Birth Control Options for Women - Oral Contraception

(Page 2)

Click the icon to see an image of a blood clot.

Combination Estrogen-Progestin Contraceptive Pills

Oral contraceptives that contain both estrogen and progestin are the more common type of OC. At least 10 million American women and 100 million women worldwide use combination OCs. When they were first marketed in the early 1960s, OCs contained as much as 5 times the amount of estrogen and up to 10 times the amount of progestins currently used. After reports of severe complications (stroke, heart attack, and pulmonary embolisms) in young women, the hormone amounts were significantly reduced.

The estrogen compound used in most oral contraceptives is ethinyl estradiol (also called estradiol or EE). Fifty micrograms of estradiol is considered to be high dose, 30 - 35 micrograms are considered average dose, and 20 micrograms or less is low-dose. (The high doses found in current OCs are still much lower than earlier forms of the pill.) Experts recommend using the lowest possible progestin and estrogen doses. Estrogen doses should not exceed 50 micrograms as higher doses increase the risk for complications.

---

---

Many different types of progestins are used in combination with estradiol. Some common types of progestin, and popular combination oral contraceptive brands, include:

• Desogestrel is the progestrin used in Mircette. Approved in 1998, Mircette was the first oral contraceptive to offer a low estrogen dose and a new type of dosing regimen.
• Drospirenone is used in Yasmin and Yaz. (Yaz contains a lower dose of estrogen than Yasmin.) Because drospirenone increases blood levels of potassium, women should not use Yasmin or Yaz if they have kidney, liver, or adrenal diseases.
• Levonorgestrel is used in Seasonale and Seasonique, as well as many other oral and non-oral contraceptives.
• Norethindrone is used in Loestrin and Loestrin 24 Fe (which adds iron supplements to the placebo pills).
• Norgestrel is used in various generic and brand contraceptives.

Many types of medications and supplements (Tylenol, anti-seizure drugs, antibiotics, vitamin C, St. John’s wort) can interact with progestin and reduce its effectiveness. Make sure your doctor is aware of any drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements that you take.