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Progestins and Oral Contraceptives

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Principles of Endocrine Pharmacology

Abstract

Development and maintenance of the female reproductive system are dependent on the cyclical interaction between estrogens, primarily es-tradiol-17β, and progesterone. The principal target tissues for these steroid hormones include the uterus, vagina, fallopian tubes, and mammary glands, as well as the anterior pituitary and hypothalamus. Although estrogens are recognized as promoters of cellular proliferation, progestins are known to facilitate cellular differentiation. In addition, progesterone and related drugs exert significant antiestrogenic effects. It is the balance between estrogen and progesterone actions that regulates the state of the female reproductive system. Some of the therapeutically useful derivatives of progesterone share a structural similarity to androgens, and these agents in some instances also produce androgenic or antiandrogenic activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Corporate Research, Travenol Laboratories, Inc., Round Lake, Illinois, USA

    John A. Thomas (Vice President, Adjunct Professor, Lecturer, Instructor)

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    John A. Thomas (Vice President, Adjunct Professor, Lecturer, Instructor)

  3. Department of Urology, Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    John A. Thomas (Vice President, Adjunct Professor, Lecturer, Instructor)

  4. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA

    John A. Thomas (Vice President, Adjunct Professor, Lecturer, Instructor)

  5. Department of Pharmacology, University of Illinois School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    John A. Thomas (Vice President, Adjunct Professor, Lecturer, Instructor)

  6. Department of Pharmacology, Rush-Presbyterian School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    John A. Thomas (Vice President, Adjunct Professor, Lecturer, Instructor)

  7. Hormone Receptor Laboratory, School of Medicine, The Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA

    Edward J. Keenan (Director, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Adjunct Associate Professor)

  8. Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, The Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA

    Edward J. Keenan (Director, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Adjunct Associate Professor)

  9. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, The Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA

    Edward J. Keenan (Director, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Adjunct Associate Professor)

  10. Department of Medicine (Medical Oncology), School of Medicine, The Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA

    Edward J. Keenan (Director, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Adjunct Associate Professor)

Authors
  1. John A. Thomas
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  2. Edward J. Keenan
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© 1986 Plenum Publishing Corporation

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Thomas, J.A., Keenan, E.J. (1986). Progestins and Oral Contraceptives. In: Principles of Endocrine Pharmacology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5036-1_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5036-1_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-306-42143-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-5036-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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