Medroxyprogesterone acetate, estradiol, FSH and LH in peripheral blood after intramuscular administration of depo-provera® to women

Abstract

The peripheral blood levels of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), estradiol, FSH and LH were measured after an intramuscular injection of 150 mg and 300 mg of Depo-Provera® in three women. The radioimmunoassay used measured levels of medroxyprogesterone 5 — 10 times lower than previously reported following intramuscular injection of 150 mg Depo-Provera. No evidence for accumulation of the drug was found. Ovulation was suppressed during treatment. The levels of estradiol remained in the range of the early follicular phase of the untreated cycle, as did FSH and LH. The levels of LH were lower than those of FSH. MPA at levels ranging from 0.5 to 10 ng/ml suppresses ovulation by inhibition of the development of follicles.