Estradiol stearate
Estradiol stearate (brand name Depofollan), or estradiol octadecanoate, is a naturally occurring steroidal estrogen and an estrogen ester – specifically, the C17β stearate ester of estradiol. It occurs in the body as a very long-lasting metabolite and prohormone of estradiol. In addition, estradiol stearate is or has been available as a pharmaceutical drug for use via depot intramuscular injection. The drug was introduced in 1941 as Depofollan and was the first long-acting estrogen, although it has never been widely used. It has been reported in at least one source to have a duration of at least one month.
Estradiol cypionate
Estradiol cypionate, sold under the brand name Depo-Estradiol among others, is an estrogen medication which is used in hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms and low estrogen levels in women, in hormone therapy for transgender women, and in hormonal birth control for women. It is given by injection into muscle once every 1 to 4 weeks.
Side effects of estradiol cypionate include breast tenderness, breast enlargement, nausea, headache, and fluid retention. Estradiol cypionate is a synthetic estrogen and hence is an agonist of the estrogen receptor (ER), the biological target of estrogens like estradiol. Estradiol cypionate is an estrogen ester and a long-lasting prodrug of estradiol in the body. Because of this, it is considered to be a natural and bioidentical form of estrogen.
Estradiol cypionate was first described as well as introduced for medical use in 1952. Along with estradiol valerate, it is one of the most commonly used esters of estradiol. Estradiol cypionate has mostly been used in the United States, but is also marketed in a few other countries. It is not currently available as a generic medication in the United States.