A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| Progestogen (medication) | |
|---|---|
| Drug class | |
 Progesterone, the natural progestogen in the body and one of the most widely used progestogen medications | |
| Class identifiers | |
| Synonyms | Progestagen, gestagen, gestogen; progestin (synthetic progestogen); progesterone receptor agonist |
| Use | Hormonal birth control, hormone therapy, gynecological disorders, fertility medicine and pregnancy support, sex-hormone suppression, others |
| ATC code | G03 |
| Biological target | Progesterone receptors (PR-A, PR-B, PR-C); membrane progesterone receptors (mPRα, mPRβ, mPRγ, mPRδ, mPRε); progesterone receptor membrane components (PGRMC1, PGRMC2) |
| Chemical class | Steroids (pregnanes, norpregnanes, retropregnanes, androstanes, estranes) |
| Clinical data | |
| Drugs.com | Drug Classes |
| External links | |
| MeSH | D011372 |
| Legal status | |
| In Wikidata | |
A progestogen, also referred to as a progestagen, gestagen, or gestogen, is a type of medication which produces effects similar to those of the natural female sex hormone progesterone in the body.[1] A progestin is a synthetic progestogen.[1] Progestogens are used most commonly in hormonal birth control and menopausal hormone therapy.[1] They can also be used in the treatment of gynecological conditions, to support fertility and pregnancy, to lower sex hormone levels for various purposes, and for other indications.[1] Progestogens are used alone or in combination with estrogens.[1] They are available in a wide variety of formulations and for use by many different routes of administration.[1] Examples of progestogens include natural or bioidentical progesterone as well as progestins such as medroxyprogesterone acetate and norethisterone.[1]
Side effects of progestogens include menstrual irregularities, headaches, nausea, breast tenderness, mood changes, acne, increased hair growth, and changes in liver protein production among others.[1][2] Other side effects of progestogens may include an increased risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and blood clots.[2] At high doses, progestogens can cause low sex hormone levels and associated side effects like sexual dysfunction and an increased risk of bone fractures.[3]
Progestogens are agonists of the progesterone receptors (PRs) and produce progestogenic, or progestational, effects.[1] They have important effects in the female reproductive system (uterus, cervix, and vagina), the breasts, and the brain.[1] In addition, many progestogens also have other hormonal activities, such as androgenic, antiandrogenic, estrogenic, glucocorticoid, or antimineralocorticoid activity.[1] They also have antigonadotropic effects and at high doses can strongly suppress sex hormone production.[1] Progestogens mediate their contraceptive effects both by inhibiting ovulation and by thickening cervical mucus, thereby preventing fertilization.[4][5] They have functional antiestrogenic effects in certain tissues like the endometrium, and this underlies their use in menopausal hormone therapy.[1]
Progesterone was first introduced for medical use in 1934 and the first progestin, ethisterone, was introduced for medical use in 1939.[6][7][8] More potent progestins, such as norethisterone, were developed and started to be used in birth control in the 1950s.[6] Around 60 progestins have been marketed for clinical use in humans or use in veterinary medicine.[9][10][11][12][13] These progestins can be grouped into different classes and generations.[1][14][15] Progestogens are available widely throughout the world and are used in all forms of hormonal birth control and in most menopausal hormone therapy regimens.[1][9][10][12][11]