Dydrogesterone indications beyond menopausal hormone therapy: an evidence review and woman’s journey

Abstract

Dydrogesterone is an orally active synthetic progestogen, with a molecular structure similar to that of natural progesterone. As dydrogesterone does not inhibit ovulation at standard doses, is devoid of estrogenic or androgenic properties, and does not induce metabolic side effects, it is suitable for use throughout a woman’s lifetime, from adolescence to older age, for conditions associated with altered levels of endogenous progesterone. Aside from its well established role as a component of menopausal hormone therapy, dydrogesterone is indicated in younger women for treatment of dysmenorrhea, irregular menstrual cycles, premenstrual syndrome, and threatened or recurrent miscarriage; and is effective as luteal phase support during assisted reproduction techniques. In this narrative review, evidence is examined for use of dydrogesterone across a range of disorders affecting menses and pregnancy. A case study woven into the review illustrates the clinical uses of dydrogesterone during a young woman’s journey to become a mother.

绝经激素治疗以外的地屈孕酮适应证：循证综述和女性生理过程 摘要

地屈孕酮是一种口服活性合成孕激素, 分子结构与天然孕酮相似。由于地屈孕酮在标准剂量下不会抑制排卵, 没有雌激素或雄激素特性, 并且不会引起代谢相关副作用, 因此女性一生从青春期到老年都适用该药, 治疗与内源性孕激素水平改变相关的疾病。除了作为绝经激素治疗的一个组成部分的公认作用外, 地屈孕酮还适用于年轻女性治疗痛经、月经不调、经前期综合征以及先兆或习惯性流产；并且在辅助生殖技术中作为有效提供黄体期支持。在这篇叙述性综述中, 研究了在一系列影响月经和妊娠的疾病中使用地屈孕酮的证据。

纳入该综述的案例研究说明了地屈孕酮在年轻女性成为母亲的过程中的临床应用。

Keywords:

• Dydrogesterone
• dysmenorrhea
• premenstrual syndrome
• luteal phase support
• miscarriage

Acknowledgements

Editorial assistance was provided by Kathy Croom, Steve Clissold, and Kerry Dechant on behalf of Content Ed Net (Madrid, Spain), with funding from Mylan.

Disclosure statement

Petra Stute has been invited as a speaker on the topic of menopausal hormone therapy by Gedeon Richter, Hexal, Jenapharm, Kade Besins, Labatec, and Mylan.