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Depo Provera
Depo-Provera is a long-acting progestin that prevents pregnancy by suppressing ovulation and thickening cervical mucus.
Depo-Provera is a long-acting progestin that prevents pregnancy by suppressing ovulation and thickening cervical mucus. Used for Contraception (prevention of pregnancy), Management of endometriosis-associated pain.
At a glance
| Generic name | Depo Provera |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | University of Alabama at Birmingham |
| Drug class | Progestin; long-acting reversible contraceptive |
| Target | Progesterone receptor |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Contraception; Reproductive Health |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), the active ingredient, is a synthetic progestin that acts on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis to inhibit the LH surge required for ovulation. It also alters the endometrium and cervical mucus to create a hostile environment for sperm and implantation. The intramuscular formulation provides sustained hormone release over 12 weeks, maintaining contraceptive efficacy.
Approved indications
- Contraception (prevention of pregnancy)
- Management of endometriosis-associated pain
Common side effects
- Irregular bleeding or amenorrhea
- Weight gain
- Headache
- Breast tenderness
- Mood changes or depression
- Delayed return to fertility
Key clinical trials
- Clinical and Biomarker Effects of Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate in Females With Sickle Cell Disease (PHASE4)
- Counseling Among Gender Diverse Adolescents Who Use Depot Medroxyprogesterone (PHASE4)
- An Advanced Decision Support Tool for Personalized Medicine for IVF Using Modeling and Optimization for Provera (PHASE1, PHASE2)
- Estrogen Receptor Beta and Mood (PHASE2)
- Measuring Lactation Initiation After Early Postpartum Injectable Progestin (DMPA) Use Among Women in Dhanusha District of Nepal: A Pilot Study (PHASE4)
- Risk Evaluation and Screening to Tailor Prevention and Reduce the Incidence of Endometrial Cancer (PHASE4)
- Kuwa Free! - Live Free! (NA)
- Evaluation of Pharmacokinetic Drug-drug Interactions Between Hormonal Contraceptives and Doravirine-containing ART Among Women Living With HIV in South Africa (PHASE4)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Depo Provera CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Depo Provera updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- University of Alabama at Birmingham portfolio CI