Abstract
The metabolites of 17α-ethynyl-19-nortestosterone were determined in the urine of 5 postmenopausal women. Only a small fraction of the unchanged compound and a small amount of Δ4-3-ketosteroids which still carry the ethynyl group at carbon 17 as well as traces of steroid alcohols are excreted. Ethinyloestradiol was identified by paper chromatography. The inhibitory effect of the 17-alkylation on steroid metabolism is discussed.