Antiprogestogen

An antiprogestogen, also called an antiprogesterone agent, or in the case of a synthetic compound, an antiprogestin, is a type of hormone antagonist which antagonizes or suppresses the action of progesterone in the body, a sex hormone that plays a role in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Antiprogestogens may stop some cancer cells from growing and they are being studied in the treatment of breast cancer. They are also used as abortifacients.

Examples of antiprogestogens include mifepristone (weak partial agonist) and aglepristone (full antagonist).

Medical termination of pregnancy: mifepristone combined with a prostaglandin (e.g., gemeprost).

See also

• Progestogen
• Progestin
• Selective progesterone receptor modulator
• Phytoprogestogen
• Antiestrogen
• Antiandrogen

External links

• Antiprogestin entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

 This article incorporates public domain material from the U.S. National Cancer Institute document "Dictionary of Cancer Terms".