1 May 2026Oral drugsSource update: October 2021
Medroxyprogesterone acetate oral
Oral medroxyprogesterone guidance for abnormal uterine bleeding, distinct from the injectable contraceptive form.
Prescription under medical supervision
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Therapeutic action
Progestogen.
Indications
Abnormal uterine bleeding, especially functional uterine bleeding unrelated to pregnancy.
Forms and strengths
- 10 mg tablet.
Dose and duration
Persistent abnormal uterine bleeding despite tranexamic acid therapy or heavy bleeding when tranexamic acid is contraindicated
- Adolescent and adult: 20 mg 3 times daily for 7 days.
Long-term treatment of functional uterine bleeding
- Adult: 10 mg once daily, up to 30 mg once daily if necessary. Continue according to clinical response.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer to patients with breast cancer, severe hypertension, active thromboembolic disorders, uncontrolled or complicated diabetes, or severe or recent hepatic disease.
- May cause menstrual irregularities, amenorrhoea, menometrorrhagia, breast tenderness, headache, weight gain, acne, mood change, abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal disturbances.
- Pregnancy: contraindicated.
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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