From the Guidelines
Progesterone 200mg is not a reliable form of contraception and should not be used alone to prevent pregnancy. While progesterone is a component in some hormonal contraceptives, the 200mg dose typically used in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not formulated or dosed appropriately for contraceptive purposes 1. If you are taking progesterone as part of HRT and wish to avoid pregnancy, you should use a separate, effective form of contraception such as hormonal birth control pills, IUDs, barrier methods, or other reliable contraceptive options. This is because HRT progesterone is designed to address menopausal symptoms or endometrial protection rather than prevent ovulation consistently. Even though progesterone can sometimes inhibit ovulation, the timing, dosage, and formulation in HRT are not optimized for this purpose, making it unreliable for pregnancy prevention.
Some key points to consider when evaluating the effectiveness of progesterone for contraception include:
- The dosage and formulation of progesterone in HRT are not designed for contraceptive purposes 1
- Progesterone can sometimes inhibit ovulation, but this effect is not consistent or reliable enough for contraception 1
- Other forms of contraception, such as hormonal birth control pills or IUDs, are more effective and reliable for preventing pregnancy 1
If pregnancy prevention is important to you while on HRT, please consult with your healthcare provider about appropriate contraceptive options. They can help you determine the best course of action based on your individual needs and health status. It's also important to note that the use of progesterone for contraception is not supported by the majority of the evidence, and other forms of contraception are generally recommended 1.
From the Research
Progesterone 200mg Form of HRT and Pregnancy Protection
- The provided studies do not directly address the effectiveness of a 200mg form of HRT containing progesterone as a contraceptive method 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, it is mentioned that progestin-only methods, such as implants, have failure rates of less than 1% per year 2.
- A study on micronized progesterone for endometrial protection found that oral micronized progesterone provides endometrial protection if applied sequentially for 12-14 days/month at 200 mg/day for up to 5 years 4.
- There is no direct evidence to suggest that a 200mg form of HRT containing progesterone is protective against pregnancy, but it may provide endometrial protection when used sequentially 4, 5.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and Contraception
- HRT is not typically used as a contraceptive method, but rather to alleviate menopausal symptoms and prevent long-term health consequences such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease 6.
- The most commonly used reversible contraceptives are oral contraceptive pills, which have a failure rate of 4-7% per year 2.
- Long-acting methods, such as intrauterine devices and subdermal implants, have the highest effectiveness and are associated with rare serious risks 2.