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Different Forms of HRT:  Provera, Cycrin
(Progestin -- medroxyprogesterone acetate or MPA)

MPA is, in effect, the conjugated estrogen of the progesterone world. In other words, it is the oldest form of the hormone used in HRT, the most commonly prescribed, and the type of progesterone that has been used in most HRT studies. (In fact, it’s the one being used in the large Women’s Health Initiative Study.)

This synthetic form of progesterone is called a C21 progestin and is made by adding chemical groups to progesterone which makes the progesterone more stable and more easily available. But MPA often causes PMS-like side effects in many women -- sometimes to such a degree that women want to stop HRT completely. In addition, MPA may detract from some of the heart-health aspects of estrogen. So it’s usually recommended that you take the smallest amount that will protect against endometrial build-up.

  • Standard dosage: 2.5 mgs daily (on continuous therapy) 5 mgs daily for two weeks of your cycle (on cyclical therapy) Also available in 10 mg dosage  
  • Pros: Widely studied
  • Cons: Linked to a number of side effects ranging from breast tenderness to bloating to depression; blocks some of estrogen’s effects on cholesterol

 

 

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Important Note: The information contained on EarlyMenopause.com is not intended to replace the care prescribed by your physician.   Always consult your physician before beginning a new health regimen or altering any course of treatment set up by your doctor.

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Site last updated on: 3/15/05

EarlyMenopause.com does NOT endorse any one form of treatment. We're all different, and what works for one of us might not work for another. Nor is the site tied commercially to ANY drug or supplement – unlike other sites which, while claiming no sponsorship, do get money for "click-throughs" on ads or orders generated from the site. This is one reason why, other than listing the brand names for HRT, no brand names are (implicitly or explicitly) recommended.

Along these lines, EarlyMenopause.com does not accept advertising of any sort, nor is funded by any company or by a grant (unrestricted or otherwise) from any corporation, but is privately funded by the site owner.

All information on the site has been excerpted or adapted from The Premature Menopause Book by writer and women's health advocate Kathryn Petras, or has been written specifically for Early Menopause.com by Kathryn Petras.   Any reprinting or reproduction for anything other than personal use  is expressly prohibited without permission. 

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