Return of ovulation following a single injection of depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate: a pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study

Contraception. 1984 Jan;29(1):1-18. doi: 10.1016/0010-7824(84)90054-4.

Abstract

The effect of a single dose of 150 mg of depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) on pituitary, ovarian and endometrial function was assessed in relation to the peripheral levels of the compound in 8 women. The levels of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), follitropin (FSH), lutropin (LH), prolactin, estradiol (E2) and progesterone ( Prog .) were measured 3 times a week during a pretreatment (control) cycle and then daily during postinjection weeks 14-17, 22-25 and 30-33. An endometrial biopsy specimen was obtained during postinjection weeks 17, 25 and 33. In three out of 8 subjects the daily hormone assays carried out during postinjection weeks 30-33 indicated anovulatory periods; in these subjects peripheral blood was drawn daily during postinjection weeks 46-49 and a fourth endometrial biopsy was taken during week 49.

PIP: The effect of a single dose of 150 mg depomedroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) on pituitary, ovarian, and endometrial function was assessed in relation to the peripheral levels of the compound in 8 women. The levels of DMPA, follitropin (FSH), lutropin (LH), prolactin, estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P) were measured 3 times/week during a pretreatment (control) cycle and then daily during postinjection weeks 14-17, 22-25, and 30-33. An endometrial biopsy specimen was obtained during postinjection weeks 17, 25, and 33. In 3 of 8 subjects the daily hormone assays carried out during postinjection weeks 30-33 indicated anovulatory periods; in these subjects, peripheral blood was drawn daily during postinjection weeks 46-49 and a 4th endometrial biopsy was taken during week 49. Plasma DMPA levels during the 14th postinjection week varied between 0.90 and 2.24 nmol/1, declined gradually, and became undetectable between weeks 17-24 (4 cases) or some time after week 33 (the other 4 cases). No correlation was found between the time when DMPA levels became undetectable and the obesity index.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Contraceptive Agents, Female
  • Endometrium / anatomy & histology
  • Endometrium / drug effects
  • Estradiol / blood
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood
  • Medroxyprogesterone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Medroxyprogesterone / blood
  • Medroxyprogesterone / pharmacology
  • Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
  • Ovulation / drug effects*
  • Progesterone / blood

Substances

  • Contraceptive Agents, Female
  • Progesterone
  • Estradiol
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone
  • Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
  • Medroxyprogesterone