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Progesterone is a naturally occurring female sex hormone (progestogen) that Bayview compounds to a prescriber's order.
Progesterone is an endogenous steroid hormone produced by the gonads and the adrenal cortex. It is involved in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy: during the luteal phase it prepares the endometrium to receive and nourish a fertilized egg, and in pregnancy it decreases the ability of the myometrium to contract. Progesterone also stimulates bone formation and may have neuroprotective effects in the nervous system.[1]
FDA-approved oral progesterone capsules are indicated for the prevention of endometrial hyperplasia in postmenopausal women with a uterus who are receiving estrogen, and for secondary amenorrhea.[2] Progesterone is used along with estrogen in menopausal hormone therapy.[4] FDA-approved progesterone injection is indicated for amenorrhea and abnormal uterine bleeding due to hormonal imbalance in the absence of organic pathology.[3]
FDA-approved progesterone products include oral capsules and an intramuscular injection in oil.[2][3] Progesterone is also prepared in compounded dosage forms, such as capsules and topical creams, on a prescriber's order. Compounded preparations are not FDA-approved, and FDA does not verify their safety, effectiveness, or quality.[5]
When prescribing progesterone, healthcare professionals should monitor patients for side effects, which may include dizziness, headache, and breast tenderness or pain.[2][4]
Compounded at Bayview
Patient guides for the preparations we make most often. Each one is compounded to order and requires a prescription.
For prescribers
Every preparation in our formulary that contains this ingredient. Strength, base and dose form are set by the prescription.
It combines three hormones the body makes naturally: estriol (E3) and estradiol (E2), the two estrogens that make up Bi-Est, plus progesterone. Combining them in a single cream, gel, or troche means one preparation to use instead of two, with each hormone at the strength your provider specifies.
When estrogen is prescribed for someone who still has a uterus, a progestogen is generally added to protect the uterine lining. Combining both in one preparation is a matter of convenience, one product instead of two. Whether a combined product or separate items is right for you is a decision your provider makes.
When estrogen is given to someone who still has a uterus, progesterone is generally added to protect the uterine lining and lower the risk of endometrial (uterine) cancer. Whether and how to prescribe it is a decision your provider makes. It is often paired with an estrogen such as Bi-Est.
Progesterone can cause drowsiness, especially in oral form. That is why oral capsules are often taken at bedtime. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how it affects you.
Some manufactured progesterone capsules contain peanut oil. Because Bayview compounds each order, progesterone can be prepared without that excipient when your provider orders it, helpful for patients who need to avoid it.
Other salt forms of this molecule, and ingredients commonly compounded alongside it.
This page describes an active pharmaceutical ingredient, not a finished drug product. Bayview Pharmacy compounds preparations containing it only on a prescriber's order for an individual patient.
Compounded preparations are not FDA-approved, and the FDA has not evaluated them for safety, effectiveness, or manufacturing quality. Nothing on this page is a claim that any preparation is effective for any condition.
A valid prescription is required. Availability depends on Bayview's licensure in your state. This page is general information, not medical advice — discuss your situation with a licensed healthcare provider.
Our pharmacists work with prescribers to build preparations around a patient's dose, form and tolerances. Ask us what is possible with this ingredient.
