Contraceptive pills

[zyphanx]

Type I Diabetes usually treat with injections of insulin instead of pills, as insulin may be digested in the guts if taken orally

From what I know, the thing that makes contraceptive pill works is progesterone, which is also a kind of hormone.

then how come progesterone is not being digested in the guts and still able to carry out it functions?

[LilKim]

this is a guess (and hopefully someone will correct me if i'm wrong)

Insulin is a peptide hormone... and enzymes (in the gut) digest peptides and sugars. However, progesterone is a steroid hormone and because of the molecular composition (it's not a protein) the enzymes in the gut cannon digest/degrade it.

Therefore, the steriod (progesterone) is "absorbed" into the bloodstream as an intact molecule ... whereas insulun would be broken and absorbed as amino acids (broken-down peptides) if ingested orally.

[MrMistery]

Absolutely correct. Just one thing to add. Progesterone gets absorbed in the stomach, unlike mostly everything else that is absorbed in the intestine. Because it's lipid soluble.

[PERO]

I agree tottaly with Lilkim.
and like her way of thinking.

[LilKim]

Awww.. thanks Pero!

[MrMistery]

Did i say i didn't agree with LilKim? It's just that it needs to get absorbed in the stomach, as pancreatic juice contains an enzyme that breaks down progesteron to cholesterol.