DIENOGEST IS AN ORALLY-ACTIVE SEMISYNTHETIC PROGESTOGEN WHICH ALSO POSSESSES THE PROPERTIES OF 17-HYDROXYPROGESTERONE. IT IS A DERIVATIVE OF 19-NORTESTOSTERONE AND HAS ANTIANDROGENIC PROPERTIES. IT WORKS MAINLY BY PREVENTING THE RELEASE OF AN EGG (OVULATION) DURING YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE. IT ALSO MAKES VAGINAL FLUID THICKER TO HELP PREVENT SPERM FROM REACHING AN EGG (FERTILIZATION) AND CHANGES THE LINING OF THE UTERUS (WOMB) TO PREVENT ATTACHMENT OF A FERTILIZED EGG.
BESIDES PREVENTING PREGNANCY, BIRTH CONTROL PILLS MAY MAKE YOUR PERIODS MORE REGULAR, DECREASE BLOOD LOSS AND PAINFUL PERIODS, DECREASE YOUR RISK OF OVARIAN CYSTS, AND ALSO TREAT ACNE.
DIENOGEST ACTS AS AN AGONIST AT THE PROGESTERONE RECEPTOR (PR) WITH WEAK AFFINITY THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THAT OF PROGESTERONE BUT HAS A VERY POTENT PROGESTAGENIC EFFECT IN THE ENDOMETRIUM, CAUSING ENDOMETRIAL ATROPHY AFTER PROLONGED USE 2. IT PROMOTES ANTIPROLIFERATIVE, IMMUNOLOGIC AND ANTIANGIOGENIC EFFECTS ON ENDOMETRIAL TISSUE. DIENOGEST REDUCES THE LEVEL OF ENDOGENOUS PRODUCTION OF OESTRADIOL AND THEREBY SUPPRESSING THE TROPHIC EFFECTS OF OESTRADIOL ON BOTH THE EUTOPIC AND ECTOPIC ENDOMETRIUM 5. CONTINOUS ADMINISTRATION OF DIENOGEST RESULTS IN HYPERPROGESTOGENIC AND MODERATELY HYPOESTROGENIC ENDOCRINE ENVIRONMENT, WHICH CAUSES INITIAL DECIDUALIZATION OF ENDOMETRIAL TISSUE 4. IT IS AN ANTAGONIST AT ANDROGEN RECEPTORS, IMPROVE ANDROGENIC SYMPTOMS SUCH AS ACNE AND HIRSUTISM