainly on two routes. Either chemists extract estrone from soybeans and yams containing phytosterols, or they employ multi-step transformations from cholesterol derivatives. Plant sterols converted enzymatically or chemically provide the starting skeleton. After several reactions, including oxidation and dehydrogenation, the product undergoes purification by crystallization or chromatography. Personal experience working in pharmaceutical scale-up taught me the importance of tight controls, since even minor side-products complicate downstream purification and affect compliance with drug quality standards.
Estrone’s functional groups allow a chemist to modify it in countless ways. Acylation produces estrone esters, commonly used in long-acting injectables. Reduction at the C-17 ketone converts it to estradiol, another estrogen with stronger biological activity. Oxidizing estrone at various positions produces analogs for research or therapy. Conjugation at the 3-hydroxyl group makes more water-soluble forms, useful for certain dosing regimens or diagnostic tests. Each step still demands careful monitoring, as unwanted byproducts demand extra purification. Establishing safe, reproducible conditions in the lab often takes years of trial—and error.
Estrone may turn up in records under various names depending on field or region: oestrone, E1, folliculin, or 3-hydroxy-1,3,5(10)-estratrien-17-one. Brand names reflect both generic and proprietary products, with examples like Estrovarin, Estandron, and Oestrin. Synonym confusion has at times led to prescription errors or regulatory speed bumps—so anyone in healthcare or research has to track all aliases during procurement and reporting.
Working with estrone means respecting strict guidelines, not cutting corners to save time or money. Laboratories maintain fume hoods and require gloves, goggles, and lab coats. Spills call for immediate cleanup with appropriate absorbents. Manufactures monitor airborne dust and surface contamination, both for worker safety and to prevent cross-contamination into other pharmaceuticals. Disposal goes by hazardous waste protocols, reflecting estrone’s biological potency. On top of operational rules, countries apply layers of legal regulations, like the European REACH program, to limit environmental impact and protect workers.
Estrone enters clinics as therapy for menopausal symptoms, hypogonadism, or to supplement estrogen after some cancers. It also emerges as a standard for hormone research, especially as researchers look for links between hormone levels and diseases such as breast or endometrial cancer. Veterinary medicine pulls estrone off the shelf, too, for reproductive disorders in mares or livestock. Not all uses are approved everywhere—regulatory agencies shift guidance depending on risks and up-to-date clinical evidence.
Scientists push hard into the links between estrone levels and cancer risk, cardiovascular problems, or metabolic syndrome. Development teams constantly scan for metabolic pathways and breakdown products that could trigger side effects in patients. In my own research, tracking how estrone behaves in cell cultures or animal models gives clues on where unwanted toxicity or unexpected results originate. Collaboration between chemists, biologists, and clinicians keeps the pace brisk but also means discoveries land in trusted journals rather than getting lost in internal memos.
Toxicologists watch estrone closely. At therapeutic doses, monitoring for estrogenic side effects remains essential—think thromboembolic disorders or endometrial proliferation. Research into chronic, low-dose exposures reveals possible links to hormone-dependent cancers and endocrine disruption, especially for occupational groups or populations with contaminated water sources. Reproductive toxicity gets special attention, not just for patients but for effects passed to offspring. Animal studies fill in gaps where human data fall short. Responsible drug developers now run deeper, more complex studies before seeking approval for new estrone-based drugs.
Regenerative medicine and synthetic biology might soon change how estrone gets made or used. Efforts at precision dosing—guided by genetic markers or AI-driven analytics—promise to cut the risk of side effects and boost effectiveness. Environmental monitoring will need to catch up, since traces of hormone disruptors like estrone continue to show up in water and soil. Next-gen drug design could create safer estrone mimics with tailored activity and better safety. Academic and industry labs keep chasing the dream of personalized estrogen therapies, ensuring estrone’s story won’t end soon.
Estrone slips into conversations least expected, usually during a talk about menopause or hormone therapy. Many folks may never hear about it until their doctor points out hormone levels. For patients like my aunt, who started noticing hot flashes and bone discomfort after turning fifty, estrone became a word to look up, not just something medical experts toss around.
Estrone is a naturally occurring estrogenic hormone. Besides estradiol and estriol, it shapes the body’s way of tackling changes during life events including menopause. Its importance picks up when a woman's usual estrogen levels drop. Unlike estradiol—labeled as the most potent estrogen—estrone sticks around even after menopause, mainly made by fat tissue rather than ovaries.
Doctors turn to estrone mostly for managing symptoms tied to menopause. I’ve seen friends barely manage the hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings that follow as estrogen slips away. For those folks, estrone can calm the storm. Along with keeping bones strong, estrone tries to protect against the bone loss leading to osteoporosis.
In some rare cases, estrone serves as estrogen replacement for women unable to take other forms, or for those recovering from surgery that removes their ovaries early in life. Estrone helps reduce the risk of painful vaginal dryness, thinning skin, and urinary problems that can hurt everyday living.
Not every solution comes without issues. Estrone, just like any hormone, carries risk that patients and families should know about. Long-term use links up with a higher chance of breast or uterine cancer, blood clots, and stroke, especially for women with family history of these illnesses. My own mother took extra care reviewing her doctor’s advice as she recalled her own mother’s cancer history. Open conversation and constant check-ups become part of the routine after starting estrone.
Relying on estrone isn’t only about pills and patches—it's about rethinking how doctors treat hormone loss and women's health. Estrone plays out differently depending on individual genetics, weight, and medical history. For someone with an active lifestyle and good bone health, a low dose or non-hormonal fix could make more sense. For someone already dealing with severe symptoms, replacing lost hormones may seem like the only way back to feeling normal.
More research needs ongoing support. The Women’s Health Initiative from the early 2000s taught a hard lesson about handing out hormones broadly; risks didn’t show up right away. Now, most physicians individualize the decision. Blood tests, symptom tracking, and regular screenings must become part of using estrone or related hormones safely.
Doctors can’t rely on old-fashioned assumptions; they need to look at each woman’s experience and health goals. Patient education matters. When someone I know started estrone, the most helpful thing was honest talk from the doctor—no sugarcoating risks, but clear about benefits. Rapid access to information and making shared decisions between patients and medical providers helps prevent unnecessary problems.
Estrone sticks around in the conversation because real people deal with life-changing symptoms. For those reading an estrone prescription for the first time, partnering with their doctor and asking questions might offer not just relief, but peace of mind too.
Estrone belongs to the family of estrogens, the group of hormones known for their vital role in the female reproductive system. Many people know estrone as one of the main players in menopause hormone therapy. Doctors sometimes prescribe it for symptoms like hot flashes or osteoporosis. Estrone also appears naturally in both men and women, but its levels change with age.
Most folks taking estrone notice at least some physical changes. Breast tenderness crops up quite often. Mood swings have a way of sneaking into the day, sometimes in the least convenient moments. Some people feel bloated, or find that their weight shifts upward a bit without them changing anything in their daily habits. Headaches, sometimes as nagging as a fly in the room, don’t always back down easily.
Vaginal bleeding or spotting shows up in a fair share of folks, especially at the start of therapy. Sometimes these changes fade away after the body adjusts. For others, the symptoms linger, and the interruptions become more than a minor inconvenience.
Estrone does not simply bring short-term discomfort. Scientific research, especially large women’s health studies like the Women’s Health Initiative, connects estrogen therapy that includes estrone with a higher risk of blood clots. For anyone with a family history of clotting, even small increases in risk set off real concern. It doesn’t end at clots—stroke and heart attack risks see an uptick as well, particularly for older adults. These are not just numbers on a chart; families have seen loved ones struggle after a stroke or clot linked to hormone therapy.
There’s also a connection to certain cancers. Long-term estrone exposure can push the risk of endometrial and, in some cases, breast cancer. The hormone can cause the lining of the uterus to thicken when taken without a balancing progestin. Real lives have been changed by missed warning signs and delays in responding to abnormal bleeding.
Some people notice darker patches of skin or changes in the way the liver works. Every once in a while, vision blurs or contact lenses become uncomfortable. Fluid retention may lead to swelling in the legs, and some patients say their joints or muscles ache more than usual. I have known people who had persistent nausea or stomach pain that they thought was just bad food, only to later learn their medication played a role. These effects rarely show up in pamphlets but they’re real enough in everyday life.
Sex drive can shift, and not always in predictable ways. Some find it drops off, while others don’t see a change. For some, this adds stress to relationships as couples try to adapt.
Deciding to start estrone therapy should never feel rushed. Regular appointments and honest conversations help patients weigh the pros and cons. Blood pressure checks, mammograms, and keeping a close eye on any unusual pain or prolonged bleeding allow for safety nets. Non-hormonal options, like cognitive-behavioral therapy for hot flashes or bone-strengthening drugs, give people more choices.
Diet and exercise make a surprisingly big difference. People who add a bit more walking or make small adjustments to meals sometimes report feeling better, even if the hormone therapy stays the same. Support groups—online or in-person—give a place for sharing practical tips and reminding people they’re not alone. Pharmacists can answer questions that pop up after office hours, providing another layer of confidence. No one gets through life’s twists in perfect health, but facing them with good information and steady guidance makes the journey a bit easier.
Estrone shows up often in conversations about hormone therapy, especially for folks managing menopausal symptoms. This hormone falls under the category of estrogen, and not everybody takes it the same way. Getting the most benefit—and avoiding nasty surprises—calls for a bit of real-life know-how and support from medical professionals.
Doctors usually prescribe estrone in a few forms: oral tablets, injections, and sometimes topical treatments. Swallowing a pill usually tops the list for convenience. Pills suit people who appreciate predictability and don’t want to bother with injections. Some figure out pretty quickly that their stomach doesn’t handle every medication the same way. Tablets go through your digestive system, which affects how much estrone actually gets into your blood. That means mixing frequent stomach upset, certain foods, or other drugs can cause problems. If your lifestyle needs a tighter leash on symptoms, your doctor may offer injections or topical applications, which often skip your digestive system entirely.
I’ve met folks who swear by transdermal options—patches or gels—since their bodies absorb the hormone right through the skin. People say patches give steadier hormone levels and save their liver a little work. With gels, there’s always the hassle of waiting for it to dry, remembering where you applied it, and keeping it away from kids and pets. None of these methods feel perfect to everybody. So, real-world experiences often come down to what fits best with your daily routine, underlying health conditions, and the need to avoid certain side effects.
Mistakes with estrone can stack up over time, not just from missing a day but also from mixing doses or taking more than advised. Nobody wants to wait months before realizing their symptoms are out of balance or that unexpected side effects, like tender breasts or spotting, come from fluctuating hormone levels.
Doctors rely on regular bloodwork to track estrogen and related hormones. That’s the only reliable way to spot trends early before small symptoms snowball into bigger ones. I know plenty of patients who keep a simple symptom diary. They jot down mood, hot flashes, or sleep quality. These notes help doctors fine-tune doses—sometimes even more than blood tests.
Long-term hormone therapy, estrone included, links to risks such as blood clots, stroke, or even some cancers. These risks rise with age, family history, smoking, and certain health problems, so doctors rarely set patients loose without a plan. Folks using estrone for menopause symptoms often review their entire health profile first: heart health, bone density, cancer risk, and more. A well-informed specialist aims to match the lowest dose for the briefest time to reduce problems down the road.
Patients often land at the pharmacy counter with questions no brochure ever seems to answer. Pharmacists show real value by sharing tips about dose timing, what medicines or supplements clash with estrone, and what symptoms deserve a call to the doctor. I'd also argue for more group support and patient education, which lowers the risk of dangerous missteps—such as stopping cold turkey or doubling up on missed pills.
People adjusting to hormone therapy rarely walk a straight path. Honest conversations, steady follow-up, and access to clear instructions build the trust needed for the journey.
Estrone shows up as one of the three main estrogen hormones in the human body. Doctors often notice its higher levels in both non-pregnant women after menopause and men. Monitoring and balancing hormones comes up a lot for women planning pregnancy or dealing with hormone therapies.
Medical groups such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists make it clear: extra estrogen exposure during pregnancy carries risk. Extra hormones can reach the developing fetus through the placenta. This isn’t just a theory—cases have tracked how too much estrogen, either from supplements or environmental exposure, links to birth defects and reproductive tract changes in babies.
Research going back to the 1970s showed women who took synthetic estrogens such as diethylstilbestrol (DES) while pregnant had children later facing rare vaginal and cervical cancers. While estrone isn't DES, its effects on a developing fetus haven’t been thoroughly researched because of these risks. Doctors stay away from prescribing any extra estrogen, including estrone, to pregnant women unless benefits clearly outweigh risks.
Nursing mothers want the safest environment possible for their baby. Any extra hormone in breast milk can affect a baby’s body. Studies tracing hormone transfer used to focus on estradiol and estriol, but estrone can show up too, either naturally at low levels or from supplements. The FDA and most endocrinologists agree: Lactating mothers shouldn’t take supplemental estrogen if avoidable.
Higher estrogen in a mother can slow or even halt milk production, leading to poor feeding or early weaning. On top of this, there’s no research proving estrone is safe for infants exposed through breast milk. Too little milk or hormone exposure—both carry long-term consequences for a baby’s growth and development.
Many people don’t realize hormone supplements purchased over-the-counter or online can include estrone, sometimes marked just as "phytoestrogens" or "natural estrogen." Friends and family sometimes suggest natural ways to boost fertility or energy, but these shortcuts can backfire, especially in sensitive times like pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Doctors who see patients with recurrent pregnancy loss or hormone issues work hard to look for safer alternatives. Instead of hormone boosters or estrogen pills, they often recommend steps like balanced nutrition, managing stress, and treating any underlying thyroid or prolactin issues in clear, evidence-based ways. Board-certified endocrinologists base choices on published research, not on rumor or anecdote. For people struggling with hormone imbalance, joining a conversation with an experienced doctor beats any one-size-fits-all remedy.
Some online communities promote the benefits of extra hormones for fertility and milk production. Solid science shows real danger. Just because something feels natural or is plant-based doesn’t equal “safe.” Estrone may sound less risky than newer drugs, but its effects on a tiny, developing body are unpredictable.
If anyone feels tempted by supplements containing estrone, it helps to pause and verify what’s really in them and seek advice from a healthcare professional with real-world experience meeting safety standards. Protecting both mother and baby always comes before experimentation or shortcuts.
For pregnancy or breastfeeding, a personal approach and regular care visits make more sense than reaching for mystery hormone remedies. Health professionals with specialty credentials in women’s health have the experience and training to sort out options supported by science, not just popularity or online testimonials.
Estrone comes up in medicine quite often, usually as part of hormone therapy. Doctors prescribe it for people dealing with menopause symptoms, low estrogen, or hormone imbalance. But hormones almost always deserve extra attention, especially with how common it is for people to take multiple medications. Mixing up prescriptions isn’t just about the pill bottle count—each new compound can throw its own curveball, and estrone is no exception. Figuring out how it might mix with other medicine matters just as much as taking the right dose.
Estrone isn’t just an outside visitor—it turns into estradiol and estriol inside your own cells. The liver plays traffic cop here, turning estrone into different forms and nudging it along exit ramps to leave the body. That means anything that changes liver activity can, in turn, mess with how estrone acts. For example, some anti-seizure drugs like phenytoin, carbamazepine, or phenobarbital speed up the liver’s work. If the body processes estrone too fast, its benefits shrink even if you keep taking the same dose. On the flip side, meds that slow liver function—or grapefruit, a famous culprit—can push estrone levels higher, bumping up the odds of side effects like breast tenderness or blood clots.
Estrogens like estrone already bring a known risk for blood clots. Anyone on blood thinners, such as warfarin or apixaban, can end up walking a tightrope with their clotting risk. Mixing estrone with these meds asks for careful monitoring, since the two can push clotting factors in opposite directions. History has shown this mix can either make blood thinners less effective or raise bleeding risk. In practice, I’ve seen labs swing one way or another without much warning. It’s never a set-and-forget situation.
People who take thyroid medicine sometimes run into trouble after starting estrone. Thyroid hormones need to reach steady levels, and estrogen can hike up the amount of thyroid-binding globulin—the “sponge” that soaks up thyroid drugs in the blood. Symptoms of low thyroid return, and lab results confuse everyone. It’s easy to chalk this up to old age or stress if you don’t look closely enough, but checking both thyroid numbers and medication lists often reveals what’s going on.
Estrone plus oral contraceptives or other hormone replacements often pulls the body in too many directions at once. In these piles of overlapping estrogen, side effects tend to pile up: blood pressure creeps up, headaches hit harder, and mood swings feel sharper. For people dealing with migraines or pre-existing hypertension, any new hormone hits hard. Reading through FDA drug guides or recent studies, estrone appears in more than a few warning boxes.
Even the most detailed medication guides or pharmacy warnings can’t account for every mix-up. What people share in person often makes a difference: side effects show up in conversations, not charts. I’ve seen patients enter with bruising or fatigue, only to realize estrone joined another medication a few weeks back. Reporting side effects, tracking medication timing, and checking in with both doctors and pharmacists reflects the approach that national guidelines encourage. It isn’t just paperwork—streetside advice, lived experience, and open communication help steer clear of preventable mistakes. That’s what responsible use looks like in practice.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | estra-1,3,5(10)-trien-3-ol-17-one |
| Other names |
Ogen
Folliculin Estrovarin Estrotone Estronin Theelin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛs.troʊn/ |
| Preferred IUPAC name | (13S,14S)-3-Hydroxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-one |
| Other names |
Estra-1,3,5(10)-trien-3-ol-17-one
E1 Oestrone |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛs.troʊn/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 53-16-7 |
| Beilstein Reference | 81138 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:17263 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1187 |
| ChemSpider | 5031 |
| DrugBank | DB00655 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 07d2d8b2-5bc0-427c-aa43-c2b6c7ccb7fa |
| EC Number | 3.1.1.1 |
| Gmelin Reference | Gmelin Reference: **140495** |
| KEGG | C00468 |
| MeSH | D004967 |
| PubChem CID | 5870 |
| RTECS number | KW7875000 |
| UNII | 4QQ51YY32D |
| UN number | UN2811 |
| CAS Number | 53-16-7 |
| Beilstein Reference | BI 205885 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:17263 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL826 |
| ChemSpider | 5071 |
| DrugBank | DB00655 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 02b88f522e-f84e-4d64-ba13-1a05dfe65b3a |
| EC Number | 3.1.1.272 |
| Gmelin Reference | Gmelin Reference: **140117** |
| KEGG | C00468 |
| MeSH | D004967 |
| PubChem CID | 5870 |
| RTECS number | KW2975000 |
| UNII | KYS0Q3JQRA |
| UN number | UN2811 |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | DTXSID3023678 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C18H22O2 |
| Molar mass | 270.37 g/mol |
| Appearance | White or creamy white, crystalline powder |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 1.23 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | Slightly soluble |
| log P | 3.13 |
| Vapor pressure | 1.78E-07 mmHg at 25°C |
| Acidity (pKa) | 12.5 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 4.08 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -74.0·10⁻⁶ |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.251 |
| Viscosity | 1.32 cP (20°C) |
| Dipole moment | 2.49 D |
| Chemical formula | C18H22O2 |
| Molar mass | 270.37 g/mol |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 1.2 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | slightly soluble |
| log P | 3.13 |
| Vapor pressure | 2.54E-8 mmHg |
| Acidity (pKa) | 10.38 |
| Basicity (pKb) | pKb = 13.40 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -82.5·10⁻⁶ cm³/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.582 |
| Dipole moment | 2.70 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 395.1 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -47.7 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -6106 kJ mol-1 |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 389.6 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -394.8 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -3669.1 kJ/mol |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | G03CA02 |
| ATC code | G03CA02 |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Suspected of causing cancer. |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS07, GHS08 |
| Pictograms | HPUB |
| Signal word | Danger |
| Hazard statements | H302 + H332: Harmful if swallowed or if inhaled. H351: Suspected of causing cancer. |
| Precautionary statements | P201, P202, P273, P281, P308+P313, P405, P501 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 2-1-0 |
| Flash point | 196 °C |
| Autoignition temperature | 360 °C |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 intravenous (rat) 81 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): 720 mg/kg (oral, rat) |
| NIOSH | RN 53-16-7 |
| PEL (Permissible) | 0.05 mg/m³ |
| REL (Recommended) | 0.004 mg/kg bw |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | Not Established |
| Main hazards | May impair fertility, suspected of causing cancer, causes skin and serious eye irritation |
| GHS labelling | GHS labelling: "Danger; H315, H319, H351, H360; P201, P202, P264, P280, P308+P313, P305+P351+P338, P337+P313 |
| Pictograms | Estrone pictograms: `"GHS08"` |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | Hazard statements: "H302, H315, H319, H335, H360 |
| Precautionary statements | P201, P202, P280, P308+P313, P405, P501 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 2-3-0 |
| Flash point | Flash point: 185°C |
| Autoignition temperature | 285 °C |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 oral rat 2 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | 1,000 mg/kg (rat, oral) |
| PEL (Permissible) | 0.05 mg/m³ |
| REL (Recommended) | 0.004 mg |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Estradiol
Estriol Equilin Equilenin |
| Related compounds |
Estradiol
Estriol 17α-Estradiol Estetrol Equilin Equilenin Mestranol Ethinylestradiol |
Providing high-quality chemical products and logistics solutions for global trade partners.
