Provera vs Propecia: side-by-side comparison
Provera (Santé sexuelle féminine) and Propecia (Alopécie androgénétique) belong to different therapeutic classes and are rarely interchangeable. This page compares the medications' purposes, mechanisms and the situations where each is used.
| Property | Provera | Propecia |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Medroxyprogesterone | Finasteride |
| Manufacturer | Pfizer | Merck |
| Class | Santé sexuelle féminine | Alopécie androgénétique |
| Strengths | 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg | 1mg |
| Forms | tablet | tablet |
What's the same
Provera and Propecia are used in very different patients, and the points in common are limited. The main shared element is that both meet regulatory standards for efficacy and safety and benefit from pharmacist oversight.
Key differences
Provera belongs to Santé sexuelle féminine while Propecia belongs to Alopécie androgénétique. Indications, mechanisms and target populations differ. The comparison is most useful when a clinician has mentioned both medications and the patient wants to understand where each fits.
Mechanism and action
Provera: L'acétate de médroxyprogestérone se lie aux récepteurs de la progestérone et exerce de puissants effets progestatifs : épaississement de la glaire cervicale, inhibition de l'ovulation, amincissement de l'endomètre et réd… Propecia: La DHT, produite à partir de la testostérone par la 5-alpha-réductase, entraîne la miniaturisation des follicules pileux du cuir chevelu chez les hommes génétiquement prédisposés, raccourcissant progressivement les phase…
When Provera is preferred
Provera est autorisé dans l'aménorrhée, les saignements utérins anormaux d'origine hormonale et la prévention de l'hyperplasie endométriale chez la femme ménopausée recevant un estrogène.
When Propecia is preferred
Propecia est autorisé dans le traitement de l'alopécie androgénétique masculine chez l'homme de 18 à 41 ans.
Questions fréquentes
Is Provera or Propecia better? ▾
Provera and Propecia are not interchangeable — they treat different conditions. Asking which is "better" is meaningful only when a clinician has weighed both for the same specific clinical scenario.
Can I switch from Provera to Propecia? ▾
Switching between Provera and Propecia is rarely an appropriate decision since they belong to different classes and treat different conditions. The real question is usually whether the diagnosis calls for one medication or the other — which the prescriber resolves.
Do Provera and Propecia have the same side effects? ▾
No — they belong to different classes and have distinct side-effect profiles. Each medication has its own prescribing information.
More Provera comparisons
Les informations publiées sur ce site sont fournies à titre documentaire et pédagogique. Elles ne remplacent pas l'avis d'un professionnel de santé qualifié.