Methylestradiol

Methylestradiol, or 17α-methylestradiol (17α-ME), is a semisynthetic, steroidal estrogen that has been sold in combination with normethandrone (methylestrenolone) under brand names including Ginecosid, Ginecoside, Mediol, Renodiol for the treatment of menopausal symptoms in Brazil, Venezuela, and Indonesia. Due to the presence of the 17α-methyl group, methylestradiol cannot be deactivated by oxidation of the 17β-hydroxy group, resulting in improved metabolic stability and potency relative to estradiol analogously to ethinyl estradiol (17α-ethinylestradiol). In addition to its clinical use, methylestradiol has been studied as a radiopharmaceutical.