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Glite Dictionary
progestagen

progestagen

7.9
A hormone made naturally or by people that prepares the womb for pregnancy and sometimes stops pregnancy
  • noun
  • /proʊˈdʒɛstəˌdʒɛn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : progestágeno
  • Progestagens are commonly used in hormone therapy to prepare the uterus for pregnancy.
  • progestagen and oestrogen
  • third-generation progestagens
  • progestagens include desogestrel

Examples

  • During follow-up in this study, most postmenopausal hormone treatment consisted of estrogen alone, without added progestagen.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Whether the new progestagens are associated with a lower risk of arterial disease (stroke and myocardial infarction) must be evaluated further.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Risk of VTE for users of other progestagens

    Academic text (1995)

  • Third-generation progestagens were introduced in an attempt to further lower the risk of cardiovascular side effects.

    Academic text (1995)

  • There is no evidence yet from studies with clinical endpoints that these new progestagens do reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Seven (25%) cases and 23 (14%) controls were taking combined oestrogens and progestagens.

    Academic text (1999)

  • We found that a new low-dose OC with a third-generation progestagen has a higher risk of DVT than OCs with previous generations of progestagens.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The doctor prescribed a form of progestagen to help regulate her menstrual cycle.

  • Many birth control pills contain progestagens to prevent ovulation.

Synonyms

progesterone
vsprogestagen
  • Specialized
13 5.7

A hormone made by the ovaries that prepares the uterus for pregnancy

is a broader category of similar natural or synthetic hormones used for uterus preparation
progestin
vsprogestagen
  • Specialized
3 7.0

A man-made hormone used in birth control pills and hormone therapy

is the broader class covering both natural and synthetic hormones with similar effects
progestogen
vsprogestagen
  • Specialized
8.6

A hormone like progesterone that helps pregnancy start and continue and controls the menstrual cycle

is used for hormones that prepare the uterus and includes natural and synthetic

Surface Forms

progestagen singular
progestagens plural

Morphology

progestagen = gestagen (semi-transparent) = pro + gest + agen

The form is transparently built from the combining element 'gest-' (related to gestation) with the technical suffix '-agen', but the combining form and suffix are specialized and may be unfamiliar to general learners.

Etymology

The word progestagen comes from pro- meaning 'for' and gest- as in gestation meaning 'to carry' or 'pregnancy'. So a progestagen is 'for carrying' a pregnancy, which is why these hormones help prepare and support the uterus for pregnancy or are used in birth control and hormone treatment.