Chemical classification of synthetic progestogens
Belaisch, J.
Revue Francaise de Gynecologie et d'Obstetrique 80(6 Part 2): 473-477
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-290X PMID: 4081503 Document Number: 243121
The bio-clinical features of synthetic progestagens (SP) are well known: the nor-steroid compounds have a potent gonadotrophin inhibitory action, which is sometimes associated with unpleasant metabolic effects, while the compounds closely related to progesterone have a reduced anti-gonadotrophin action but excellent metabolic tolerance. However, the current classification does not satisfy the major requirement of clinicians, as it does not provide any information about the activities of the various progestagens. It is also quite arbitrary, as it uses the term "gonane" in a restrictive sense, although this is the basic component of all sex steroids and it groups the 19 nortestosterone derivatives with the "pregnene" nucleus. The authors propose a classification into 4 groups : nor-testosterone derivatives, ethyl 13 derivatives, progesterone derivatives and nor-progesterone derivatives, which immediately informs the prescriber of the principal activity of the SP molecule.