Differential off-target glucocorticoid activity of progestins used in endocrine therapy

•The progestins ETG and NES exhibit greater affinities for the GR than LNG and NET.•ETG, NES, LNG and NET all exhibit GR-mediated, dose-dependent, gene-specific effects.•ETG and NES are GR agonists for repression of an endogenous proinflammatory gene.•ETG and NES generally exhibit more GR-mediated effects than LNG and NET.•ETG and NES likely exert select GR transcriptional effects at contraceptive doses.