Progestagen 239987 220524356 2008-06-20T07:56:49Z Zodon 6424546 /* Birth control */ main link hormonal contraception {{expert}} {{Unreferenced|date=November 2007}} '''Progestagens''' (also spelled '''progestogens''' or '''gestagens''') are [[hormone]]s that produce effects similar to those of [[progesterone]], the only natural progestagen. All other progestogens are [[Chemical synthesis|synthetic]] and are often referred to as [[progestins]]. All progestagens have antiestrogenic (counteracting the effects of [[estrogen]]s on the body) and antigonadotropic (inhibiting the production of [[sex steroid]]s by [[gonad]]s) properties. Progestogens differ in their potency (affinity for [[progesterone receptor]]s) and side-effects. Such side-effects may be [[androgen]]ic (medroxyprogesterone and most C19 progestagens), [[antiandrogen]]ic (cyproterone acetate), [[estrogen]]ic, [[glucocorticoid]] (some C21 progestogens), or anti[[mineralocorticoid]] (progesterone). ==Uses== ===Birth control=== {{main|Hormonal contraception}} *Progestogens are used alone in [[progestogen only pill]]s, or with an [[estrogen]] in [[combined oral contraceptive pill]]s, a [[contraceptive patch]], and a [[NuvaRing|contraceptive vaginal ring]]. *Medroxyprogesterone acetate ([[Depo-Provera]]) and norethindrone enantate (Noristerat) are used by [[Injection (medicine)#Depot injection|depot injection]]. *Etonogestrol is released by [[subcutaneous]] implants ([[Implanon]]). [[Norplant]] and [[Jadelle]] implants release [[levonorgestrel]]. *Levonorgestrel is released by the [[IntraUterine System|intrauterine system]] IUS (Mirena). ===Antiandrogen=== [[Cyproterone acetate|Cyproterone]] is an [[antiandrogen]]. ===Progestogen withdrawal bleeding=== In a normal [[menstrual cycle]], a sudden drop in progesterone levels triggers menstruation. [[Norethindrone acetate]] (brand name Aygestin) and [[medroxyprogesterone acetate]] (brand name Provera) may be used to artificially induce progestogen withdrawal bleeding. [[Category:Progestagens]] [[Category:Sex steroids]] ==External links== *[http://www.millionwomenstudy.org/index2.html The Million Women Study] *[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11384629&dopt=Abstract The Women's HOPE Study (PubMed Abstract)] *[http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/280/7/605 HERS Study (JAMA Abstract)] {{Sex hormones}} [[da:Gestagen]] [[de:Gestagen]] [[es:Progestágeno]] [[fr:Progestagène]] [[lt:Gestagenai]] [[nl:Progestageen]] [[no:Progestagen]] [[oc:Progestagèn]] [[pl:Progestagen]] [[pt:Progestágeno]] [[sv:Gestagener]]