eTable 1. Ovulation inhibitory doses and spectra of activity for progestagens. These data are based largely on animal studies. The clinical effects of progestagens depend on both the binding affinity for the relevant steroid receptors and on hormone concentrate in target cells (2, e2– e4).
| Progestagen | OID (mg) | EST | A–E | AND | A–A | GLU | A–M |
| Progesterone | 300 | – | + | – | (+) | + | + |
| Chlormadinone acetate (CMA) | 1.7 | – | + | – | + | + | – |
| Cyproterone acetate (CPA) | 1.0 | – | + | – | + | + | – |
| Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) | – | + | (+) | – | + | – | |
| Dienogest (DNG) | 1 | – | + | – | + | – | – |
| Norethisterone (NET) | 0.4 | (+) | + | + | – | – | – |
| Lynestrenol (LYN) | 2 | (+) | + | + | – | – | – |
| Levonorgestrel (LNG) | 0.06 | – | + | + | – | – | – |
| Norgestimate (NGM) | 0.2 | – | + | + | – | ? | ? |
| Norelgestromin (NGN) | – | + | + | – | ? | ? | |
| Desogestrel (DG) | 0.06 | – | + | + | – | (+) | – |
| Etonogestrel (EG) | 0.06 | – | + | + | – | (+) | – |
| Gestodene (GSD) | 0.04 | – | + | + | – | (+) | + |
| Drospirenone (DRSP) | 2 | – | + | – | + | – | + |
OID, Ovulation inhibition dose = minimal dose inhibiting ovulation in all women in daily use (without added estrogen). EST, estrogenic activity; A–E, antiestrogenic activity; AND, androgenic activity; A–A; antiandrogenic activity; GLU, glucocorticoid activity; A–M, antimineralocorticoid activity