Progestogens, also sometimes written progestagens or gestagens, are a class of natural or synthetic steroid hormones that bind to and activate the progesterone receptors (PR). Progesterone is the major and most important progestogen in the body. The progestogens are named for their function in maintaining pregnancy, although they are also present at other phases of the estrous and menstrual cycles.
17α-Hydroxyprogesterone (17α-OHP), also known as 17-OH progesterone (17-OHP), or hydroxyprogesterone (OHP), is an endogenous progestogen steroid hormone related to progesterone. It is also a chemical intermediate in the biosynthesis of many other endogenous steroids, including androgens, estrogens, glucocorticoids, and mineralocorticoids, as well as neurosteroids.
Gestonorone caproate, also known as gestronol hexanoate or norhydroxyprogesterone caproate and sold under the brand names Depostat and Primostat, is a progestin medication which is used in the treatment of enlarged prostate and cancer of the endometrium. It is given by injection into muscle typically once a week.
Combined injectable contraceptives (CICs) are a form of hormonal birth control for women. They consist of monthly injections of combined formulations containing an estrogen and a progestin to prevent pregnancy.
Algestone acetophenide, also known more commonly as dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide (DHPA) and sold under the brand names Perlutal and Topasel among others, is a progestin medication which is used in combination with an estrogen as a form of long-lasting injectable birth control. It has also been used alone, but is no longer available as a standalone medication. DHPA is not active by mouth and is given once a month by injection into muscle.
Proligestone, sold under the brand names Covinan and Delvosteron, is a progestin medication which is used in veterinary medicine.
Retroprogesterone, also known as 9β,10α-progesterone or as 9β,10α-pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, is a progestin which was never marketed. It is a stereoisomer of the naturally occurring progestogen progesterone, in which the hydrogen atom at the 9th carbon is in the α-position instead of the β-position and the methyl group at the 10th carbon is in the β-position instead of the α-position. In other words, the atom positions at the two carbons have been reversed relative to progesterone, hence the name retroprogesterone. This reversal results in a "bent" configuration in which the plane of rings A and B is orientated at a 60° angle below the rings C and D. This configuration is ideal for interaction with the progesterone receptor, with retroprogesterone binding with high affinity to this receptor. However, the configuration is not as ideal for binding to other steroid hormone receptors, and as a result, retroprogesterone derivatives have increased selectivity for the progesterone receptor relative to progesterone.
Flugestone, also known as flurogestone, as well as 9α-fluoro-11β,17α-dihydroxyprogesterone, is a steroidal progestin of the 17α-hydroxyprogesterone group that was never marketed. An acetate ester, flurogestone acetate, is used in veterinary medicine.
Cismadinone (INN), also known as 6α-chloro-17α-hydroxypregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione or 6α-chloro-δ1-dehydro-17α-hydroxyprogesterone, is a steroidal progestin closely related to the 17α-hydroxyprogesterone derivatives that was never marketed. An acetylated form, cismadinone acetate, also exists, but similarly to cismadinone, was never marketed.
Cismadinone acetate, also known as 6α-chloro-δ1-dehydro-17α-acetoxyprogesterone or as 6α-chloro-17α-acetoxypregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione, is a steroidal progestin related to the 17α-hydroxyprogesterone derivatives which was never marketed. It is the acetylated form of cismadinone, which is also a progestin but, similarly to cismadinone acetate, was never marketed.
Clomegestone (INN), or clomagestone, also known as 6-chloro-17α-hydroxy-16α-methylpregna-4,6-diene-3,20-dione, is a steroidal progestin of the 17α-hydroxyprogesterone group that was never marketed. An acetate ester, clomegestone acetate, also exists, and similarly was never marketed.
Clomegestone acetate, or clomagestone acetate, also known as 6-chloro-17α-acetoxy-16α-methylpregna-4,6-diene-3,20-dione, is a steroidal progestin of the 17α-hydroxyprogesterone group which was developed as an oral contraceptive but was never marketed. It is the acetate ester of clomegestone, which, similarly to clomegestone acetate, was never marketed. Clomegestone acetate is also the 17-desoxy cogener of clometherone, and is somewhat more potent in comparison. Similarly to cyproterone acetate, clomegestone acetate has been found to alter insulin receptor concentrations in adipose tissue, and this may indicate the presence of glucocorticoid activity.
Algestone acetonide, also known as algestone 16α,17α-acetonide or 16α,17α-isopropylidenedioxyprogesterone, is a progestin which was never marketed. It is the acetonide cyclic ketal of algestone. Another progestin, algestone acetophenide, in contrast, has been marketed.
Estradiol benzoate butyrate (EBB), sold under the brand names Neolutin N, Redimen, Soluna, and Unijab and formerly known under the developmental code name Unimens, is an estrogen medication which is used in hormonal birth control for women. It is formulated in combination with dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide, a progestin, and is used specifically as a combined injectable contraceptive. EBB is not available for medical use alone. The medication, in combination with DHPA, is given by injection into muscle once a month.
16α-Hydroxyprogesterone (16α-OHP), also known as 16α-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, is a minor endogenous progestogen steroid hormone and a metabolite of progesterone that is formed in lower amounts than 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17α-OHP). It occurs in micromolar concentrations and its physiological relevance hence is questionable. However, it may accumulate in target tissues and could have a physiological role in the reproductive system and mammary gland development as well as the cardiovascular and central nervous systems.
Gestadienol acetate an orally active progestin which was described in the literature in 1967 and was never marketed. It has no androgenic or estrogenic effects. The effects of gestadienol acetate on the endometrium and its general pharmacology were studied in a clinical trial in women. It has also been studied in a clinical trial for benign prostatic hyperplasia in men, but was ineffective.
Megestrol caproate, abbreviated as MGC, is a progestin medication which was never marketed. It was developed in Russia in 2002. In animals, MGC shows 10-fold higher progestogenic activity compared to progesterone when both are administered via subcutaneous injection. In addition, MGC has no androgenic, anabolic, or estrogenic activity. The medication was suggested as a potential contraceptive and therapeutic agent.
Estradiol benzoate butyrate/algestone acetophenide, also known as estradiol benzoate butyrate/dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide (EBB/DHPA) and sold under the brand names Neolutin N, Redimen, Soluna, and Unijab, is a form of combined injectable birth control which is used in Peru and Singapore. It contains estradiol benzoate butyrate (EBB), an estrogen, and algestone acetophenide, a progestin. The medication is given once per month by injection into muscle.
