Medroxyprogest, or medroxyprogesterone, is a man-made form of the naturally occurring female hormone progesterone. The medication mimics the actions of progesterone, causing thinning of the uterine lining, or endometrium. Doctors commonly prescribe oral medroxyprogesterone to treat menstrual irregularities and endometriosis--the presence of uterine lining tissue outside the womb. Injected, long-acting medroxyprogesterone functions as a female contraceptive. As with any medication, medroxyprogesterone may cause side effects in some patients taking the drug.
Irregular Uterine Bleeding
Irregular uterine bleeding commonly occurs with oral and injected medroxyprogesterone, according to the manufacturer's U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved prescribing information. Women may experience increased or decreased bleeding, irregularly timed bleeding and spotting.
Among women taking injected medroxyprogesterone for contraceptive purposes, absence of uterine bleeding commonly develops with prolonged use. The manufacturer's prescribing information for injected medroxyprogesterone indicates that 55 percent women have no uterine bleeding one year after beginning use of the drug and 68 percent report no bleeding after two years of continuous use.
Weight Gain
Women taking medroxyprogesterone pills or injections may experience weight gain, notes PubMed Health. Women taking long-acting medroxyprogesterone injections experience an average weight gain of approximately 5 lbs. after one year of contraceptive use and 8 lbs. after two years, reports the pharmaceutical information website Drugs.com.
Breast Tenderness
Breast tenderness may occur with oral or injected medroxyprogesterone, reports MedlinePlus. Breast fullness may accompany tenderness. In rare instances, the breasts may produce fluid secreted from the nipple. A patient experiencing this side effect should talk with her doctor.
Acne
New or worsening acne may occur in women taking medroxyprogesterone, reports PubMed Health. Over-the-counter treatments may prove helpful for women with mild to moderate acne. Patients with concerns about increasing acne should consult their doctors.
Sleep Disturbances
Some women taking medroxyprogesterone experience sleep disturbances, including a prolonged delay before falling asleep and waking during the night, notes MedlinePlus. Women with excessive daytime drowsiness associated with medication-related sleep disturbances may want to discuss the problem with their doctor.
Decreased Bone Calcium
Women using injected medroxyprogesterone may experience calcium loss from the bones, potentially increasing bone fragility and the likelihood of fractures. According to PubMed Health, the degree of calcium loss from the bones may increase with continued use of the medication. Discontinuation of injected medroxyprogesterone may not lead to complete restoration of bone calcium. The manufacturer's FDA-approved prescribing information for injected medroxyprogesterone recommends continued use of this form of contraception beyond two years only if other birth control methods prove inadequate.
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