Summary

Commonly reported side effects of progesterone include: abdominal cramps, depression, dizziness, and headache. Other side effects include: anxiety, cough, diarrhea, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, bloating, emotional lability, and irritability. Continue reading for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

Applies to progesterone: oral capsules, parenteral injection, vaginal gel and inserts.

Side effects include:

Menstrual abnormalities (amenorrhea; breakthrough bleeding and/or spotting; changes in menstrual flow), weight changes, dizziness, headache, abdominal pain and/or distention, breast tenderness and/or pain, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, joint pain.

Injection site pain.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to progesterone: compounding powder, intramuscular solution, oral capsule, topical cream, vaginal gel, vaginal insert, vaginal suppository.

Genitourinary

Very common (10% or more): Breast enlargement (40%), breast tenderness (27%), perineal pain female (17%), breast pain (16%), nocturia (13%), urinary problems (11%), vaginal discharge (11%)

Common (1% to 10%): Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, breast pain, vaginal dryness, pruritus genital, uterine spasm, vaginal bleeding, altered periods, amenorrhea, intercurrent bleeding

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vulvovaginal disorders, vaginal mycosis, breast disorders, pollakiuria, incontinence, ovarian enlargement, pelvic pain, vulvovaginal pruritus, galactorrhea

Frequency not reported: Vaginal irritation, vaginal burning, vaginal discomfort, fatty discharge, changes in cervical erosion and secretions

Postmarketing reports: Hypospadia, intra-uterine death, menorrhagia, menstrual disorder, metrorrhagia, ovarian cyst, spontaneous abortion^[Ref]

Nervous system

Very common (10% or more): Headache (31%), somnolence (27%), dizziness (24%)

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dysgeusia

Frequency not reported: Extreme dizziness and/or drowsiness, slurred speech, difficulty walking, loss of consciousness, vertigo, confusion, disorientation, insomnia

Postmarketing reports: Convulsion, depressed consciousness, dysarthria, loss of consciousness, paresthesia, sedation, stupor, syncope (with and without hypotension), transient ischemic attack, abnormal gait, difficulty walking^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Very common (10% or more): Emotional lability (23%), depression (19%), sleep disorder (18%), nervousness (16%), libido decreased (10%)

Common (1% to 10%): Worry

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Mood altered

Postmarketing reports: Aggression, depersonalization, disorientation, suicidal ideation^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Very common (10% or more): Hot flashes (11%)

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hemorrhage

Rare (less than 0.1%): Thromboembolism or thrombus formation

Postmarketing reports: Circulatory collapse, congenital heart disease (including ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosis), hypertension, hypotension, tachycardia^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Very common (10% or more): Abdominal pain (20%), abdominal bloating (12%)

Common (1% to 10%): Nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal distension, constipation

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Flatulence, gastric dilatation

Postmarketing reports: Acute pancreatitis, dysphagia, swollen tongue, cleft palate^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Very common (10% or more): Joint pain (20%), cramps NOS (15%), musculoskeletal pain (12%)

Common (1% to 10%): Back pain, arthralgia, myalgia

Postmarketing reports: Cleft lip, muscle cramp^[Ref]

Respiratory

Common (1% to 10%): Coughing, upper respiratory tract infection

Frequency not reported: Shortness of breath

Postmarketing reports: Choking, dyspnea, asthma, throat tightness^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Night sweats

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pruritus, acne

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Urticaria, chloasma

Frequency not reported: Itching, hirsutism

Postmarketing reports: Alopecia, face edema^[Ref]

Other

Very common (10% or more): Post oocyte retrieval pain (28%), viral infection (12%), hot flashes (11%)

Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, pain, chest pain, swelling of hands and feet, breast excisional biopsy

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Peripheral edema, feeling cold, feeling of body temperature change, discomfort, weight increased

Frequency not reported: Feeling drunk, pyrexia

Postmarketing reports: Feeling abnormal, tinnitus, weight decreased^[Ref]

Hepatic

Common (1% to 10%): Cholecystectomy

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cholestatic jaundice

Postmarketing reports: Cholestasis, cholestatic hepatitis, hepatic failure, hepatic necrosis, hepatitis, increased liver function tests (including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase increases), jaundice^[Ref]

Metabolic

Common (1% to 10%): Hyperglycemia

Postmarketing reports: Blood glucose increased^[Ref]

Oncologic

Common (1% to 10%): Breast carcinoma

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rectal neoplasm

Postmarketing reports: Endometrial carcinoma^[Ref]

Ocular

Frequency not reported: Blurred vision

Postmarketing reports: Diplopia, visual disturbance^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypersensitivity reactions

Postmarketing reports: Anaphylactic reaction^[Ref]

Endocrine

Rare (less than 0.1%): Adrenal suppression or insufficiency^[Ref]

Local

Frequency not reported: Injection site reaction^[Ref]