Progestins are synthetic steroid hormones that activate the progesterone receptor in a similar way to progesterone but each individual progestin has its own distinctive effect.
The progestins are used to treat amenorrhea, premenstrual tension and abnormal uterine bleeding. As they prevent ovulation, progestins are a major constituent of oral contraceptives and other forms of contraception. Progestins can also act to decrease levels of some hormones so can be used to treat hormonally sensitive cancers, for transgender hormone suppression and for precocious puberty.
