progesterone
Progesterone is an injection used to treat people who aren't getting their period or have abnormal bleeding due to hormone imbalance. It belongs to a group of medications called progestins and works by replacing progesterone hormone that's naturally made in the body. The medication is typically injected into the muscle daily for 6-8 days in a row. Potential side effects include pain at the injection site, weight gain or weight loss, and breast tenderness.
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What is Progesterone?
What is Progesterone used for?
Lack of menstrual periods due to hormone imbalance
Abnormal bleeding from the uterus due to hormone imbalance
How Progesterone works
Progesterone is a progestin. It regulates your period by giving your body more progesterone, a hormone that helps control the menstrual cycle. This helps to balance the natural levels of progesterone in the body.
Drug Facts
What are the side effects of Progesterone?
Common Side Effects
- Pain, swelling, and/or redness at the injection site
- Breakthrough bleeding or spotting
- Changes in menstrual flow
- Changes in weight
- Swelling
- Vaginal discharge
- Breast tenderness
Other Side Effects
- Acne
- Depression
- Hair loss or hair growth
- Trouble sleeping
- Sleepiness
- Nausea
Serious Side Effects
- Serious allergic reactions: trouble breathing, hives, rash, itchiness, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Heart attack: chest pain or tightness, pain that radiates up to your shoulder, arm, neck, or jaw, sweating, trouble breathing
- Stroke: sudden trouble talking, trouble walking, or numbness on one side of your body or face, severe headache
- Blood clot in the lungs: shortness of breath, chest pain, cough
- Blood clot in the eyes: sudden vision loss, blurry vision, changes in vision, migraine
- Pneumonia: fever, trouble breathing, fatigue, night sweats, cough
- Liver problems: nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, stomach pain
- Breast lumps: breast pain or soreness, swelling, rash
- Unusual vaginal bleeding: abnormal spotting or bleeding
Source: DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Clear or bloody discharge from the nipple
dimpling of the breast skin
inverted nipple
lump in the breast or under the arm
persistent crusting or scaling of the nipple
redness or swelling of the breast
sore on the skin of the breast that does not heal
Incidence not known
Abdominal or stomach pain
blurred vision
change in vaginal discharge
clay-colored stools
cleft lip or palate
confusion
darkened urine
difficult or labored breathing
difficulty with swallowing
difficulty with walking
dizziness
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
fainting
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
headache
indigestion
irregular heartbeat
irritation
joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
lightheadedness
loss of appetite
nervousness
noisy breathing
numbness or tingling in the face, arms, or legs
pain or feeling of pressure in the pelvis
pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
pounding in the ears
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
rash
redness of the skin
shortness of breath
slow heartbeat
spontaneous abortion
stomach or pelvic discomfort, aching, or heaviness
sweating
swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, hands, or feet
tightness in the chest
trouble speaking, thinking, or walking
unpleasant breath odor
unusual tiredness or weakness
vaginal bleeding
vomiting
vomiting of blood
yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
Attack, assault, or force
blurred or loss of vision
change in walking and balance
changes in behavior
changes in patterns and rhythms of speech
choking
clumsiness or unsteadiness
confusion about identity, place, and time
continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
decreased awareness or responsiveness
difficulty with moving
disturbed color perception
double vision
drowsiness
extreme dizziness or drowsiness
feeling drunk
feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
feeling of unreality
hair loss or thinning of the hair
halos around lights
hearing loss
hives or welts
longer or heavier menstrual periods
loss of consciousness
muscle cramps
muscle stiffness
night blindness
normal menstrual bleeding occurring earlier, possibly lasting longer than expected
overbright appearance of lights
redness of the skin
relaxed and calm
sensation of spinning
sense of detachment from self or body
severe sleepiness
sleepiness
slurred speech
swollen tongue
thoughts of killing oneself
tunnel vision
weight changes
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Progesterone
Pros
Helps to regulate your menstrual period
Only has to be taken once a day
Might be a good option for people who can't swallow pills
Cons
Not safe if you have liver problems
Not a good option if you're allergic to sesame oil
Potentially raises your risk of serious blood clots
Pharmacist tips for Progesterone
The dosing schedule can be different depending on what you’re using progesterone for, so take it exactly the way your prescriber tells you.
Progesterone can be given at home. You don't need to go to your prescriber's office to receive your doses. But you'll need to be taught how to correctly give yourself the injections.
Progesterone is commonly injected in the upper outer buttock area, but your prescriber might also suggest areas. Make sure to rotate injection sites each time to lessen injection-site reactions.
Progesterone contains sesame oil, so tell your prescriber if you're allergic to sesame oil or sesame seeds. Speak with your care team about all of your allergies so they can make sure this medication is safe for you.
Progesterone can make you feel tired or dizzy. Don't drive or perform dangerous activities without seeing how it affects you first.
If you're taking progesterone to regulate your period, your period should start within 3 days after the last injection. If your period doesn't start by this point, let your prescriber know. If you've been sexually active, you should also take a pregnancy test.
Let your prescriber know if you experience unusual or heavy vaginal bleeding, lumps in your breast, changes to your vision, or severe headaches after starting progesterone. These are not typical side effects and could be a sign of more serious problems.
Progesterone is a multi-use vial, so you'll draw up the many doses from the same vial. Make sure you use a new needle and syringe for each injection to prevent contamination.
Throw away used syringes and needles in a sharps container, which might be provided by your prescriber or purchased at most pharmacies. Never throw needles and syringes in the regular trash.
Store the progesterone vial at room temperature, even after it's been opened. Be sure to throw away the opened vial after 28 days, unless the product label instructs otherwise.
Frequently asked questions about Progesterone
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What are the risks and warnings for Progesterone?
Progesterone can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Blood clots
Risk factors: Taking progesterone with estrogens | Personal or family history of blood clots | High blood pressure | Diabetes | High cholesterol | Smoking | Obesity | Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Progesterone can raise your risk of blood clots, especially when taken with estrogen medications. This can be very dangerous and lead to heart attack, stroke, or pulmonary embolism (life-threatening blood clot in the lungs). Be sure to discuss all your medical conditions with your prescriber before starting progesterone. Call 911 or seek immediate medical attention if you have pain in your legs or arms, chest pain, sudden severe headaches, trouble breathing, or sudden changes in your speech.
Vision problems
Progesterone can cause retinal thrombosis, or a blood clot in the eyes. Speak to your prescriber right away if you notice changes in your vision, sudden vision loss, bulging eyes, double vision, or migraine.
Fluid buildup
Risk factors: Heart failure | Kidney problems
Progesterone can cause extra fluid to build up in your body, especially in your legs, ankles, and feet. This is more likely to happen if you have certain conditions like kidney problems or heart failure. The extra fluid can cause these other conditions to get worse. If you know you have problems with fluid buildup or swelling, tell your prescriber before you start using progesterone. Call your prescriber or seek medical help right away if you notice unexplainable swelling, unexplained weight gain, or sudden trouble breathing.
Pneumonia
Very rarely, progesterone can cause a certain type of pneumonia. In some cases, this type of pneumonia can affect your breathing, which can be life-threatening. This is most likely to happen during the first 2 to 4 weeks after you start using the medication. It usually goes away when progesterone is stopped or if corticosteroids are taken. If you have sudden shortness of breath along with a fever, cough, and chest pain that gets worse when you take a deep breath, contact your care team or seek medical care right away.
Progesterone dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10ml of 50mg/ml | 3 vials | $27.88 | $9.29 |
Typical dosing for Progesterone
Lack of menstrual periods: The typical dose is to inject 5 mg to 10 mg into a muscle once a day for 6 to 8 days in a row. You should expect a period about 2 to 3 days after your last injection.
Abnormal bleeding from the uterus: The typical dose is to inject 5 mg to 10 mg into a muscle once a day for 6 days. Vaginal bleeding should stop within 6 days.
Interactions between Progesterone and other drugs
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Abametapir
- Conivaptan
- Eslicarbazepine Acetate
- Fosnetupitant
- Netupitant
How much does Progesterone cost?
Progesterone contraindications
Blood clotting problems
Liver problems
Breast cancer
Cancer of any genital organ (e.g., ovarian, cervical)
Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
Missed abortion
Allergy to sesame oil/seeds
What are alternatives to Progesterone?
Lack of menstrual periods due to hormone imbalance
Abnormal bleeding from the uterus due to hormone imbalance
Lack of menstrual periods due to hormone imbalance
Irregular periods due to hormone imbalance
Protection of the uterus in postmenopausal women who are taking estrogen medications
Protection of the uterus for postmenopausal women also taking estrogen medications
Lack of menstrual periods due to hormone imbalance
What is the latest news about Progesterone?
Progesterone images
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References
Best studies we foundCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Single-dose or multi-dose?
Davis, E., et al. (2023). Abnormal uterine bleeding. StatPearls.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. (2017). Amenorrhea.
Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. (2024). Progesterone injection [package insert]. DailyMed.
Joint Commission. (2024). Multi-dose vials - Managing multi-dose vials of injectable medication.
Kolatorova, L., et al. (2022). Progesterone: A steroid with wide range of effects in physiology as well as human medicine. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
MedlinePlus. (2024). Retinal vein occlusion.
Noreika, D., et al. (2014). Progesterone and mental rotation task: Is there any effect? BioMed Research International.
Pahal, P., et al. (2023). Eosinophilic pneumonia. StatPearls.
Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. (n.d.). Progesterone.
You and Your Hormones. (2021). Progesterone.
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