Progesterone is a hormone used for a variety of functions, including contraception, control of abnormal uterine bleeding, maintenance of pregnancy, and prevention of endometrial hyperplasia. Progesterone is a hormone that occurs naturally in females, and is essential for endometrial receptivity, embryo implantation, and the successful establishment of pregnancy.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 3 references
Progesterone binds and activates its nuclear receptor, PR, which plays an important part in the signaling of stimuli that maintain the endometrium during its preparation for pregnancy.
Progesterone receptor (PR) is a member of the nuclear/steroid hormone receptor (SHR) family of ligand-dependent transcription factors that is expressed primarily in female reproductive tissue as well as the central nervous system. As a result of its binding its associated steroid hormone, progesterone, the progesterone receptor (PR) modulates the expression of genes that regulate the development, differentiation, and proliferation of target tissues. In humans, PR is found to be highly expressed in the stromal (connective tissue) cells during the secretory phase and during pregnancy.
Progesterone may prevent pregnancy by changing the consistency of cervical mucus to be unfavorable for sperm penetration, and by inhibiting follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which normally causes ovulation. With perfect use, the first-year failure rate for progestin-only oral contraceptives is approximately 0.5%. The typical failure rate, however, is estimated to be approximately 5%, due to late or missed pills.
- Primary indication
- Gelatinized capsules The gelatinized capsules are indicated for use in the prevention of endometrial hyperplasia in non-hysterectomized postmenopausal women who are receiving conjugated estrogens tablets.Curator reviewed · 8 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C21H30O2 · 314.4617 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2000 · United States, 1978
- Also known as
- (S)-Progesterone · 17alpha-Progesterone · Agolutin · Akrolutin · Corpus Luteum Hormone
- Code names
- BP 14 · NSC-64377 · NSC-9704 · U 3672
- Brand names
Resolves to
RJKFOVLPORLFTN-LEKSSAKUSA-NSMILES[H][C@@]12CC[C@H](C(C)=O)[C@@]1(C)CC[C@@]1([H])[C@@]2([H])CCC2=CC(=O)CC[C@]12CWhat you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Progesterone, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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