Understanding Steroid Suffixes: The Role of "-ol"

The suffix -ol in steroid nomenclature indicates the presence of a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a carbon atom of the steroid nucleus.

Common Positions

• 3β-ol: Cholesterol, many steroid hormones (e.g., testosterone, estradiol).
• 17β-ol: Testosterone, estradiol, estriol.
• 11β-ol: Cortisol, corticosterone.
• 21-ol: Corticosteroids (e.g., progesterone derivatives).

Examples

• Cholest-5-en-3β-ol (cholesterol)
• Androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (no -ol)
• Pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione (progesterone, no -ol)

The -ol suffix is systematic in IUPAC steroid naming; trivial names often retain it (e.g., estradiol, testosterone).