mestranol: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Mestranol's use has declined significantly. It was common in first-generation oral contraceptives but has largely been replaced by other estrogens like ethinylestradiol in modern formulations, though it may still be found in some specific products or in historical medical contexts.

Mestranol is a prodrug for ethinylestradiol. This means mestranol itself is less active until it is metabolised (processed) by the liver into the more potent ethinylestradiol. Ethinylestradiol is the active compound directly used in most modern contraceptive pills.

You would encounter it in historical pharmacology, the history of medicine (especially regarding contraceptive development), endocrinology, and in older pharmaceutical literature. It is a specialist term with very narrow application.

No, it is a highly technical pharmaceutical term. In everyday conversation, people would refer to 'the estrogen in the pill' or 'birth control medication,' not the specific chemical name mestranol.

A synthetic estrogen used primarily in oral contraceptives and hormone therapy.

Mestranol is usually medical / technical / pharmaceutical in register.

Mestranol: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɛstrənɒl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɛstrəˌnɔl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.