Progesterone Gel

Progesterone Gel is a progesterone-containing vaginal medicine used primarily in specialist reproductive and fertility care. One of the key prescription progesterone gel products in the UK is Crinone 8% Progesterone Vaginal Gel, which contains progesterone at 8% w/w and delivers 90mg progesterone per 1.125g dose.

Progesterone is a naturally occurring steroid hormone that plays an important role in the menstrual cycle, endometrial development, implantation and maintenance of the hormonal environment required during early pregnancy.

The term Progesterone Gel can refer to different formulations in different countries, so the exact concentration, route, manufacturer and approved indication should always be checked against the specific product.

Product Information

Generic Name

Progesterone

Active Ingredient

Progesterone

Dosage Form

Vaginal Gel

Reference Product

Crinone 8% Progesterone Vaginal Gel

Concentration

8% w/w

Progesterone Content

90mg per 1.125g delivered dose

Route

Vaginal

Drug Class

Progestogen / Natural Progesterone

Therapeutic Category

Reproductive Medicine / Fertility Treatment

UK Legal Category

Prescription Only Medicine

ATC Code

G03DA04

Presentation

Single-use vaginal applicator

Common Pack Sizes

6 and 15 applicators for the cited Crinone presentation

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Merck Serono Ltd

Progesterone Gel for IVF

Progesterone Gel is strongly associated with in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and assisted reproductive treatment.

During IVF, progesterone may be used as luteal-phase support following reproductive procedures. The purpose is to provide progesterone during a period when adequate hormonal support of the endometrium is required.

Search demand around this product is therefore concentrated around terms such as:

• Progesterone Gel IVF
• Progesterone Vaginal Gel IVF
• Progesterone Gel Fertility
• Progesterone Gel After Embryo Transfer
• Crinone 8% Gel
• Crinone Progesterone Gel

Progesterone Gel After Embryo Transfer

Progesterone plays an important role in maintaining an endometrial environment suitable for implantation and early pregnancy.

Vaginal progesterone gel may form part of a fertility clinic's treatment protocol following embryo transfer. The exact protocol varies according to the treatment cycle, fertility clinic and individual patient circumstances.

Progesterone gel should therefore be used only according to the treatment plan provided by the prescribing fertility specialist.

Crinone 8% Progesterone Gel

Crinone 8% is a branded vaginal progesterone gel.

The product contains:

• Progesterone: 8% w/w
• Delivered progesterone dose: 90mg
• Delivered gel: 1.125g
• Dosage form: Vaginal gel
• Presentation: Single-use applicator

Crinone is a specific branded medicine and should not automatically be treated as interchangeable with every progesterone gel or progesterone cream.

Progesterone Gel vs Progesterone Cream

Progesterone gel and progesterone cream are not necessarily the same pharmaceutical product.

A prescription vaginal progesterone gel is specifically formulated for vaginal administration and may have defined fertility-related indications.

A topical progesterone cream may be intended for a completely different route, concentration or purpose.

For this reason, “progesterone gel” and “progesterone cream” should be treated as separate product entities unless the specific manufacturer confirms otherwise.

Progesterone Gel vs Progesterone Capsules

Progesterone Gel and progesterone capsules contain the same type of active hormone in some products, but they are different dosage forms and routes of administration.

Progesterone capsules may be formulated for oral or vaginal use, depending on the product.

A progesterone gel intended for vaginal use should not automatically be substituted for a capsule because the formulation, absorption and intended clinical application can differ.

Progesterone Gel and HRT

Searches for progesterone gel HRT and progesterone gel menopause are common, but these search terms need to be distinguished from fertility-focused vaginal progesterone gel.

Crinone 8% is primarily associated with reproductive and fertility treatment rather than being a general-purpose menopause progesterone product.

For hormone replacement therapy, progesterone may instead be provided through other licensed dosage forms and formulations.

Progesterone Gel Formulation

A progesterone gel may vary considerably depending on the manufacturer.

Important formulation differences can include:

• Progesterone concentration
• Amount of progesterone per applicator
• Vaginal versus topical route
• Single-use versus multi-use packaging
• Delivery system
• Excipients
• Approved indications
• Country-specific regulatory status

For Crinone 8%, each applicator delivers 1.125g of gel containing 90mg progesterone.

Progesterone Gel and Fertility Treatment

Progesterone gel is one of several progesterone dosage forms used in fertility medicine.

Depending on the treatment protocol, progesterone may be supplied as:

• Vaginal gel
• Vaginal tablets
• Vaginal capsules
• Pessaries
• Injectable progesterone

These forms should not automatically be considered therapeutically interchangeable.

Availability & Ordering

Commercial searches for this product include Progesterone Gel, Progesterone Vaginal Gel, Progesterone Gel 8%, Progesterone 8% Gel, Crinone Progesterone Gel, Crinone 8% Gel, Progesterone Gel IVF, Progesterone Gel Fertility, Progesterone Gel After Embryo Transfer and Progesterone Gel Price.

Availability depends on the exact formulation, manufacturer, country and prescription requirements.

For the UK market, Crinone 8% is the key prescription vaginal progesterone gel product associated with these searches.

UK Availability

The UK product market distinguishes prescription progesterone vaginal gel from progesterone creams and capsules.

Crinone 8% Progesterone Vaginal Gel is the principal UK product entity for searches around progesterone gel and is classified as a prescription-only medicine.

A separate progesterone gel should not automatically be described as generic Crinone unless the specific product has the appropriate regulatory and equivalence basis.

Australia

Crinone 8% progesterone vaginal gel is an established Australian product entity and is associated with IVF and assisted reproductive treatment.

Australian searches also show strong demand around:

• Progesterone Gel Australia
• Crinone Progesterone Gel Australia
• Crinone 8% Gel Australia
• Progesterone Gel IVF Australia
• Progesterone Gel After Embryo Transfer Australia

Thailand

Search demand in Thailand includes both Crinone 8% progesterone gel and other progesterone gel formulations.

This distinction is important because different progesterone gels can have different concentrations, routes and indications.

Russia

Russian-language demand includes searches around progesterone gel, Crinone 8%, vaginal progesterone gel, price and fertility treatment.

Country-specific registration and availability should be checked against the particular product.

UAE / Dubai

Commercial searches in the UAE include Progesterone Gel UAE, Progesterone Gel Dubai, Crinone 8% UAE and Crinone 8% Vaginal Gel Dubai.

Availability and dispensing requirements depend on the product's local registration and pharmacy requirements.

South Korea

South Korean search demand includes English and Korean-language progesterone gel terms, including Crinone 8%, progesterone vaginal gel and fertility-related progesterone searches.

The local product name, registration status and formulation should be confirmed for the specific medicine being supplied.

USA

The U.S. market has historically included Crinone progesterone vaginal gel, but current U.S. availability should be verified before making a current retail-supply claim.

U.S. searches remain commercially relevant for terms such as Progesterone Gel USA, Crinone 8% Gel USA, Progesterone Vaginal Gel USA and Progesterone Gel IVF USA.

How it works

Progesterone binds to progesterone receptors in reproductive tissues.

In the endometrium, progesterone promotes transformation of the uterine lining into a secretory state suitable for implantation. It also supports the hormonal environment associated with early pregnancy and contributes to normal regulation of the menstrual cycle.

Vaginal delivery provides a route for progesterone administration directly to the reproductive tract.

Crinone uses a specialized delivery system designed to adhere to vaginal mucosa and provide prolonged progesterone release.

Progesterone Gel may be used when additional progesterone support is required in reproductive medicine.

The major clinical uses associated with prescription vaginal progesterone gel include:

Luteal-phase support:
Progesterone can be used to support the endometrium after ovulation when progesterone supplementation is clinically indicated.

Fertility treatment:
Vaginal progesterone is commonly used in assisted reproductive treatment to provide hormonal support during the luteal phase.

IVF treatment:
Crinone 8% is specifically associated with progesterone support in selected IVF treatment protocols.

Infertility associated with inadequate luteal phase:
Prescription vaginal progesterone may be used where inadequate endogenous progesterone support contributes to infertility.

The exact indication depends on the particular formulation and local product authorization.

Storage

Storage conditions depend on the exact product.

For Crinone 8%, the product information specifies storage below 25°C.

The actual manufacturer's packaging should always be followed because storage requirements can differ between progesterone gel products.

Progesterone has an essential physiological role in pregnancy and some progesterone medicines are used during pregnancy in specific clinical circumstances.

However, not every progesterone gel is authorized for every pregnancy-related indication.

The actual manufacturer's product information should therefore be checked before making claims about pregnancy use.

Important Safety Information

Progesterone Gel may cause adverse effects that vary according to the formulation and route.

Potential effects include:

• Breast tenderness
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Vaginal irritation
• Vaginal discharge or residue
• Spotting or intermenstrual bleeding
• Abdominal discomfort
• Fatigue
• Hypersensitivity reactions

Patients should seek medical assessment for severe or unexpected symptoms.

Contraindications

Depending on the exact progesterone gel product, contraindications may include:

• Hypersensitivity to progesterone or formulation ingredients
• Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
• Known or suspected progesterone-sensitive malignancy
• Certain thromboembolic disorders
• Previous relevant cerebrovascular disease
• Acute porphyria
• Missed abortion where specified by the product information

The current product-specific prescribing information should always be followed.

Progesterone Gel Interactions

The interaction profile depends on the formulation and the medicines being taken at the same time.

A healthcare professional should review the patient's medication history, particularly when progesterone gel is used alongside:

• Other progesterone products
• Estrogen-containing medicines
• Fertility medicines
• Other hormonal therapies
• Enzyme-inducing medicines
• Antiepileptic medicines
• Selected anti-infective medicines

Do not combine or substitute progesterone products without appropriate medical guidance.