Hydroxyprogesterone
About Hydroxyprogesterone
Hydroxyprogesterone is a prescription hormonal treatment used to help reduce the risk of preterm birth in pregnant women who have previously delivered a baby too early. This injection provides essential hormonal support to help carry a pregnancy closer to its full term. It is medically indicated only for individuals with a history of a single, spontaneous premature delivery.
This therapy is typically injected once a week by a healthcare professional, and maintaining a highly consistent schedule is vital for its effectiveness. Because it is given as an injection, its absorption is not affected by food, meaning it can be taken regardless of meal times. Adopting supportive lifestyle habits, such as staying well-hydrated and avoiding prolonged standing, can further help optimise your pregnancy outcomes while on this treatment.
Common side effects of this medication include redness, swelling, or pain at the injection site, as well as mild nausea or diarrhoea. While these are usually manageable, you must consult your doctor immediately if you experience serious side effects like sudden leg pain, warmth, or swelling, which could indicate a blood clot. Seeking prompt medical advice ensures any severe issues are addressed quickly and safely.
Before starting this medication, it is essential to talk to your doctor if you have a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or depression. Do not take this if you have a history of blood clots, severe liver damage, breast cancer, or unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been evaluated by a physician. Your healthcare provider will determine if this therapy is safe for your specific health profile.
This injection can interact with certain liver-enzyme medications, which may reduce how well the hormone works. It is specifically designed for pregnant individuals, but you should consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding or have specific age-related concerns. Avoid smoking and alcohol, as smoking significantly increases your risk of dangerous blood clots during hormone therapy.
Uses of Hydroxyprogesterone
Medicinal Benefits
Hydroxyprogesterone helps support reproductive health by providing pregnancy-focused hormonal support when prescribed by a healthcare professional. By supporting normal hormonal function during pregnancy, it may contribute to better maternal health and pregnancy management in appropriately selected patients.
- Supports Pregnancy-Focused Hormonal Management: When prescribed by a qualified obstetrician, Hydroxyprogesterone may be used as part of an individualised strategy for patients considered at risk of recurrent preterm birth. It provides progesterone-like hormonal support intended to help maintain a pregnancy-favourable uterine environment. The potential benefits, limitations, and appropriateness of treatment should be assessed on an individual basis in the context of current clinical evidence and guidance.
Directions for Use
This medication is administered as an injection, typically given by a healthcare provider. Always follow your doctor's exact instructions regarding your injection schedule.
- The injection is usually given slowly into the muscle of the buttocks (intramuscularly).
- Ensure the injection site is cleaned thoroughly with an alcohol swab before the shot is administered.
- Rotate the injection site each week (alternating buttocks) to minimise pain, redness, or skin irritation.
- Keep all scheduled appointments with your healthcare provider to ensure you receive the injection at the same time each week.
- For patients receiving hydroxyprogesterone caproate for prevention of recurrent preterm birth, treatment is commonly initiated between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy and continued until approximately 37 weeks of gestation or delivery, according to the treating physician's recommendations.
Storage
Side Effects of Hydroxyprogesterone
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site
- Itching or mild skin irritation where the shot was given
- Mild nausea
- Diarrhoea or upset stomach
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Signs of a blood clot, such as sudden pain, warmth, redness, or swelling in your leg or arm
- Sudden shortness of breath, coughing up blood, or sharp chest pain
- Severe allergic reactions, including swelling of the face, lips, or throat, or difficulty breathing
- Yellowing of your eyes or skin, which can indicate liver damage
- Severe depression, mood changes, or trouble sleeping
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Check the solution: Inspect the vial before injecting. The liquid should be clear and pale yellow. Do not use if it is cloudy, contains particles, or is dark yellow.
- Rotate injection sites: Alternate sides of your buttocks with each weekly injection to prevent skin thickening, deep bruising, or scar tissue.
- Track your schedule: Use a calendar or phone alarm to ensure you get your injection exactly every 7 days. Consistency is key for preventing early labour.
- Monitor blood sugar: If you have gestational diabetes, check your blood glucose levels regularly, as this hormonal injection can alter sugar tolerance.
- Pre-surgery warning: Inform your surgeon or dentist that you are receiving a progestin injection, as you may need to pause treatment temporarily before surgeries to avoid blood clots.
- The role of Hydroxyprogesterone in preventing preterm birth: It has been the subject of ongoing regulatory and scientific review in some countries. Decisions regarding its use should be made by the treating obstetrician based on an individual assessment of potential benefits, risks, and current clinical guidance.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions
- Liver-enzyme inducers: Medicines like rifampin or certain anti-seizure medications (such as carbamazepine) can speed up how your body processes this hormone, which may reduce the effectiveness of Hydroxyprogesterone in preventing preterm birth.
Drug-Disease Interactions
- Liver disease: Do not use this medication if you have active or severe liver disease unless specifically advised by your healthcare provider. Impaired liver function can alter the metabolism and clearance of Hydroxyprogesterone, potentially leading to unpredictable hormone levels and changes in treatment response.
- Blood clotting disorders: Avoid use if you have a history of blood clots, strokes, or deep vein thrombosis, as hormone therapy can increase clotting risks.
- Hormone-sensitive cancers: Do not use if you have or are suspected of having breast cancer or other hormone-dependent tumours.
- Unexplained vaginal bleeding: Use is restricted if you have undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, as the underlying cause must be evaluated first.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
consult your doctorThere is not enough scientific data available for Hydroxyprogesterone interaction with alcohol, hence it is best to consult a doctor.
Pregnancy
safe if prescribedHydroxyprogesterone can be used during pregnancy if prescribed by the doctor.
Breast Feeding
consult your doctorPlease consult your doctor before using Hydroxyprogesterone during breastfeeding.
Driving
cautionIt is advised to drive with caution after taking Hydroxyprogesterone as it may interfere with driving capabilities. It can make you feel drowsy.
Liver
cautionHydroxyprogesterone should be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of liver diseases. Your doctor may have to adjust the dose.
Kidney
cautionHydroxyprogesterone should be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney diseases. Your doctor may have to adjust the dose.
Children
unsafeHydroxyprogesterone not indicated for use in children. Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients less than 16 years of age have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat a nutrient-dense diet rich in folic acid, iron, and calcium to support your baby's development and protect your own bone health during pregnancy.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day, as staying hydrated helps prevent uterine irritability and early contractions.
- Avoid prolonged sitting or standing to help reduce the risk of blood clots, which is a known risk during pregnancy and hormonal therapies.
- Perform safe, low-impact exercises like walking only if approved by your doctor to promote healthy blood circulation.
- Ensure complete avoidance of smoking, alcohol, and exposure to secondhand smoke to minimise the risk of vascular complications and early labour.
Special Advise
- You should not be treated with Hydroxyprogesterone if you are allergic to hydroxyprogesterone or castor oil.
- Hydroxyprogesterone is not recommended for use in women less than 16 years of age.
- Hydroxyprogesterone will not stop premature labour in the women in whom it has already begun.
- Hydroxyprogesterone is intended for women who are pregnant with only one child and should not be used by women who are pregnant with more than one baby (e.g., twins, triplets).
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Preterm labour: Preterm labour, also called premature labour, is when your baby starts getting ready for birth too early in your pregnancy. It can start before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Premature labour can be caused by premature rupture of membranes, high blood pressure during pregnancy (pre-eclampsia), and poor diet. Symptoms of preterm labour include leaking fluid or bleeding from the vagina, the feeling of pressure in the pelvis, and cramps that feel like menstrual cramps regularly. A few premature babies need special care and also have long-term mental and physical disabilities.
FAQs
Hydroxyprogesterone is used to prevent premature labour. It prevents miscarriage and helps lower the risk of premature birth in pregnant women.
Hydroxyprogesterone may cause weight gain. It can be due to water retention. If you feel that you are gaining a lot of weight while taking Hydroxyprogesterone, please consult your doctor.
Hydroxyprogesterone works by modulating the immune response of pregnant women to prevent the rejection of the embryo and allow its attachment to the uterus.
Hydroxyprogesterone should be taken in the dose and duration as prescribed by the doctor.
Progesterone is an endogenous steroid and progestogen sex hormone secreted by the female reproductive part in the second half of the menstrual cycle to prepare for the release of the egg in the uterus. It is also necessary for the implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus, for maintaining pregnancy and in hormonal replacement therapy in women deficient in progesterone.
Some of the common side effects of Hydroxyprogesterone include nausea, vomiting, itching, hives (skin rashes), swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, and diarrhea.
You should stop using Hydroxyprogesterone and tell a doctor before using Hydroxyprogesterone if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension), unusual vaginal bleeding, liver disease, liver cancer, jaundice during pregnancy, circulation problems or bleeding problems, stroke, blood clot problems, breast cancer, uterus/cervix/vaginal cancer.
Since Hydroxyprogesterone is administered by a doctor, it's unlikely you will stop taking Hydroxyprogesterone on your own. Complete the duration of treatment as prescribed by the doctor.
Hydroxyprogesterone will be administered by a doctor. The doctor will determine the dose based on your condition.
Since Hydroxyprogesterone is administered by a doctor, it's unlikely for you to miss a dose. Consult the doctor if you think you have missed a dose.
You should not receive Hydroxyprogesterone if you are allergic to any of its components, if you have blood clotting problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or breast cancer.
No, this medication is only established for use in women carrying a single baby who have a history of preterm birth. It is not shown to be effective or safe for multiple pregnancies. Talk to your doctor.
It is given as an intramuscular injection, usually in the buttocks, by a trained healthcare professional on a weekly schedule. Talk to your doctor.
Mild injection site reactions like pain, redness, or swelling are common. Applying a warm compress can help soothe the area, but if you notice pus, severe warmth, or worsening swelling, talk to your doctor.
It is highly recommended to avoid alcohol during your treatment, both to protect your pregnancy and to prevent additional stress on your liver. Talk to your doctor.
Yes, hormonal injections can increase the risk of blood clots. You should seek immediate medical help if you experience sudden leg swelling, chest pain, or breathing problems. Talk to your doctor.
This hormone injection can affect how your body processes glucose, potentially raising your blood sugar levels. You will need to monitor your blood sugar more closely. Talk to your doctor.
For prevention of recurrent preterm birth, treatment is commonly started between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy and continued until around 37 weeks of gestation or until delivery, depending on your doctor's assessment and treatment plan. Talk to your doctor.
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