Endometril

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Endometril

Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 10/01/2026

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Endometril

What is Endometril?

Endometril is an oral medication containing lynestrenol, a synthetic hormone belonging to the progestogen group. It is designed to mimic the effects of the natural hormone progesterone, which plays a critical role in the regulation of the female reproductive system and the maintenance of the uterine lining.

Mechanism of Action

The active ingredient, lynestrenol, works by influencing the hormonal balance within the body. Its primary functions include:

  • Regulation of the Endometrium: It helps stabilize and transform the lining of the uterus (endometrium), which is essential for managing irregular menstrual cycles.
  • Ovulation Suppression: When taken continuously, it can inhibit the hormonal signals required for ovulation.
  • Hormonal Supplementation: It compensates for progesterone deficiencies that may cause various gynecological symptoms.

Therapeutic Applications

Endometril is primarily used to treat conditions associated with hormonal imbalances or the growth of endometrial tissue outside of its normal environment. Common applications include:

  • Endometriosis: Managing the growth of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus.
  • Menstrual Disorders: Treating heavy, prolonged, or painful periods, as well as irregular cycles.
  • Hormonal Deficiencies: Addressing clinical issues resulting from insufficient natural progesterone production.
  • Menstrual Cycle Suppression: In specific cases, it is used to temporarily stop the menstrual cycle to allow the reproductive system to recover from certain conditions.

What side effects are possible with Endometril?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The safety profile for lynestrenol (Endometril) is structured according to official regulatory documents, classifying known adverse reactions by system-organ class and frequency.

Frequency-Classified Adverse Reactions

Adverse effects listed as Common (affecting up to 1 in 10 people) in official labeling primarily involve nausea, vomiting, headache, weight increase, breast pain or tenderness, and changes such as spotting or breakthrough bleeding. These menstrual irregularities are specifically documented to occur more frequently during the initial phase of treatment.

Effects classified as Uncommon include migraine, sweating, and chloasma (skin discoloration). Less frequent, Rare effects include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), dizziness, and nervousness.

Serious Safety Considerations and Restrictions

Official regulatory sources highlight Serious Adverse Reactions, including the potential for Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), which encompasses deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The risk for VTE is sometimes categorized as Not Known (cannot be estimated from available data).

Population-Specific Safety Restrictions list specific conditions for which the medicine is contraindicated.

  • The drug is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment (liver function issues) and those with a history of active venous thromboembolic disorders.
  • Use is also contraindicated in cases of known or suspected pregnancy or in individuals with sex-steroid sensitive malignancies (e.g., certain forms of breast cancer).

These official safety statements define the risk framework for the medicine, ensuring that restrictions related to serious systemic risks and pre-existing conditions are clearly communicated.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Endometril Overdose and when to seek help — Official Regulatory Information

The regulatory information for Lynestrenol (Endometril) outlines a clinical overdose profile characterized by low acute toxicity. Official labeling indicates that acute overdose is not typically associated with severe or life-threatening toxic effects, but medical attention is required.

Documented Manifestations and Actions

Category Regulatory Statement
Documented Manifestations Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, breast enlargement, and later, vaginal bleeding (a hormonal withdrawal effect).
Antidote Availability There is no specific antidote known or available.
Required Management Treatment is required to be symptomatic and supportive. The specific procedure of gastric lavage may be considered if a large overdosage is confirmed and the patient presents within four hours of ingestion.
Urgent Medical Action Immediate medical attention must be sought for any suspected overdosage event.

Regulatory Profile Summary

The official documents classify the severity as low acute toxicity. This classification underpins the management strategy, which focuses on providing supportive care. Accidental ingestion, including by children, does not generally result in serious acute symptoms. The necessity for immediate medical attention is to ensure proper symptomatic treatment and to assess the time-sensitive eligibility for procedures like gastric lavage.

Therapeutic Uses of Endometril

What Endometril Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Endometril is generally applied across therapeutic domains where short-term symptomatic support is needed for conditions involving episodic or fluctuating manifestations. This class of medication is commonly used to help manage specific issues, including endometriosis-associated pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, and secondary amenorrhea (missed periods). This short-term symptomatic assistance may support a sense of stability when symptoms are more noticeable, assisting with functional stability.

The medication is also relevant for condition categories that may involve temporary physiological imbalance, specifically where symptoms cluster and lead to noticeable physiological strain. In situations where patients experience recurring or acute symptom patterns, the medicine is commonly used in areas where supportive symptom management is appropriate. It contributes to easing the overall symptom load and offers symptomatic relief that helps patients cope more steadily. It is considered relevant for easing multiple symptoms that interfere with daily comfort.


Quick Fact: Relief for Physiological Strain (It contributes to improved comfort during periods of heightened symptoms, supporting the patient during difficult episodes by easing distress.)

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

The official eligibility profile for Endometril (Lynestrenol) strictly defines the patient populations permitted to use the medicine based on established regulatory standards. Use is generally established for adult females of reproductive potential.

Eligibility Status Specific Conditions or Populations
Contraindicated Use Known or suspected pregnancy; active venous thromboembolic disorder (VTE); history of cerebrovascular/coronary artery disease; severe liver impairment or liver tumors; known or suspected sex-steroid sensitive malignancies (e.g., breast cancer); undiagnosed vaginal bleeding; or Porphyria.
Use Not Recommended Breastfeeding women, unless use is absolutely necessary; patients facing long-term immobilisation due to surgery or illness (discontinuation should be considered).

Conditional Use applies to individuals with mild to moderate liver function impairment, who must use the medicine with extreme caution and require close monitoring. While use is primarily established for adults, regulatory documents indicate that the risk of certain serious adverse effects, such as blood clotting disorders, is especially high in the elderly population. The regulatory basis for these prohibitions is grounded in the drug’s properties as a synthetic progestogen, establishing clear criteria for non-eligibility.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with other medicines and products

The official interaction profile for Endometril (Lynestrenol) is defined by documented pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions that result in specific usage restrictions.

Pharmacokinetic Interactions: Exposure Modification

Co-administration with medicinal products classified as enzyme-inducing agents may cause a clinically relevant decrease in the plasma concentration and subsequent effectiveness of Lynestrenol's active metabolite, Norethisterone. This pharmacokinetic interaction mechanism is formally documented with several specific drug classes. Interacting medicines explicitly named in regulatory text include certain anticonvulsants (such as carbamazepine and phenytoin), anti-infectives (such as rifampicin and griseofulvin), and HIV treatments (including ritonavir and nelfinavir). The herbal product St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is also documented as an enzyme inducer that may reduce the drug’s effectiveness.

Pharmacodynamic and Substance Interactions

Lynestrenol is documented to affect the clearance of some co-administered medicinal products. Regulatory texts state that Lynestrenol may lead to an increase in the plasma concentration and effectiveness of drugs such as Cyclosporin and certain β-adrenergic blockers. Conversely, Lynestrenol may decrease the effectiveness of co-administered Insulins. A substance interaction is documented with Medical Charcoal, which reduces absorption. No medicinal product is strictly designated as a contraindicated combination solely due to an interaction risk in the reviewed government documentation.

Mechanism of Action

How Endometril Works


Targeting Enzyme Pathways: The Role of COX Inhibition

This medication works primarily by engaging mechanisms that regulate overactive enzyme systems, specifically the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes. By acting as an inhibitor, it blocks the conversion of arachidonic acid into prostaglandins , which are the main signaling molecules that modulate localized vascular and nociceptive responses. This action alters signaling dynamics in systems characterized by heightened mediator production.


Modulating Local Physiological Responses

Suppression of prostaglandin synthesis initiates a downstream mechanistic cascade that leads to predictable adjustments in tissue response. This modifies the early molecular steps that shape downstream signaling, resulting in reduced concentration of local inflammatory mediators. The cascade results in decreased activation of peripheral nociceptors and a reduction in prostaglandin-mediated vasodilation and increased vascular permeability. The mechanism influences the resulting physiological changes by decreasing the concentration of pro-inflammatory mediators.

Dosage and Administration Information

How to Use Endometril: Official Administration Guidelines

Endometril, which contains the progestogen Lynestrenol, is an oral preparation intended for systemic administration. The instructions for use, including dosing and duration, are strictly defined by the clinical protocol for the condition being addressed. Lynestrenol is available in tablet form.


Administration Protocols

The medication is to be taken once daily at approximately the same time each day to maintain consistent drug levels. The 5 mg tablet is the standard strength for gynecological indications, and it is administered orally with some fluid.

Usage protocols fall into two main categories, distinguished by frequency and duration:

Protocol Type Dosing Pattern & Duration Example Regimens
Cyclic Use Intermittent administration for specific periods of the menstrual cycle (e.g., days 14 through 25) repeated over 3 to 4 months. Standard dose is typically 5 mg daily for cycle regulation.
Continuous Use Daily, uninterrupted administration over a long period, such as at least 6 months. Used for conditions requiring sustained hormonal suppression, with doses ranging from 5 mg to 10 mg daily.

Specific Procedural Instructions

The dosage may vary significantly based on the protocol; for instance, managing acute, abnormal uterine bleeding may begin with a short course of 10 mg per day for 10 days. Conversely, dosages for highly specialized indications, such as palliative management of certain endometrial conditions, can range up to 50 mg daily. If breakthrough bleeding occurs during continuous treatment, the dosage may be temporarily increased for 3 to 5 days to control the bleeding episode before resuming the original regimen.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research evidence / Overview of Studies for Endometril

Endometril's active compound, Lynestrenol, was evaluated in research exploring a range of conditions related to the female reproductive system. The evidence base for this medicine comes from decades of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, and observational data that research examined to understand the agent's effects on studied outcomes.


Evidence for Use in Endometriosis-Associated Pain

Research has explored the use of this medicine in women diagnosed with endometriosis, a condition characterized by fluctuating or episodic manifestations of pain. Studies in this area primarily utilize RCTs and systematic reviews to monitor pelvic pain scores and their evolution over defined time intervals. Findings describe patterns observed in the studies where pain scores were observed to evolve over intermediate follow-up periods, typically spanning six months to one year. This research contributes to the broader evidence landscape related to the progestin class. Research provides limited insight into measurements of symptom evolution for patients with specific, rare subtypes of endometriosis.


Evidence for Cycle Regulation and Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

For conditions such as Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB), which is marked by functional limitations due to excessive or irregular flow, studies research examined outcomes related to systemic or functional imbalance, such as the objective quantification of menstrual blood loss and the establishment of cycle regularity. For Secondary Amenorrhea, research was evaluated in adult women where cycle restoration was an outcome reflecting daily functioning. Findings describe patterns observed in the studies where short-term treatment was observed in some studies to coincide with changes measured in blood loss and cycle pattern regularity. Long-term effects for cycle regulation are not fully established once the medicine is stopped.


What is Still Uncertain in the Research Landscape

The evidence landscape contains specific research gaps. Comparative evidence is lacking in large-scale, recent head-to-head trials against many of the newer hormonal therapies now available. For several indications, sample sizes were modest in the specific Lynestrenol-focused studies, meaning that findings describe group patterns, not personal outcomes. The evidence quality varies across studies, and research does not determine whether an individual will respond similarly to the group patterns observed in these studies.

Key Studies & References

  1. Evaluation and Management of Secondary Amenorrhea: ACOG Practice Bulletin, No. 197
  2. A comparative study of oral lynestrenol versus micronized progesterone for the treatment of simple endometrial hyperplasia without atypia

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Endometril (FAQ)

Q: Can men or non-pregnant women use Endometril?

A: Endometril's official indication is for treating specific gynecological conditions in women of reproductive potential. The medicine is contraindicated (should not be used) during pregnancy and in patients with known or suspected sex-steroid sensitive malignancies (such as certain cancers), aligning with its use as a hormonal agent. Use in men is not typically addressed in the product information.

Q: Does Endometril come in different strengths?

A: The 5 mg tablet is generally the standard strength cited in official documents for gynecological uses. Information about other available strengths would depend on the specific regional product labeling.

Q: Can Endometril cause changes in appetite?

A: Yes, regulatory documents list changes in appetite among the possible effects reported by users. The medicine's safety information also commonly notes a potential for weight increase as a frequent side effect.

Q: What should I do if I miss a dose of Endometril?

A: Official regulatory guidance provides instructions on managing a missed dose that vary depending on the patient's specific regimen. The instructions may outline procedures for taking the dose as soon as remembered, or for skipping it if it is too close to the next scheduled time. Specific directions for managing a missed dose are provided in the official product information.

Q: Can I use Endometril if I am breastfeeding?

A: Official documentation indicates that the use of Endometril (Lynestrenol) is generally not recommended during breastfeeding. This precaution is related to the potential passage of the hormonal substance into breast milk.

Q: Does Endometril affect bone density?

A: Official product information does not consistently list changes to bone mineral density as a common adverse effect. As with many hormonal preparations, effects on the body’s hormonal balance may be monitored during long-term treatment.

Q: Is a headache a common side effect of Endometril?

A: Yes, headache is explicitly listed in regulatory documents as a common side effect of Endometril, meaning it may affect up to 1 in 10 people.

Q: How is Endometril stored?

A: Regulatory guidance specifies that Endometril tablets should generally be stored at or below 30 C (86 F), which is often referred to as Controlled Room Temperature. Regulatory documents state that the product should be protected from light and moisture and kept in the original container to maintain quality.

Q: Will Endometril change the results of blood tests?

A: Official warnings note that Endometril may influence the results of some laboratory tests. This includes affecting parameters related to liver, thyroid, adrenal, and renal function, as well as tests for protein and lipid fractions in the blood.

Q: Is the tiredness I feel from Endometril normal?

A: Tiredness or fatigue is not consistently classified as a common adverse effect in official safety profiles but has been reported with progestogen use.

Q: Does smoking affect how Endometril works?

A: Official warnings state that smoking, particularly in women over 35, increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects such as venous thromboembolism (blood clots) when taking hormonal preparations.

Q: Is Endometril an over-the-counter medication?

A: No, Endometril, which contains the active ingredient Lynestrenol, is classified as a prescription-only medicine in all major regulatory jurisdictions.

Q: Is it normal for my period to be heavier or lighter when first using Endometril?

A: Changes to your menstrual bleeding patterns are common while taking this medication. Official product information lists issues like spotting, breakthrough bleeding, or even an absence of bleeding as frequent side effects, particularly during the initial phase of treatment.

Q: How soon after stopping Endometril will my natural cycle return?

A: The time it takes for a natural menstrual cycle to completely resume after stopping hormonal treatment can vary widely among individuals. Official documentation does not provide a fixed timeline or guarantee a specific return date for the natural cycle.

Q: What are the signs of an allergic reaction to Endometril?

A: Signs of a severe allergic reaction (hypersensitivity), while rare, are a primary safety concern. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, hives, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. The medicine is contraindicated in individuals known to be hypersensitive to the active substance.

Q: Can Endometril be used for menopausal symptoms?

A: While Endometril is a hormonal agent, its official indications focus on specific gynecological conditions. It is not generally approved or listed in product information for treating common menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes.

How should Endometril be stored and disposed of?

How to Store and Dispose of Endometril?

Strict adherence to official labeling is required for the proper storage and disposal of this medicine, which is marketed as a progesterone vaginal insert.

Official Storage Requirements

Condition Requirement
Temperature Store at 20 C to 25 C (68 F to 77 F), which is considered Controlled Room Temperature.
Environment Avoid exposure to excessive heat or moisture.
Packaging Keep the product in the original container.
Child Safety Keep this medicine out of the reach of children.

Disposal

Used or expired vaginal inserts and applicators must be discarded in an appropriate receptacle. Official regulatory guidance does not specify additional hazardous waste or environmental disposal requirements for this product.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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