Micronized progesterone: a new therapeutic option.

The recent release of micronized progesterone adds a new physiologic alternative to the available therapeutic agents for common indications in both pre- and postmenopausal women. This compound overcomes problems with absorption through the gut associated with exogenous progesterone administration so that it can be used orally to achieve required serum and tissue levels of a hormone that is structurally identical to endogenous progesterone. Available data suggest that it is functionally equivalent to synthetic progestogens for common applications, such as secondary amenorrhea, while offering the advantage of a more physiologic metabolic profile that could be important for sustained use in applications such as postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy.