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progestin vs. progesterone

progestin vs. progesterone: What's the difference?

Progestin and progesterone are both hormones that serve the same purpose. Progesterone, found naturally in the human body, is best known for preparing the uterus for a fertilized ovary and maintaining a pregnancy. Progestin is a lab-created substance that has the same effects as progesterone and is used for medical purposes such as birth control or hormone replacement therapy.

[ proh-jes-tin ]
noun
  1. any substance having progesteronelike activity.
[ proh-jes-tuh-rohn ]
noun
  1. a hormone, C21H30O2, that prepares the uterus for the fertilized ovum and maintains pregnancy.
  2. a commercial form of this compound, obtained from the corpus luteum of pregnant sows or synthesized: used in the treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding, dysmenorrhea, threatened or recurrent abortion, etc.

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