medroxyprogesterone acetate

noun

me·​droxy·​pro·​ges·​ter·​one acetate me-ˌdräk-sē-prō-ˈje-stə-ˌrōn- 

variants or medroxyprogesterone

: a synthetic progesterone C₂₄H₃₄O₄ that is administered by injection as a long-acting contraceptive or is taken orally especially to treat amenorrhea and abnormal uterine bleeding and in conjunction with estrogen to relieve the symptoms of menopause and prevent osteoporosis

Examples of medroxyprogesterone acetate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Read More: What Borderline Cholesterol Really Means One recent study also analyzed the hormone used in the birth control shot, medroxyprogesterone acetate. —Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024

One variation, medroxyprogesterone acetate, is also the main synthetic hormone used in injectable contraception, according to the study. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024

The hormone is known as DMPA, for intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, and is marketed by Pfizer under the brand name Depo-Provera. —New York Times, 13 June 2019

The shot Depo-Provera, also called the shot, is the brand name for medroxyprogesterone acetate, a form of progestin, the Mayo Clinic says. —Korin Miller, SELF, 16 Jan. 2019

Word History

Etymology

medr-, alteration of methylhydroxyl containing a methyl and hydroxyl group + oxy + progesterone

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

medroxyprogesterone acetate

noun

me·​droxy·​pro·​ges·​ter·​one acetate me-ˌdräk-sē-prō-ˈjes-tə-ˌrōn- 

variants also medroxyprogesterone

: a synthetic progesterone C₂₄H₃₄O₄ that is administered orally especially to treat amenorrhea and abnormal uterine bleeding and in conjunction with conjugated estrogens to relieve the symptoms of menopause and to prevent osteoporosis and that is administered by injection as a long-acting contraceptive

Note: Medroxyprogesterone acetate is marketed under the trademarks Provera and Depo-Provera and when used in combination with conjugated estrogens, under the trademarks Prempro and Premphase.