Gestodene

Gestodene is a progestogen hormonal contraceptive. Products containing gestodene include Meliane, Gynera and Minesse.

Pharmacology

Gestodene is a progestin, or a synthetic progestogen, and hence is an agonist of the progesterone receptor, the biological target of progestogens like progesterone. It has weak androgenic and glucocorticoid activity and no other important hormonal activity.

Chemistry

Gestodene, also known as 17α-ethynyl-18-methyl-19-nor-δ15-testosterone, is a synthetic estrane steroid and a derivative of testosterone. It is more specifically a derivative of norethisterone (17α-ethynyl-19-nortestosterone) and is a member of the gonane (18-methylestrane) subgroup of the 19-nortestosterone family of progestins.

History

Gestodene was patented in 1975 and introduced for medical use, specifically in birth control pills, in 1987. It was introduced in the United States under the brand name Femodene in 1992.

Society and culture

Gestodene is marketed widely throughout the world. It is available as a combined birth control pill in combination with the estrogen ethinylestradiol under a multitude of brand names.

See also

• List of progestogens
• List of progestogen esters
• Progestogen-only pill
• Progestin-only birth control

References

Gestodene Resources
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