Medroxyprogesterone acetate

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), whose injectable form is known as depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and sold under the brand name Depo-Provera among others, is a hormonal medication of the progestin type. The injectable form is used as a method of birth control and to treat endometriosis, and the tablet form is used as a part of menopausal hormone therapy or to treat abnormal uterine bleeding and certain types of cancers. It is also used to treat paraphilias. The medication is available both alone and in combination with an estrogen. It may be taken by mouth, used under the tongue, or by injection into a muscle or fat. Common side effects include menstrual disturbances such as absence of periods, abdominal pain, and headaches. More serious side effects include bone loss, blood clots, allergic reactions, and liver problems. Use is not recommended during pregnancy as it may increase the risk of low birth weight. MPA is an artificial progestogen, and as such activates the progesterone receptor, the biological target of progesterone. It also has androgenic activity and weak glucocorticoid activity. Due to its progestogenic activity, MPA decreases the body's release of gonadotropins and can suppress sex hormone levels. It works as a form of birth control by preventing ovulation. MPA was discovered in 1956 and was introduced for medical use in the United States in 1959. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. MPA is the most widely used progestin in menopausal hormone therapy and in progestogen-only birth control. DMPA is approved for use as a form of long-acting birth control in more than 100 countries. In 2023, it was the 257th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 1 million prescriptions.