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Breast tenderness and leakage of liquid from the nipple occur rarely with medroxyprogesterone. Various skin reactions, including hives, acne, hair growth and hair loss, also have been reported occasionally. Break-through bleeding (Menstrual-like bleeding in the middle of the menstrual cycle), vaginal spotting of blood, changes in menstrual flow, increased or decreased weight, nausea, fever, insomnia, and jaundice have all been reported.
Blood clots are an occasional serious side effect of progestin therapy, and cigarette smokers are risk for clots. Therefore patients requiring progestin therapy are strongly encouraged to quit smoking.
Diabetic patients may experience difficulty controlling blood glucose when taking medroxyprogesterone for unclear reason, Therefore increased monitoring of blood sugar and adjustment of medications for diabetes is recommended.
The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Study found an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, breast cancer, blood clots, and pulmonary emboli (blood clots that lodge in the lungs) in postmenopausal women (50-70 years old) who took medroxyprogesterone should not be used for the prevention of heart disease or dementia. Although medroxyprogesterone alone has not been demonstrated to promote breast cancer, since breast cancer has progesterone receptor, physician usually avoid using progestins in women who have had breast cancer.
