Pharmacology and biological activity of progesterone and synthetic progestogens (adapted from Schindler et al)1
| Progestogen | Progestogenic | Antigonadotropic | Anti-estrogenic | Estrogenic | Androgenic | Anti-androgenic | Glucocorticoid | Antimineralocorticoid | |
| Progesterone | + | + | + | – | – | +/– | + | + | |
| Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) | + | + | + | – | +/– | – | + | – | |
| Dydrogesterone | + | – | + | – | – | +/– | – | +/– | |
| First generation | Norethisterone (NET) | + | + | + | + | + | – | – | – |
| Lynestrenol* | + | + | + | + | + | – | – | – | |
| Cyproterone acetate | + | + | + | – | – | ++ | + | – | |
| Second generation | Levonorgestrel | + | + | + | – | + | – | – | – |
| Third generation | Desogestrel | + | + | + | – | + | – | – | – |
| Norgestimate† | + | + | + | – | + | – | – | – | |
| Gestodene | + | + | + | – | + | – | + | + | |
| Fourth generation | Drospirenone | + | + | + | – | – | + | – | + |
| Nomegestrol acetate | + | + | + | – | – | +/– | – | – | |
| Dienogest | + | + | +/– | +/– | – | + | – | – |
*Prodrug.
†Approximately 22% converts to levonorgestrel.11