Progestogen analogues

Dydrogesterone is a progesterone analogue. One of its indications is endometriosis, in which case dydrogesterone is administered at a dose of 10 mg two to three times daily. Progestogens are contraindicated in severe liver impairment and in patients with a history of liver tumours. 

Progesterone, the physiological progestogen, has long been overshadowed in medical treatment by its synthetic analogues, because of their superior oral absorption. 

Selectivity. Many synthetic analogues, although classed as, e.g. androgen, anabolic steroid, progestogen, are nonselective and bind to several types of receptor as agonist, partial agonist, antagonist. 

With these very positive conclusions it is not clear why micronized progesterone has not been more widely used. Commercial factors may well have played a role in maintaining the overwhelming dominance of the patented synthetic progestogens. On the other hand, despite the fact that there are estimated to be 500 000 current users of micronized progesterone in France alone, the worldwide scope of experience is stiU limited compared with that of the sjmthetic analogues, and one must be prepared for surprises if this product should ever be used more widely. It... 

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