Progesterone is indicated in amenorrhea and abnormal uterine bleeding due to hormonal imbalance in the absence of organic pathology, such as submucous fibroids of uterine cancer. Progesterone, converted from pregnenolone, also serves as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of gonadal steroid hormones and adrenal corticosteroids. Progesterone is a naturally occurring steroid that is secreted by the ovary, placenta, and adrenal gland. In the presence of adequate estrogen, progesterone transforms a proliferative endometrium into a secretory endometrium. Progesterone is necessary to increase endometrial receptivity for implantation of an embryo. Once an embryo is implanted, progesterone acts to maintain a pregnancy. Progesterone shares the pharmacological actions of the progestins. Progesterone binds to the progesterone and estrogen receptors. Target cells include the female reproductive tract, the mammary gland, the hypothalamus, and the pituitary. Once bound to the receptor, progesterone will slow the frequency of release of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus and blunt the pre-ovulatory LH (luteinizing hormone) surge. In women who have adequate endogenous estrogen, progesterone transforms a proliferative endometrium into a secretory one. Progesterone is metabolized primarily by the liver largely to pregnanediols and pregnanolones. Pregnanediols and pregnanolones are conjugated in the liver to glucuronide and sulfate metabolites. Progesterone metabolites that are excreted in the bile may be deconjugated and may be further metabolized in the gut via reduction, dehydroxylation, and epimerization. Common progesterone side effects may include: drowsiness, dizziness; breast pain; mood changes; headache; constipation, diarrhea, heartburn; bloating, swelling in your hands or feet; joint pain; hot flashes; or vaginal discharge.

Estrone, one of the major mammalian estrogens, is an aromatized C18 steroid with a 3-hydroxyl group and a 17-ketone. It is produced in vivo from androstenedione or from testosterone via estradiol. It is produced primarily in the ovaries, placenta, and in peripheral tissues (especially adipose tissue) through conversion of adrostenedione. Estrone may be further metabolized to 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone, which may be reduced to estriol by estradiol dehydrogenase. Estrogens enter the cells of responsive tissues (e.g. female organs, breasts, hypothalamus, pituitary) where they interact with estrogen receptors. Hormone-bound estrogen receptors dimerize, translocate to the nucleus of cells and bind to estrogen response elements (ERE) of genes. Binding to ERE alters the transcription rate of affected genes. Estrogens increase the hepatic synthesis of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), thyroid-binding globulin (TBG), and other serum proteins and suppress follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) release from the anterior pituitary. Estrone dl-Form is a derivative of estrone. As early as 1935 extensive research programs directed toward the total synthesis of the female sex hormone estrone were well under way. These studies have since been continued with increasing interest in laboratories all over the world. In 1942 Bachmann, Kushner and Stevenson succeeded in synthesizing a stereoisomer of the hormone,''estrone a." Using essentially the same synthetic scheme as Bachmann, et al., Anner and Miescher were able to isolate additional stereoisomers including dl-estrone (Estrone, (+-)-Isomer) . Six of the eight possible racemic forms, estrone, a-f, have now been reported. Dl-Estrone (Estrone, (+-)-Isomer) is less active than Estrone.

Aglepristone (RU 46534) is a competitive progesterone antagonist; it binds to progesterone receptors (PRs) without inducing the molecular cascade associated with progesterone. Its affinity to PRs is higher than progesterone (3.12, 3.8, and 9.26 times greater in the bitch, doe rabbit,and queen, respectively). Aglepristone can therefore beused in various progesterone-dependent physiological orpathologic conditions, with the aim of blocking the action of progesterone. Aglepristone has proven to be an effective and safe means of inducing pregnancy termination or parturition in a large number of domestic species. In domestic species, aglepristone is routinely used for the treatment of pyometra and feline mammary fibroadenomatous hyperplasia, both of which are progesterone dependent. Aglepristone is marketed under the brand name Alizin used as the treatment option for unwanted mating and pregnancy in dogs

Delmadinone is a steroid with progestogenic, anti-androgenic and weak glucocorticoid action, synthesized in Syntex S.A. Acetate ester of delmadinone is used in veterinary under tradenames Tardak for cats and dogs for the treatment of excessive or aberrant sexual behaviour, including vagrancy, for the relief of prostatic hypertrophy, circum-anal tumors and for the treatment of certain forms of aggressiveness, nervousness, epileptiform seizures and corticosteroid-resistant pruritus. Delmadinone acetate blocks androgen receptors inhibit 5-reductase, which catalyzes the transformation of testosterone to the more potent androgen 5-dihydrotestosterone and decreases the production of testosterone by inhibiting gonadotropin release.

Chlormadinone acetate (CMA) is a derivative of naturally secreted progesterone that shows high affinity and activity at the progesterone receptor. It has an anti-estrogenic effect and, in contrast to natural progesterone, shows moderate anti-androgenic properties. CMA acts by blocking androgen receptors in target organs and by reducing the activity of skin 5alpha-reductase. It suppresses gonadotropin secretion and thereby reduces ovarian and adrenal androgen production. CMA shows high contraceptive efficacy by inhibiting ovulation due to its ability to suppress or disrupt endogenous gonadotropin secretion and, by this, inhibits follicular growth and maturation. In addition, it suppresses endometrial thickness and increases the viscosity of cervical mucus. Chlormadinone acetate was withdrawn from the market in the USA, but it is still being used in Europe under the name Belara.

Dydrogesterone is an orally active progestogen which acts directly on the uterus, producing a complete secretory endometrium in an estrogen-primed uterus. At therapeutic levels, dydrogesterone has no contraceptive effect as it does not inhibit or interfere with ovulation or the corpus luteum. Furthermore, dydrogesterone is non-androgenic, non-estrogenic, non-corticoid, non-anabolic and is not excreted as pregnanediol. Dydrogesterone helps to regulate the healthy growth and normal shedding of the uterus lining. Therefore, it may be useful in the treatment of menstrual disorders such as absent, irregular or painful menstrual periods, infertility, premenstrual syndrome and endometriosis. Dydrogesterone works by regulating the healthy growth and normal shedding of the womb lining by acting on progesterone receptors in the uterus. Used to treat irregular duration of cycles and irregular occurrence and duration of periods caused by progesterone deficiency. Also used to prevent natural abortion in patients who have a history of habitual abortions. Dydrogesterone was first introduced to the market in 1961, and is currently approved in over 100 countries world-wide. Banned in the USA and wthdrawn from the UK, but still used in other countries.

Norethynodrel is a steroidal progestin of the 19-nortestosterone group and an isomer of norethisterone. Norethynodrel is a progesteron agonist with very weak estrogenic activiry. Noretynodrel was introduced in 1957 in Enovid, a combination formulation of noretynodrel and mestranol, for the treatment of gynecological and menstrual disorders.A few years later, in May 1960, Enovid was also approved as the first oral contraceptive.

Fluoxymesterone, sold under the brand names Halotestin and Ultandren among others, is a synthetic, orally active androgenic-anabolic steroid (AAS) and a 17α-alkylated derivative of testosterone developed by Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, approved by FDA at 1956. Fluoxymesterone is used in the treatment of hypogonadism in males and breast cancer in women. Fluoxymesterone has a relatively high ratio of androgenic to anabolic activity similarly to testosterone. Like many 17α-alkylated AAS, it has a relatively low affinity for the androgen receptor (AR). However, its actions are mediated by the AR, most likely due to its relatively long elimination half-life of approximately 9.2 hours.

STANOLONE, also known as dihydrotestosterone, is a potent androgenic metabolite of testosterone and anabolic agent for systemic use. It may be used as a replacement of male sex steroids in men who have androgen deficiency, for example as a result of the loss of both testes, and also the treatment of certain rare forms of aplastic anemia which are or may be responsive to anabolic androgens.

METHALLENESTRIL, an allenolic acid derivative, is a synthetic nonsteroidal estrogen used to treat menstrual issues.