Please note: the information below is intended for general guidance only. EarlyMenopause.com cannot guarantee the current availability (or suitability) of any form of HRT. Consult your doctor for further information.
Contains: Progestin — medroxyprogesterone acetate or MPA
MPA is, in effect, the conjugated estrogen of the progesterone world. In other words, it is the oldest form of the hormone used in HRT, the most commonly prescribed, and the type of progesterone that has been used in most HRT studies. (In fact, it was used in the large Women’s Health Initiative Study.)
This synthetic form of progesterone is called a C21 progestin and is made by adding chemical groups to progesterone which makes the progesterone more stable and more easily available. But MPA often causes PMS-like side effects in many women — sometimes to such a degree that women want to stop HRT completely. In addition, MPA may detract from some of the heart-health aspects of estrogen. So it’s usually recommended that you take the smallest amount that will protect against endometrial build-up.
- Standard dosage: 2.5 mg daily (on continuous therapy) 5 mg daily for two weeks of your cycle (on cyclical therapy) Also available in 10 mg dosage
- Pros: Widely studied
- Cons: Linked to a number of side effects ranging from breast tenderness to bloating to depression; blocks some of estrogen’s effects on cholesterol