Drug & supplement interaction

Androstenediol + Estrogen

Estrogen brand name: Estrogen.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Androstenediol has a moderate interaction with Estrogen. Androstenediol is a precursor to estrogen and can increase levels of estradiol and estrone.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Androstenediol and Estrogen

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ESTROGENS

Why this applies to Estrogen

Estrogen falls under ESTROGENS — the group Androstenediol interacts with.

Androstenediol is a precursor to estrogen and can increase levels of estradiol and estrone. There is some concern that taking androstenediol with estrogens might increase estrogenic effects and potential side effects. However, androstenediol is converted to estrogen in low estrogen environments. Patients who are taking supplemental estrogen do not have low estrogen levels. Therefore, androstenediol might not be converted to estrogen in these patients. It is unclear how this might alter the effects and side effects of androstenediol. Until more is known, use with caution or avoid using with estrogen-containing drugs. Some of these drugs include CombiPatch, Estraderm Transdermal, Kestrone, Vivelle Transdermal, and others.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version. Your body can turn androstenediol into estrogen, including estradiol and estrone. So if you're already taking estrogen therapy, adding this supplement could stack a little more estrogen on top of what you're getting. In theory, that might bump up estrogen-related effects, things like breast tenderness, bloating, nausea, mood changes, or spotting, and over the long run estrogen excess carries its own risks.

One important catch: androstenediol mostly converts to estrogen when your estrogen levels are low. Since you're taking supplemental estrogen, your levels aren't low, so how much it actually adds is genuinely uncertain. This concern comes from how the hormones work on paper, not from strong human studies. Still, because it's an unpredictable hormone product, please check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining the two.

References
  1. Broeder CE, Quindry J, Brittingham K, et al. The Andro Project: physiological and hormonal influences of androstenedione supplementation in men 35 to 65 years old participating in a high-intensity resistance training program. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:30
  2. Brown GA, Martini ER, Roberts BS, et al. Acute hormonal response to sublingual androstenediol intake in young men. J Appl Physiol 2002;92:142-6. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Androstenediol Also Interacts With Other Medications

Androstenediol has 46 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Estrogen one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Androstenediol

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Androstenediol. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Androstenediol or Estrogen

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Androstenediol or Estrogen, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Estrogen

This page covers Androstenediol only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Estrogen page lists 211 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 170 moderate · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Estrogen page

“If you take estrogen, this is a list to handle with real care. Of the 211 supplements and herbs with an interaction on file, three carry a major rating, and I would want you to understand those first.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Estrogen interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Androstenediol and Estrogen Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Androstenediol
Steady interest

#1,099 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Estrogen
Top 5%

#110 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Androstenediol

What is Androstenediol?

Androstenediol
  • Boosting testosterone
  • Building muscle and strength
  • Enhancing athletic performance
  • Anti-aging / general vitality
  • Bodybuilding cutting or bulking cycles

Androstenediol is a prohormone (a precursor the body can convert into testosterone and other hormones) marketed to raise testosterone and build muscle, but solid human evidence for these benefits is lacking and it carries real hormonal risks. In the United States it is a Schedule III controlled substance and is banned in most competitive sports. Talk with a doctor or pharmacist before considering any product containing it.

Read the full Androstenediol monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Estrogen

What Is Estrogen Used For?

Brand name: Estrogen

Based on the available product information, this Estrogen product is intended for external use on the skin — specifically the face, neck, or body. It is applied as part of a daily skincare routine.

For any specific medical concerns, the label recommends consulting a healthcare provider before use.

See full Estrogen drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Androstenediol

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Androstenediol — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
46Moderate
0Minor
2,783No known interaction
Moderate

46 interactions

No interaction 2,783 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Androstenediol and Estrogen Together: Common Questions

Can you take Androstenediol with Estrogen?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Androstenediol and Estrogen interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Estrogen and Androstenediol?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.