Progestogen-only injectable contraceptives (POICs) are a form of

hormonal contraception Hormonal contraception refers to birth control methods that act on the endocrine system. Almost all methods are composed of steroid hormones, although in India one selective estrogen receptor modulator is marketed as a contraceptive. The origin ...

and

progestogen-only contraception Progestogen-only contraception (or progestin-only contraception) relies on progestogens alone to achieve contraception. It is one of the two major types of hormonal contraception, with the other major type being combined hormonal contraceptive m ...

that are administered by

injection Injection or injected may refer to: Science and technology * Injective function, a mathematical function mapping distinct arguments to distinct values * Injection (medicine), insertion of liquid into the body with a syringe * Injection, in broadca ...

and providing long-lasting

birth control Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...

. As opposed to

combined injectable contraceptive 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. CICs are different from progestoge ...

s, they contain only a

progestogen 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. ...

without an

estrogen Estrogen or oestrogen is a category of sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. There are three major endogenous estrogens that have estrogenic hormonal acti ...

, and include two

progestin A progestogen, also referred to as a progestagen, gestagen, or gestogen, is a type of medication which produces effects similar to those of the natural product, natural female sex hormone progesterone in the body. A progestin is a ''synthetic co ...

preparations: *

Medroxyprogesterone acetate Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), also known as depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) in injectable form and sold under the brand name Depo-Provera among others, is a hormonal medication of the progestin type. It is used as a method of bi ...

(brand names Depo-Provera, Provera, Depo-subQ Provera 104) – 150 mg (

intramuscular Intramuscular injection, often abbreviated IM, is the injection of a substance into a muscle. In medicine, it is one of several methods for parenteral administration of medications. Intramuscular injection may be preferred because muscles have l ...

ly) or 104 mg ( subcutaneously) every 3 months *

Norethisterone enanthate Norethisterone enanthate (NETE), also known as norethindrone enanthate, is a form of hormonal birth control which is used to prevent pregnancy in women. It is used both as a form of progestogen-only injectable birth control and in combined inject ...

(brand names NET EN, Noristerat, Norigest, Doryxas) – 200 mg (intramuscularly) every 2 months

Research

Progestogens that have been studied for potential use as POICs but were never marketed as such include the

progesterone Progesterone (P4) is an endogenous steroid and progestogen sex hormone involved in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and embryogenesis of humans and other species. It belongs to a group of steroid hormones called the progestogens and is the m ...

derivatives

algestone acetophenide 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 ...

(dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide) (100 mg/month),

chlormadinone acetate Chlormadinone acetate (CMA), sold under the brand names Belara, Gynorelle, Lutéran, and Prostal among others, is a progestin and antiandrogen medication which is used in birth control pills to prevent pregnancy, as a component of menopausal hor ...

(250 mg/3 months),

hydroxyprogesterone caproate Hydroxyprogesterone caproate (OHPC), sold under the brand names Proluton and Makena among others, is a progestin medication which is used to prevent preterm birth in pregnant women with a history of the condition and to treat gynecological dis ...

(250–500 mg/month),

gestonorone caproate 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 en ...

(2.5–200 mg/1–2 months), and

oxogestone phenpropionate Oxogestone phenpropionate (OPP; ) (former developmental code name or tentative brand name Oxageston), also known as xinogestone, as well as 20β-hydroxy-19-norprogesterone 20β-(3-phenylpropionate), is a progestin related to the 19-norprogestero ...

(50–75 mg/month), and the

testosterone Testosterone is the primary sex hormone and anabolic steroid in males. In humans, testosterone plays a key role in the development of Male reproductive system, male reproductive tissues such as testes and prostate, as well as promoting secondar ...

derivatives

lynestrenol phenylpropionate Lynestrenol phenylpropionate (LPP), also known as ethynylestrenol phenylpropionate, is a progestin and a progestogen ester which was developed for potential use as a progestogen-only injectable contraceptive by Organon but was never marketed. It ...

(25–75 mg/month),

levonorgestrel butanoate Levonorgestrel butanoate (LNG-B) (developmental code name HRP-002), or levonorgestrel 17β-butanoate, is a steroidal progestin of the 19-nortestosterone group which was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the Co ...

levonorgestrel cyclobutylcarboxylate Levonorgestrel cyclobutylcarboxylate (or levonorgestrel 17β-cyclobutylcarboxylate; developmental code name HRP-001) is a progestin and a progestogen ester which was studied for potential use as an injectable hormonal contraceptive but was never ...

, and

levonorgestrel cyclopropylcarboxylate Levonorgestrel cyclopropylcarboxylate (developmental code name HRP-003), or levonorgestrel 17β-cyclopropylcarboxylate, is a progestin and a progestogen ester which was studied for potential use as an injectable hormonal contraceptive but was ne ...

. Some of these have been introduced for use in

s instead.Benagiano, G., & Merialdi, M. (2011). Carl Djerassi and the World Health Organisation special programme of research in human reproduction. Journal für Reproduktionsmedizin und Endokrinologie-Journal of Reproductive Medicine and Endocrinology, 8(1), 10-13. http://www.kup.at/kup/pdf/10163.pdf

References

{{Progesterone receptor modulators Hormonal contraception Progestogens

Research

See also

References