Medroxyprogesterone is a pregnane

Pregnane

Pregnane is, indirectly, a parent of progesterone. It is a parent hydrocarbon for two series of steroids stemming from 5α-pregnane and 5β-pregnane ....

 that acts as a progestin

Progestin

A progestin is a synthetic progestogen that has progestinic effects similar to progesterone. The two most common uses of progestins are for hormonal contraception , and to prevent endometrial hyperplasia from unopposed estrogen in hormone replacement therapy...

. An acylated derivative, medroxyprogesterone 17-acetate

Medroxyprogesterone 17-acetate

Medroxyprogesterone 17-acetate is a progestin, a synthetic variant of the human hormone progesterone. It is used as a contraceptive, in hormone replacement therapy and for the treatment of endometriosis as well as several other indications.MPA is a more potent derivative of its parent alcohol...

 (MPA) is clinically used as a drug. Compared to MPA, MP is approximately 100 fold less potent as a progestin. MP is also a metabolite of MPA.

While medroxyprogesterone is sometimes used as a synonym for medroxyprogesterone 17-acetate, what is normally being administered is medroxyprogesterone 17-acetate and not medroxyprogesterone.

Medroxyprogesterone is used to regulate irregular periods in a woman's menstral cycle. This drug is also used with women going through menopause

Menopause

Menopause is a term used to describe the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human ovaries: the ripening and release of ova and the release of hormones that cause both the creation of the uterine lining and the subsequent shedding of the uterine lining...

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