What is "medroxyprogesterone"

n. A progestin, a synthetic variant of the human hormone progesterone.

n. a progestin compound (trade name Provera) used to treat menstrual disorders [syn: Provera]

Medroxyprogesterone ( INN, BAN), also known as 17α-hydroxy-6α-methylprogesterone, and abbreviated as MP, is a steroidal progestin drug which was never marketed for use in humans. An acylated derivative, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), is clinically used as a pharmaceutical medicine. Compared to MPA, MP is over two orders of magnitude less potent as a progestogen. As such, MP itself is not used clinically, though it has seen limited use in veterinary medicine under the trade name Controlestril in France. In addition, it is a metabolite of MPA.

While medroxyprogesterone is sometimes used as a synonym for medroxyprogesterone acetate, what is normally being administered is MPA and not MP.