desogestrel

Also known as ORG-2969, 13-Ethyl-11-methylene-18,19-dinor-17alpha-pregn-4-en-20-yn-17-ol

Desogestrel is a progestin medication which is used in birth control pills. It is also used in the treatment of menopausal symptoms in women. The medication is available and used alone or in combination with an estrogen. It is taken by mouth.

Key facts

Drug.Watchedfields: changed
Drug.verifiedrevid: 460778212
Drug.image: Desogestrel.svg
Drug.image_class: skin-invert-image
Drug.width: 200
Drug.image2: Desogestrel molecule ball.png
Drug.image_class2: bg-transparent
Drug.width2: 250
Drug.tradename: Cerazette, Lovima, Hana, others
Drug.MedlinePlus: a601050
Drug.DailyMedID: Desogestrel
Drug.routes_of_administration: By mouth
Drug.class: Progestogen
Drug.ATC_prefix: G03
Drug.ATC_suffix: AC09
Drug.legal_UK: POM
Drug.legal_UK_comment: / P
Drug.legal_US: Rx-only

via Wikipedia infobox

Chemical data

Formula: C22H30O
Molecular weight: 310.5 g/mol
IUPAC name: (8S,9S,10R,13S,14S,17R)-13-ethyl-17-ethynyl-11-methylidene-1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10,12,14,15,16-dodecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-17-ol
SMILES: CC[C@]12CC(=C)[C@H]3[C@H]([C@@H]1CC[C@]2(C#C)O)CCC4=CCCC[C@H]34
InChIKey: RPLCPCMSCLEKRS-BPIQYHPVSA-N
XLogP: 4.9
Polar surface area: 20.2 Å²
H-bond donors: 1
H-bond acceptors: 1
Formal charge: 0

via PubChem

Research

2,235 papers

Desogestrel.Clinical obstetrics and gynecology · 1995
Oral contraceptives with progestogens desogestrel or levonorgestrel and risk of intracranial meningioma: national case-control study.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2025
Pharmacokinetics of desogestrel.American journal of obstetrics and gynecology · 1993
Oral Desogestrel as Endometrial Preparation before Operative Hysteroscopy: A Systematic Review.Gynecologic and obstetric investigation · 2021
Desogestrel-only pill (Cerazette).The journal of family planning and reproductive health care · 2003

via PubMed

Wikidata facts

Mass: 310.229666

Show 6 more facts

chemical formula: C₂₂H₃₀O
World Health Organisation international non-proprietary name: desogestrel
canonical SMILES: CCC12CC(=C)C3C(C1CCC2(C#C)O)CCC4=CCCCC34
isomeric SMILES: CC[C@]12CC(=C)[C@H]3[C@H]([C@@H]1CC[C@]2(C#C)O)CCC4=CCCC[C@H]34
MCN code: 3003.39.37
Commons category: Desogestrel

Sources (3)

via Wikidata · CC0

~24 min read

Article

25 sections

Contents

Medical uses
Available forms
Contraindications
Side effects
Overdose
Interactions
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
Progestogenic activity
Antigonadotropic effects
Androgenic activity
Glucocorticoid activity
Other activities
Pharmacokinetics
Chemistry
Synthesis
History
Society and culture
Generic names
Brand names
Availability
Controversy
Research
References
Further reading

Side effects of desogestrel include menstrual irregularities, headaches, nausea, breast tenderness, mood changes, acne, increased hair growth, and others. Desogestrel is a progestin, or a synthetic progestogen, and hence is an agonist of the progesterone receptor, the biological target of progestogens like progesterone. It has very weak androgenic and glucocorticoid activity and no other important hormonal activity. The medication is a prodrug of etonogestrel (3-ketodesogestrel) in the body.