Medroxyprogesterone is a
progestinA progestin is a synthetic progestagen that has progestinic effects similar to progesterone. The two most frequent uses of progestins are for hormonal contraception , and to prevent endometrial hyperplasia from unopposed estrogen in hormone replacement therapy...
, and is commonly a component of hormonal contraceptives.
It can be used in the treatment of
endometriosisEndometriosis is a medical condition in women in which endometrial like cells appear and flourish in areas outside the uterine cavity. The uterine cavity is lined by endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones...
, abnormal menstrual bleeding or amenorrhea.
Possible side effects include weight gain, depression, and irregular menses or amenorrhea.
There is some evidence of an effect on
breast cancerBreast cancer is a cancer that starts in the breast, usually in the inner lining of the milk ducts or lobules. There are different types of breast cancer, with different stages , aggressiveness, and genetic makeup. With best treatment, 10-year disease-free survival varies from 98% to 10%...
cells.
Progestins lower the risk of estrogen-related cancer of the uterus.
Medroxyprogesterone is a
progestinA progestin is a synthetic progestagen that has progestinic effects similar to progesterone. The two most frequent uses of progestins are for hormonal contraception , and to prevent endometrial hyperplasia from unopposed estrogen in hormone replacement therapy...
, and is commonly a component of hormonal contraceptives.
Uses and side effects
It can be used in the treatment of
endometriosisEndometriosis is a medical condition in women in which endometrial like cells appear and flourish in areas outside the uterine cavity. The uterine cavity is lined by endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones...
, abnormal menstrual bleeding or amenorrhea.
Possible side effects include weight gain, depression, and irregular menses or amenorrhea.
There is some evidence of an effect on
breast cancerBreast cancer is a cancer that starts in the breast, usually in the inner lining of the milk ducts or lobules. There are different types of breast cancer, with different stages , aggressiveness, and genetic makeup. With best treatment, 10-year disease-free survival varies from 98% to 10%...
cells.
Risk reduction
Progestins lower the risk of estrogen-related cancer of the uterus. This medicine used in combination with estrogen (hormone replacement therapy - HRT) should not be used to prevent heart disease. Two drug combination HRT (estrogen and progestin menopause) can infrequently cause cancer of the breast, heart disease (e.g., heart attack), stroke, dementia, or blood clots in the lung (pulmonary embolism) or leg. Estrogens may also increase the risk of cancer of the ovary. These risks appear to depend on the length of time this combination is used and the amount of estrogen per dose. Therefore, two-drug HRT should be used for the shortest possible length of time at the lowest effective dose, so you obtain the benefits and minimize the chance of serious side effects from long-term treatment. If you use this drug for an extended period, you should be evaluated at least once a year.
You should not use this medicine during the first 4 months of pregnancy because birth defects may occur. This medicine has not been proven to prevent natural abortions that occur early in the pregnancy. Often, the cause of an early natural abortion is due to a defective female egg. Using this drug does not fix a defective egg and may get in the way of expelling it.
Other uses
In males, medroxy-progesterone reduces the production of
testosteroneTestosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands. It is the principal male sex hormone and an anabolic steroid.In men,...
by the testes and the
adrenal glandIn mammals, the adrenal glands are the star-shaped endocrine glands that sit on top of the kidneys; their name indicates that position...
s, which in some males (not all) reduces sex drive. Several U.S. states mandate use of medroxy-progesterone acetate, or MPA, for "
chemical castrationChemical castration is the administration of medication designed to reduce libido and sexual activity, usually in the hope of preventing rapists, child molesters and other sex offenders from re-offending...
" of convicted rapists and sex offenders. (See Medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment.)
It has also been used to control inappropiate sexual behavior of men with
dementiaDementia is a serious cognitive disorder. It may be static, the result of a unique global brain injury or progressive, resulting in long-term decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the body beyond what might be expected from normal aging...
.
See also
- Progestin
A progestin is a synthetic progestagen that has progestinic effects similar to progesterone. The two most frequent uses of progestins are for hormonal contraception , and to prevent endometrial hyperplasia from unopposed estrogen in hormone replacement therapy...
- Depo Provera
Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate is a progestin-only long acting reversible hormonal contraceptive birth control drug which is injected every 3 months....
- Medroxyprogesterone 17-acetate
Medroxyprogesterone 17-acetate is a pregnane....
- Medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment