MIFEPRISTONE Meaning and
Definition
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Mifepristone is a synthetic steroid compound classified as a selective progesterone receptor modulator (SPRM). It is primarily used as a medication to terminate early pregnancies, also known as medical abortion or induced abortion. Mifepristone acts by blocking progesterone, an essential hormone required for maintaining pregnancy. By inhibiting progesterone, it causes the uterine lining to shed and the embryo to detach, ultimately leading to the termination of the pregnancy.
In addition to its abortion-inducing properties, mifepristone is also used in combination with another medication, misoprostol, for medical abortion up to 70 days gestation. This combination enhances the effectiveness of mifepristone by causing uterine contractions and further expelling the contents of the uterus.
Mifepristone is to be administered under medical supervision and is only available through prescription. It is typically taken orally in tablet form, with follow-up appointments to ensure the completion of the abortion process and assess any potential complications.
Apart from its use in pregnancy termination, mifepristone shows potential in other medical applications. Its anti-progestational and antiglucocorticoid properties make it suitable for treating conditions like Cushing's syndrome, endometriosis, fibroids, and certain types of cancers. However, its usage for these indications is still in the experimental stage, and more research is necessary to establish its full therapeutic potential.
It is important to note that mifepristone should not be confused with emergency contraception, as it is intended for terminating an existing pregnancy and is not effective for preventing conception.
Common Misspellings for MIFEPRISTONE
- nifepristone
- kifepristone
- jifepristone
- mufepristone
- mjfepristone
- mkfepristone
- mofepristone
- m9fepristone
- m8fepristone
- midepristone
- micepristone
- mivepristone
- migepristone
- mitepristone
- mirepristone
- mifwpristone
- mifspristone
- mifdpristone
- mifrpristone
- mifeprisytone
Etymology of MIFEPRISTONE
The word "mifepristone" is a combination of two parts: "mife" and "pristone".
The "mife" part of the word is derived from the chemical compound RU-486, which was the initial name given to the drug. "R" stands for Roussel-Uclaf, the French pharmaceutical company that first developed it, and "U-486" signifies the order in which the compound was synthesized.
The "pristone" part of the word is derived from the suffix "-pristone", which is common in the names of steroid compounds. Steroids often end with the suffix "-one", indicating that they are a ketone or some sort of carbonyl compound. The inclusion of "prist" is not particularly meaningful but was added to differentiate this specific compound.
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