Progestagen
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/* 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}}
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