Nomegestrol acetate

Nomegestrol acetate (NOMAC), sold under the brand names Lutenyl and Zoely among others, is a progestin medication which is used in birth control pills, menopausal hormone therapy, and for the treatment of gynecological disorders.^{[3][1][4][5][6][7]} It is available both alone and in combination with an estrogen.^[8][9] NOMAC is taken by mouth.^[3] A birth control implant for placement under the skin was also developed but ultimately was not marketed.^{[10][11][12][13]}

Side effects of NOMAC include menstrual irregularities, headaches, nausea, breast tenderness, and others.^[1][14] NOMAC is a progestin, or a synthetic progestogen, and hence is an agonist of the progesterone receptor, the biological target of progestogens like progesterone.^[3] It has some antiandrogenic activity and no other important hormonal activity.^[3]

Nomegestrol, a related compound, was patented in 1975, and NOMAC was described in 1983.^[15][16] NOMAC was first introduced for medical use, for the treatment of gynecological disorders and in menopausal hormone therapy, in Europe in 1986.^[1][17][18] It was subsequently approved in Europe in 2011 as a component of birth control pills.^[1][17][18] NOMAC is available widely throughout the world.^[8][19] It is not available in the United States or Canada.^{[8][1][17][18]}