Objective To summarize the research progress of postmenopausal breast cancer and estrogen metabolites, which is aimed at providing the basis for early diagnosis and early treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer, at the same time, providing beneficial information for the future study. Methods In recent years, the literatures about postmenopausal breast cancer and estrogen metabolites were reviewed from the databases of WanFang, VIP, CNKI, PubMed, and so on, to make an review. Results Estrogen metabolites had a dual role for postmenopausal breast cancer, such as 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1), 2-methoxyestrone1 (2-MeOE1), and 4-methoxyestrone1 (4-MeOE1) played a protective role for postmenopausal breast cancer, but 4-hydroxyestrone (4-OHE1) and 16α-hydroxyestrone (16α-OHE1) played a carcinogenic role for postmenopausal breast cancer, so it needed to be further studied. Conclusions Estrogen metabolites may be a reliable predictor for the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, it is not only to provide clues for the mechanism of postmenopausal breast cancer, but also provide new train of thought for early diagnosis and treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer.