Inadequate levels of circulating progesterone (P) seen in clinical practice can be increased by P supplementation. When supplementation is via the vaginal route, its presentation may be in many different suppository bases. We have measured circulating P in the follicular phase to compare delivery from the vagina after P was presented in three different bases (glycerinated gelatin, cocoa butter, and polyethylene glycol). The mean peak level achieved and the area under the curve were highest after supplementation from polyethylene glycol-based suppositories. The duration of elevation above baseline was similar with all three suppositories. It is concluded that the suppository base is important in controlling the amount of this steroid absorbed from a given amount presented by this route.
PMID 6832405 6832405 DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)46938-4 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)46938-4 Price et al. 1983, Price 1983
Cite this article
Price, J. H., Ismail, H., Gorwill, R. H., & Sarda, I. R. (1983). Effect of the suppository base on progesterone delivery from the vagina. Fertility and sterility, 39(4), 490-493. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(16)46938-4
Price JH, Ismail H, Gorwill RH, Sarda IR. Effect of the suppository base on progesterone delivery from the vagina. Fertil Steril. 1983;39(4):490-493. doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(16)46938-4
Price, John H., et al. "Effect of the suppository base on progesterone delivery from the vagina." Fertility and sterility, vol. 39, no. 4, 1983, pp. 490-493.
Endometriosis is characterized by frequent recurrences of symptoms and lesions even after extirpative surgery. Because medical therapies control but do not cure the disease, long periods of pharmacologic management may be needed until pregnancy desire or, sometimes, physiologic menopause. Hormonal drugs suppress ovulation and menstruation and have similar beneficial effects against pain. However, only estrogen-progestins and progestins have safety/tolerability/cost profiles that allow long-term use. These compounds induce atrophy of eutopic and ectopic endometrium, have antiinflammatory and proapoptotic properties, and can be delivered via different modalities, including oral, transdermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, vaginal, and intrauterine routes. At least two-thirds of symptomatic women are relieved from pain and achieve appreciable improvements in health-related quality of life. Progesterone resistance may cause nonresponse in the remaining one-third. When using estrogen-progestins continuously, individualized, tailored cycling should be explained to improve compliance. All combinations demonstrated a similar effect on dysmenorrhea, independently from progestin type. Estrogen-progestins with the lowest possible estrogen dose should be chosen to combine optimal lesion suppression and thrombotic risk limitation. Progestins should be suggested in women who do not respond or manifest intolerance to estrogen-progestins and in those with dyspareunia and/or deep lesions. Progestins do not increase significantly the thrombotic risk and generally may be used when estrogens are contraindicated. Estrogen-progestins and progestins reduce the incidence of postoperative endometrioma recurrence and show a protective effect against endometriosis-associated epithelial ovarian cancer risk.
To verify the occurrence of preferential distribution of vaginally administered progesterone to the uterus compared with extrapelvic regions in vivo and in humans. Prospective clinical study. University medical school. PATIENT(S): Twenty postmenopausal women undergoing transabdominal hysterectomy for benign pathologies. INTERVENTION(S): Forty-five minutes before surgery, the women received a single vaginal administration of an oil-based micronized progesterone (100 mg) solution currently available on the market for IM use. During the operation, parallel blood samples were drawn from the uterine and radial arteries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Plasma levels of progesterone were measured by RIA. RESULT(S): Mean (+/- SD) plasma levels of progesterone were significantly higher in the uterine artery than in the radial artery (9.75 +/- 3.21 vs. 5.12 +/- 2.06 ng/mL, respectively). CONCLUSION(S): Vaginal administration allows a preferential distribution of progesterone to the uterus, which confirms the existence of the so-called "first uterine pass effect."
To study the effect of E2 and P on the epithelial cell cycle of normal human breast in vivo. Double-blind, randomized study. Topical application to the breast of a gel containing either a placebo, E2, P, or a combination of E2 and P, daily, during the 10 to 13 days preceding breast surgery. Forty premenopausal women undergoing breast surgery for the removal of a lump. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. Plasma and breast tissue concentrations of E2 and P. Epithelial cell cycle evaluated in normal breast tissue areas by counting mitoses and proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunostaining quantitative analyses. Increased E2 concentration increases the number of cycling epithelial cells. Increased P concentration significantly decreases the number of cycling epithelial cells. Exposure to P for 10 to 13 days reduces E2-induced proliferation of normal breast epithelial cells in vivo.
To determine pharmacokinetic and endometrial effects of vaginally delivered micronized P. Functionally agonadal estrogen-replacement recipients received either micronized P administered vaginally or bi-daily IM injections of P. Hourly blood samples were obtained, from baseline to 6 hours after the initial dose of P and again on simulated cycle day 21 when transvaginal ultrasound (US) measurements and tissue samples of the endometrium were performed. Blood and tissue samples were assayed for P. Endometrial histology, estrogen receptor (ER) and P receptor (PR) contents were evaluated. University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California. Twenty functionally agonadal and four normally ovulating women. Delivery differences were assessed by [1] endometrial P concentrations; [2] USs; [3] histologic datings; [4] ER and PR contents, and [5] serum P levels. Endometrial P concentrations were higher with vaginally administered P than endometrial concentrations observed in normal ovulatory women or women who consistently had the highest serum P after IM administration (11.50 +/- 2.60 versus 1.40 +/- 0.40 versus 0.30 +/- 0.10 ng/mg protein [36.56 +/- 8.27 versus 4.45 +/- 1.27 versus 0.95 +/- 0.32 nmol/L], respectively). After 7 days of P, no differences between either treatment regimen and control groups were detected by histologic, ultrasonographic, or immunocytochemical receptor analyses. Vaginal micronized P enhances P delivery to the uterus compared with a standard IM regimen and results in a synchronous secretory endometrial histology in agonadal women preparing for embryo donation.