estradiol vs medroxyprogesterone
Side-by-side comparison of estradiol and medroxyprogesterone. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
The following laboratory tests may be affected by progestins including medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension: (a) Plasma and urinary steroid levels are decreased (e.g., progesterone, estradiol, pregnanediol, testosterone, cortisol).
Recommendation: Your doctor should keep this in mind when checking your hormone levels or reading lab reports.
Estrace, Vivelle-Dot
Provera, Depo-Provera
Iclevia is a birth control pill. It contains two hormones, a progestin and an estrogen, that work together to prevent pregnancy.
Medroxyprogesterone acetate injection is a medicine used to prevent pregnancy in women. It is given as a shot every 3 months.
Iclevia is used by women who can get pregnant to prevent pregnancy. It contains two types of hormones. These hormones stop you from releasing an egg and also change the lining of your uterus, which prevents pregnancy.
This medicine is used to prevent pregnancy in women who are able to have children. It works by stopping ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). It is not recommended for long-term use (more than 2 years) unless other birth control options are not good enough for you.
Iclevia contains two hormones: levonorgestrel (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen). These hormones prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). They also change the lining of the uterus to prevent a fertilized egg from implanting.
This medicine is a progestin, a synthetic form of the natural hormone progesterone. It prevents pregnancy mainly by stopping the release of an egg from your ovary. It also changes the lining of the uterus, making it harder for a fertilized egg to implant.
- • Headache
- • Heavy menstrual bleeding
- • Nausea
- • Painful periods
- • Acne
- • Irregular periods or spotting
- • No periods
- • Abdominal pain or discomfort
- • Weight gain (more than 10 pounds)
- • Dizziness
- The product did not stick properly 5,172
- Headache 5,035
- Nausea 4,752
- Tiredness 4,511
- Pain 3,478
- Breast cancer in women 9,772
- Breast cancer 8,167
- Brain tumor (meningioma) 1,680
- Breast cancer that has spread 1,385
- Feeling sick to your stomach 1,039
Cigarette smoking increases your risk of serious heart problems from birth control pills. This risk is higher if you are over 35 and smoke more cigarettes. You should not take Iclevia if you are over 35 and smoke.
This medicine can cause you to lose bone mineral density. The longer you use it, the more bone density you may lose. It is not known if this bone loss can be fully reversed. Using this medicine as a teenager or young adult may reduce your peak bone mass and increase your risk of osteoporosis later in life. Because of this risk, it is not recommended for long-term use (longer than 2 years) unless other birth control options are not adequate.
Do not use Iclevia if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking Iclevia, stop taking it right away. Iclevia can reduce milk production, so you may want to use a different birth control method while breastfeeding.
You should not use this medicine if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. Small amounts of this medicine can pass into breast milk.
How to Read This estradiol vs medroxyprogesterone Comparison
estradiol is classified in the Estrogen Hormone drug class, while medroxyprogesterone sits within the Progestogen class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, estradiol has 22,948 submissions while medroxyprogesterone has 22,043. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to medroxyprogesterone can lower the amount of estradiol found in your blood and urine.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between estradiol and medroxyprogesterone - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.