Duphaston

Uso comum

Duphaston contém a substância ativa didrogesterona, um medicamento progestagénico utilizado em diversas situações ginecológicas. Atua de forma seletiva no endométrio, promovendo a formação de um endométrio secretor normal em mulheres após terapia prévia com estrogénio.

É utilizado no tratamento da infertilidade causada por deficiência lútea, bem como na insuficiência gestagénica, endometriose, amenorreias secundárias, metrorragia disfuncional e síndrome pré-menstrual.

Dosagem e indicações

O medicamento está disponível em comprimidos de 10 mg, em embalagens com 20, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 270 ou 360 comprimidos.

A dose e a duração do tratamento dependem da condição clínica a tratar e devem ser sempre definidas pelo médico. A posologia habitual varia conforme a indicação, podendo ser administrado em ciclos ou de forma contínua, conforme orientação médica.

Precauções

Antes de iniciar o tratamento, informe o seu médico sobre qualquer condição médica pré-existente, especialmente doenças hepáticas, cardiovasculares ou histórico de trombose. O médico deverá avaliar o risco-benefício do tratamento no seu caso específico.

Se ocorrer hemorragia vaginal anormal durante o tratamento, deverá informar o seu médico. Em caso de suspeita de gravidez, consulte o profissional de saúde antes de continuar o tratamento.

Contraindicações

As contraindicações específicas devem ser verificadas na bula oficial do medicamento ou com o seu médico. Não existem dados suficientes no cartão do produto para listar todas as contraindicações.

Em geral, medicamentos progestagénicos não são recomendados em situações de hipersensibilidade conhecida à substância ativa ou a qualquer componente da fórmula. Consulte sempre o seu médico para avaliar se este medicamento é adequado para si.

Possíveis efeitos secundários

Os efeitos secundários possíveis não estão detalhados no cartão do produto. Como qualquer medicamento, Duphaston pode causar reações adversas em algumas pessoas.

Caso note qualquer sintoma incomum durante o tratamento, contacte o seu médico. A informação completa sobre efeitos secundários encontra-se na bula oficial do medicamento.

Interações medicamentosas

Não existem dados disponíveis no cartão do produto sobre interações medicamentosas específicas. Informe o seu médico sobre todos os medicamentos que está a tomar, incluindo medicamentos sem receita médica e suplementos.

O médico poderá avaliar possíveis interações com outros fármacos e ajustar o tratamento conforme necessário.

Dose esquecida

Se se esquecer de tomar uma dose, deverá tomá-la assim que se lembrar, a menos que esteja próxima da hora da próxima dose programada. Nesse caso, deverá saltar a dose esquecida e continuar com o esquema habitual.

Não tome uma dose a dobrar para compensar a dose esquecida. Em caso de dúvida, consulte o seu médico ou farmacêutico.

Sobredosagem

Não existem informações específicas sobre sobredosagem no cartão do produto. Em caso de sobredosagem acidental, procure assistência médica imediata.

Leve consigo a embalagem do medicamento para que os profissionais de saúde possam identificar a substância e a dose ingerida.

Armazenamento

Conserve o medicamento na embalagem original, protegido da luz e da humidade. Mantenha-o fora do alcance e da vista das crianças.

Não utilize o medicamento após o prazo de validade indicado na embalagem. As condições específicas de temperatura devem ser verificadas na bula oficial.

Aviso legal

Este texto tem caráter exclusivamente informativo e não substitui a consulta médica, a leitura da bula oficial ou a orientação de um profissional de saúde qualificado. As informações aqui apresentadas baseiam-se apenas nos dados disponíveis no cartão do produto e podem não estar completas.

Não utilize este medicamento sem aconselhamento médico adequado. Em caso de dúvida ou sintomas persistentes, consulte sempre o seu médico ou farmacêutico.

Let’s be honest — Duphaston is one of those medicines that women discuss in waiting rooms, in Facebook groups, and sometimes even at work. Someone took it during pregnancy, someone used it to regulate cycles, someone swears it helped with PMS. But here’s the thing: Duphaston dydrogesterone is not a vitamin, not a supplement, and not something you should pick up on a whim.

I’m a pharmacist. I’ve had women walk in with a photo of a prescription from three years ago, asking if they should “just take it again.” And I’ve had others who read about it online and decided it might fix their irregular cycles. Both scenarios need the same answer: talk to a doctor first.

This article is not a substitute for that conversation. It’s a guide to help you understand what Duphaston is, what it can and cannot do, and — most importantly — which situations call for a medical consult before you even think about buying it.

What is Duphaston, in plain terms

Duphaston is a progestogen medicine. That means it contains a synthetic version of progesterone — the hormone that plays a huge role in the female reproductive system. The active substance is dydrogesterone, and it works selectively on the endometrium, which is the lining inside your uterus.

Here’s why that matters. During a normal menstrual cycle, estrogen builds up that lining, preparing it for a possible pregnancy. Then progesterone takes over, transforming the lining into a secretory state — ready to support an embryo. If no pregnancy happens, hormone levels drop, the lining sheds, and you get your period.

When your body doesn’t produce enough progesterone — a condition called luteal phase deficiency — that whole process goes off track. That’s where Duphaston dydrogesterone comes in. It mimics the action of natural progesterone, helping to restore a normal secretory endometrium in women after prior estrogen therapy.

In other words, it’s not a painkiller and it’s not a contraceptive. It’s a hormone that helps your uterus do what it’s supposed to do.

What the card says — the active substance and composition

The product card for Duphaston lists one active substance: dydrogesterone. Each tablet contains 10mg of this synthetic progestogen.

The key phrase in the card description is “selective impact on the endometrium.” Unlike some other progestogens, dydrogesterone is designed to act mainly on the uterine lining, which is why it’s used in conditions where the endometrium needs to be transformed into its secretory phase.

It’s a prescription medicine in most countries. That’s not bureaucracy for its own sake — it’s because hormones are powerful. If you take them without knowing exactly what your body needs, you can create more problems than you solve.

Indications: who Duphaston is actually for

The card mentions several specific situations where Duphaston dydrogesterone is effective. Let me go through them one by one, because this is where most of the confusion lives.

Infertility caused by luteal phase deficiency. This is probably the most common reason women are prescribed Duphaston. If you’re trying to conceive and your doctor has identified that your luteal phase (the second half of your cycle) is too short or that your progesterone levels are low, dydrogesterone can help support the endometrium and make it more receptive to implantation.

Progestogen insufficiency. This is a broader term. It covers a range of situations where your body isn’t making enough progesterone, which can show up as irregular cycles, spotting, or luteal phase problems.

Endometriosis. This condition happens when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. It can cause pain, especially during periods. Duphaston dydrogesterone can help by acting on the endometrium and modulating the hormonal environment.

Secondary amenorrhea. That’s the medical term for when you’ve had normal periods and then they stop for several months — without pregnancy being the cause. Duphaston can help trigger a withdrawal bleed when taken in a specific regimen.

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Irregular, heavy, or prolonged bleeding that isn’t caused by fibroids, polyps, or other structural problems. Duphaston can help regulate the cycle and control the bleeding.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). For some women, the symptoms that appear in the days before their period — mood swings, bloating, breast tenderness — are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Duphaston is listed as effective in this context, though it’s usually not the first thing a doctor tries.

Notice a pattern? Every single one of these is a diagnosed condition. Not a suspicion, not a “maybe,” not a “my friend said it worked for her.” A diagnosis.

Pack sizes and how they work

Duphaston comes in one strength: 10mg per tablet. The pack sizes range from a short course to enough for several months of continuous use.

• 10mg, 20 tablets
• 10mg, 30 tablets
• 10mg, 60 tablets
• 10mg, 90 tablets
• 10mg, 120 tablets
• 10mg, 180 tablets
• 10mg, 270 tablets
• 10mg, 360 tablets

Why so many options? Because the regimen depends entirely on the condition being treated. A short course for PMS might only require a few days of treatment per cycle. Endometriosis, on the other hand, often requires continuous or cyclical treatment over many months. That’s why you see packs ranging from 20 to 360 tablets.

The price varies by pack size, and you’ll find that information on the product page itself. In our online pharmacy, we stock the full range so you can choose the pack that matches what your doctor actually prescribed — not the one that looks like the best deal per tablet. Because buying 360 tablets when you only need 20 is not a bargain; it’s a waste.

Who should NOT buy Duphaston without seeing a doctor first

Here’s the part that matters most. I’m going to give you a practical list of situations where you should absolutely talk to a doctor before buying Duphaston dydrogesterone. This is card-supported information, filtered through years of pharmacy experience.

1. You have irregular cycles but no diagnosis. Irregular periods can be caused by dozens of things: stress, thyroid problems, polycystic ovary syndrome, perimenopause, poor nutrition, excessive exercise. Dydrogesterone can regulate bleeding, but it doesn’t fix the underlying cause. If you don’t know what’s driving your irregularity, you’re treating a symptom without understanding the disease.

2. You’re trying to conceive but haven’t had fertility testing. Luteal phase deficiency is a specific diagnosis. It requires blood tests, cycle tracking, and often an ultrasound. If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a while without success, the answer isn’t to guess that your progesterone is low. See a fertility specialist.

3. You have a history of blood clots, liver disease, or breast cancer. Progestogens are hormones, and hormones come with risks. If you have a personal or strong family history of these conditions, any hormonal medicine needs to be evaluated carefully by a doctor. This is not something you can decide on your own.

4. You’re pregnant and someone told you to take Duphaston. Yes, dydrogesterone is sometimes used in pregnancy — but only in very specific situations, and only under strict medical supervision. You should never start it during pregnancy because a friend or a forum post told you to. Your obstetrician is the only person who can decide if this is right for you.

5. You’re breastfeeding. Hormones pass into breast milk, and the effect on a nursing infant isn’t fully understood in all contexts. If you’re breastfeeding and considering Duphaston, you need a doctor’s green light first.

6. You have unusual bleeding that hasn’t been investigated. This is a big one. If you’re experiencing bleeding that’s heavy, prolonged, or happens between periods, and you don’t know why — you need to see a gynecologist before taking anything. Unexplained bleeding can have serious causes that need to be ruled out first. Taking a progestogen to control the bleeding without knowing why it’s happening is dangerous.

7. You’re under 18 or over 60. These age groups have different hormonal profiles and different risk considerations. If you’re in either category, don’t self-medicate.

The practical reality: what to expect when you visit the doctor

If you’re reading this because you think you might need Duphaston dydrogesterone, here’s what that consultation should look like.

Your doctor will ask about your cycle: how long it is, how regular, how heavy, how painful. They’ll ask about your medical history, any medications you’re taking, and whether you’re trying to conceive. They may order blood tests to check your hormone levels — including progesterone — and possibly an ultrasound to look at your endometrium and ovaries.

Only after that evaluation can they determine whether dydrogesterone is appropriate for you, and at what dose and regimen. This is not a medicine you take “whenever you feel like it.” The timing of each dose matters, and it depends on where you are in your cycle.

Sometimes I have to tell women that their problems might resolve on their own — that stress is the culprit, or that their body is still adjusting after stopping the contraceptive pill. In those cases, Duphaston isn’t the answer. The best treatment is time, lifestyle changes, and monitoring.

Common patient questions I hear in the pharmacy

“Can I take Duphaston to bring on my period faster?” Technically, dydrogesterone can trigger a withdrawal bleed when taken in a specific regimen, and it’s used that way for secondary amenorrhea. But the decision to induce a period should be made by a doctor. If your period is late and you’re not pregnant, there’s usually a reason.

“I missed one dose. What do I do?” The general instruction for missed doses of dydrogesterone is to take the missed tablet as soon as you remember, and then continue the normal schedule. But that’s a general rule — you should confirm with your doctor or pharmacist, because the specific timing relative to your cycle matters. For us, that’s a quick conversation.

“Is Duphaston the same as progesterone?” Not exactly. Duphaston contains dydrogesterone, which is a synthetic progestogen that resembles natural progesterone but isn’t identical to it. They have similar effects, but the selectivity profile is different. That’s why dydrogesterone is often preferred for conditions where you want to act on the endometrium without the broader hormonal effects of natural progesterone.

“Can I take it with my other medications?” Hormones can interact with a wide range of medicines — from certain antibiotics to epilepsy drugs to St. John’s Wort. You need to tell your doctor about everything you take, including herbal remedies and supplements.

What to do next

If you’ve read this far and you’re still not sure whether Duphaston dydrogesterone is right for you, that’s okay. The uncertainty is a sign that you should keep asking questions — starting with your doctor.

If you already have a prescription, or you’ve had a conversation with your gynecologist and they’ve recommended this treatment, then you know what you’re looking for. Our online pharmacy stocks Duphaston in all the standard pack sizes, from 20 to 360 tablets of 10mg, so you can match exactly what your physician ordered. Discreet shipping and the usual pharmacy care come with it — but the prescription comes from your doctor.

The bottom line is simple. Duphaston is an effective medicine when it’s used for the right reasons. But “right reasons” is a judgment call that belongs to a professional, not to a stranger on the internet — and not to me, without knowing your history.

So, before you buy: ask first. That’s not a warning against Duphaston; it’s a warning against guessing with hormones. Your body deserves better than a guess.