medroxyprogesterone vs testosterone
Side-by-side comparison of medroxyprogesterone and testosterone. 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 may need to monitor your hormone levels or adjust your dosage if you take these together.
Provera, Depo-Provera
AndroGel, Testim
Medroxyprogesterone acetate injection is a medicine used to prevent pregnancy in women. It is given as a shot every 3 months.
Testosterone pellets (Testopel) are a hormone replacement therapy. They help men who don't produce enough testosterone on their own.
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.
Testosterone pellets treat low testosterone in men. This can be caused by problems with the testicles or the pituitary gland. It can also be used in young men with delayed puberty to help them develop.
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.
Testosterone is a male sex hormone. These pellets are implanted under the skin and slowly release testosterone into your body. This helps to restore normal testosterone levels.
- • Irregular periods or spotting
- • No periods
- • Abdominal pain or discomfort
- • Weight gain (more than 10 pounds)
- • Dizziness
- • Acne
- • Male-pattern baldness
- • Increased or decreased sex drive
- • Headache
- • Anxiety
- 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
- Heart attack 3,269
- Pain 2,379
- Blood clot in a deep vein 2,176
- Testosterone level decreased 2,093
- Stroke 2,091
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.
Testosterone pellets can cause blood clots in your veins. This includes clots in your legs (deep vein thrombosis) and lungs (pulmonary embolism). Tell your doctor right away if you have pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in your leg, or if you have trouble breathing or chest pain.
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.
Testosterone can harm an unborn baby. You should not use this medicine if you are pregnant or may become pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions.
How to Read This medroxyprogesterone vs testosterone Comparison
medroxyprogesterone is classified in the Progestogen drug class, while testosterone sits within the Androgen Hormone 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, medroxyprogesterone has 22,043 submissions while testosterone has 12,008. 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 testosterone 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 medroxyprogesterone and testosterone - 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.