Norethisterone

Norethisterone (INN, BAN), also known as norethindrone (USAN), as well as 19-nor-17α-ethynyltestosterone, but more commonly known under its trade name Utovlan®, is a steroidal progestin used in some combined oral contraceptive pills and progestogen-only pills, and also available as a standalone drug. It can be used to treat premenstrual syndrome, painful periods, abnormal heavy bleeding, irregular periods, menopausal syndrome (in combination with estrogen), or to postpone a period. It is also commonly used to help prevent uterine hemorrhage in complicated non-surgical or pre-surgical gynecologic cases and in treating non responsive cyclical mastalgia. Norethisterone was the first orally highly active progestin to be synthesized.