17-Alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate (17-OHPC)
17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC) is a man-made drug built from a natural relative of progesterone, given by shot to lower the risk of early birth. It is a progestin. It is not the progesterone a woman's body makes, and the two words are not the same.
In a 1979 study of 70 high-risk pregnancies, preterm birth happened in 12.8 percent of treated women and 40.9 percent of the rest.1 A later trial of 142 high-risk women found a similar drop with vaginal progesterone.2
Restorative care reaches for the hormone the body already makes. A review of more than 2,000 pregnancies supported with natural progesterone found no rise in birth defects.3
Cited in this entry
- Johnson JW, Lee PA, Zachary AS, Calhoun S, Migeon CJ. High-risk prematurity--progestin treatment and steroid studies. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1979. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/492618/
- da Fonseca EB, Bittar RE, Carvalho MH, Zugaib M. Prophylactic administration of progesterone by vaginal suppository to reduce the incidence of spontaneous preterm birth in women at increased risk: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2003. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12592250/
- Hilgers TW. Chapter 55: Using Progesterone Support During Pregnancy. The Medical and Surgical Practice of NaProTECHNOLOGY. 2004. https://rrmacademy.org/library/chapter-55-using-progesterone-support-during-pregnancy/
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult an RRM clinician or healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.
