Progestins For Contraceptive Use (Systemic)
Category- Contraceptive (systemic)
- Progestational agent
DescriptionProgestins (proe-JES-tins)
are hormones.
The low-dose progestins for contraception are used to prevent pregnancy.
Other names for progestin-only oral contraceptives are minipills and progestin-only
pills (POPs). Progestins can prevent fertilization by preventing a woman's
egg from fully developing.
Also, progestins cause changes at the opening of the uterus, such as thickening
of the cervical mucus. This makes it hard for the partner's sperm to reach
the egg. The fertilization of the woman's egg with her partner's sperm is
less likely to occur while she is taking, receiving, or using a progestin,
but it can occur. Even so, the progestins make it harder for the fertilized
egg to become attached to the walls of the uterus, making it difficult to
become pregnant.
No contraceptive method is 100 percent effective. Studies show that fewer than 1 of each 100 women become pregnant during the
first year of use when correctly receiving the injection on time or receiving
the levonorgestrel implants. Fewer than 10 of each 100 women correctly taking
progestins by mouth for contraception become pregnant during the first year
of use
. Methods that do not work as well include using condoms, diaphragms,
or spermicides. Discuss with your health care professional what your options
are for birth control.
Progestins are available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following
dosage forms:
Oral
-
Levonorgestrel
-
Norethindrone
-
Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
-
Norgestrel
Subdermal
-
Levonorgestrel
-
Implants (U.S. and Canada)
Parenteral
-
Medroxyprogesterone
-
Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Brand NamesSome commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S. -
- Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection 2
- Micronor 3
- NORPLANT System 1
- Nor-QD 3
- Ovrette 4
- Plan B 1
In Canada -
- Depo-Provera 2
- Micronor 3
- NORPLANT System 1
Another commonly used name is norethisterone .
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Note:
|
For quick reference, the following progestins are numbered
to match the corresponding brand names.
|
| This information applies to the following medicines |
| 1. |
Levonorgestrel (LEE-voe-nor-jes-trel) |
| 2. |
Medroxyprogesterone (me-DROX-ee-proe-JES-te-rone) |
| 3. |
Norethindrone (nor-eth-IN-drone) |
| 4. |
Norgestrel (nor-JES-trel)† |
| † Not commercially available in Canada |
|
