Estrogens and Progestins Oral Contraceptives

Estrogens and Progestins Oral Contraceptives - Systemic

Description and Brand Names *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Description Drug

Oral contraceptives are known also as the Pill, OCs, BCs, BC tablets, or birth control pills. This drug usually contains two types of hormones, estrogens - ES-troh-jenz and progestins - proh-JES-tins and, when taken properly, prevents pregnancy. It works by stopping a woman's egg from fully developing each month. The egg can no longer accept a sperm and fertilization is prevented. Although oral contraceptives have other effects that help prevent a pregnancy from occurring, this is the main action.

Sometimes a woman's egg can still develop even though the medication is taken once each day, especially when more than 24 hours pass between two doses. In almost all cases when the drug was taken properly and an egg develops, fertilization can still be stopped by oral contraceptives. This is because oral contraceptives also thicken cervical mucus at the opening of the uterus. This makes it hard for the partner's sperm to reach the egg. In addition, oral contraceptives change the uterus lining just enough so that an egg will not stop in the uterus to develop. All of these effects make it difficult to become pregnant when properly taking an oral contraceptive.

No contraceptive method is 100 percent effective Studies show that fewer than one of each one hundred women correctly using oral contraceptives becomes pregnant during the first year of use . Birth control methods such as having surgery to become sterile or not having sex are more effective. Using condoms, diaphragms, progestin-only oral contraceptives, or spermicides is not as effective as using oral contraceptives containing estrogens and progestins. Discuss with your health care professional your options for birth control.

The triphasic cycle product of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol - the brand name Ortho Tri-Cyclen and norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol - the brand name Estrostep can be using for the treat of moderate acne only if the patient is at least 15 years old, has acne that has not improved with topical anti-acne medication, has gotten approval from her family doctor, has begun to have menstrual periods, desires an oral contraceptive for birth control and plans to stay on it for at least 6 months.

Sometimes these preparations can be using for other conditions as determined by your family doctor.

Oral contraceptives are available only with your family doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:

Oral

Desogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol
- Tablets - USA and Canada
Ethynodiol Diacetate and Ethinyl Estradiol
- Tablets - USA and Canada
Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol
- Tablets - USA and Canada
Norethindrone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol
- Tablets - USA and Canada
Norethindrone and Ethinyl Estradiol
- Tablets - USA and Canada
Norethindrone and Mestranol
- Tablets - USA and Canada
Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol
- Tablets - USA and Canada
Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol
- Tablets - USA and Canada

Brand Names

Some commonly using brand names are:

In the USA

Alesse
Brevicon ⁵
Cyclessa
Demulen 1/35
Demulen 1/50
Desogen
Estrostep ⁴
Estrostep Fe ⁴
Genora 0.5/35 ⁵
Genora 1/35 ⁵
Genora 1/50 ⁶
Intercon 0.5/35 ⁵
Intercon 1/35 ⁵
Intercon 1/50 ⁶
Jenest ⁵
Levlen
Levlite
Levora 0.15/30
Loestrin 1/20 ⁴
Loestrin Fe 1/20 ⁴
Loestrin 1.5/30 ⁴
Loestrin Fe 1.5/30 ⁴
Lo/Ovral ⁸
Mircette
ModiCon ⁵
Necon 0.5/35 ⁵
Necon 1/35 ⁵
Necon 1/50 ⁶
Necon 10/11 ⁵
N.E.E. 1/35 ⁵
N.E.E. 1/50 ⁵
Nelova 0.5/35E ⁵
Nelova 1/35E ⁵
Nelova 1/50M ⁶
Nelova 10/11 ⁵
Nordette
Norethin 1/35E ⁵
Norethin 1/50M ⁶
Norinyl 1+35 ⁵
Norinyl 1+50 ⁵
Ortho-Cept
Ortho-Cyclen ⁷
Ortho-Novum 1/35 ⁵
Ortho-Novum 1/50 ⁶
Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 ⁵
Ortho-Novum 10/11 ⁵
Ortho Tri-Cyclen ⁷
Ovcon-35 ⁵
Ovcon-50 ⁵
Ovral ⁸
Tri-Levlen
Tri-Norinyl ⁵
Triphasil
Trivora
Zovia 1/35E
Zovia 1/50E

In Canada

Brevicon 0.5/35 ⁵
Brevicon 1/35 ⁵
Cyclen ⁷
Demulen 30
Demulen 50
Loestrin 1.5/30 ⁴
Marvelon
Minestrin 1/20 ⁴
Min-Ovral
Norinyl 1/50 ⁵
Ortho 0.5/35 ⁵
Ortho 1/35 ⁵
Ortho 7/7/7 ⁵
Ortho 10/11 ⁵
Ortho-Cept
Ortho-Novum 1/50 ⁶
Ovral ⁸
Select 1/35 ⁵
Synphasic ⁵
Tri-Cyclen ⁷
Triphasil
Triquilar

Other commonly using names are:

Ethinylestradiol "Ethinyl estradiol "
Ethinyloestradiol "Ethinyl estradiol "
Ethynodiol "Ethynodiol diacetate "
Etynodiol "Ethynodiol diacetate "
Etynodiol acetate "Ethynodiol diacetate "
Norethindrone "Norethisterone "

Note:

For quick reference, the following estrogens and progestins are numbered to match the corresponding brand names.

This information applies to the following medication 1. Desogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol - des-oh-JES-trel and ETH-in-il es-tra-DYE-ole 2. Ethynodiol Diacetate and Ethinyl Estradiol - e-thye-noe-DYE-ole dye-AS-e-tate and ETH-in-il es-tra-DYE-ole 3. Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol - LEE-voh-nor-jes-trel and ETH-in-il es-tra-DYE-ole 4. Norethindrone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol - nor-eth-IN-drone AS-e-tate and ETH-in-il es-tra-DYE-ole 5. Norethindrone and Ethinyl Estradiol - nor-eth-IN-drone and ETH-in-il es-tra-DYE-ole 6. Norethindrone and Mestranol - nor-eth-IN-drone and MES-tra-nole 7. Norgestimateand Ethinyl Estradiol - nor-JES-ti-mate and ETH-in-il es-tra-DYE-ole 8. Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol - nor-JES-trel and ETH-in-il es-tra-DYE-ole

For information about norethindrone - Micronor or norgestrel - Ovrette when using as single-ingredient oral contraceptives, see Progestins For Contraceptive Use - Systemic .