Norethisterone, also known as norethindrone, is a synthetic progestogen developed in the early 1950s as part of efforts to create effective oral contraceptives and treatments for menstrual disorders. Building on earlier research into modifying natural progesterone to improve stability and oral activity, chemists Carl Djerassi, Luis Miramontes, and George Rosenkranz synthesized norethisterone in 1951, marking a major step toward the first widely used hormonal birth control pills. Since its introduction, norethisterone has been used for contraception, management of menstrual irregularities, endometriosis, and hormone therapy, valued for its reliable progestogenic effects and its significant role in shaping modern reproductive medicine.
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