Plasma concentrations of progesterone are higher in the uterine artery than in the radial artery after vaginal administration of micronized progesterone in an oil-based solution to postmenopausal women

  • Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Biomedical and Human Oncologic Science, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy ROR

Fertility and Sterility, 69(3), 471-473

DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(97)00545-1 PMID 9531879

Abstract

Objective

To verify the occurrence of preferential distribution of vaginally administered progesterone to the uterus compared with extrapelvic regions in vivo and in humans.

Design

Prospective clinical study.

Setting

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."

Topics

vaginal progesterone first uterine pass effect, Cicinelli uterine artery progesterone concentration, micronized progesterone vaginal administration uterine distribution, uterine artery vs radial artery progesterone levels, preferential uterine distribution vaginal progesterone, oil-based micronized progesterone vaginal pharmacokinetics, postmenopausal women vaginal progesterone absorption study, Einer-Jensen first uterine pass progesterone humans, progesterone uterine selectivity vaginal route delivery, luteal phase support vaginal progesterone uterine targeting
PMID 9531879 9531879 DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(97)00545-1 10.1016/s0015-0282(97)00545-1

Cite this article

Cicinelli, E., Cignarelli, M., Sabatelli, S., Romano, F., Schonauer, L. M., Padovano, R., & Einer-Jensen, N. (1998). Plasma concentrations of progesterone are higher in the uterine artery than in the radial artery after vaginal administration of micronized progesterone in an oil-based solution to postmenopausal women. *Fertility and sterility*, *69*(3), 471-473. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(97)00545-1

Related articles