Oral contraceptive formulations

Oral contraceptives come in a variety of formulations. The main division is between combined oral contraceptive pills, containing both synthetic estrogens and progestogens (progestins), and progestogen only pills (mini-pills). Combined oral contraceptive pills also come in varying types, including varying doses of estrogen, and whether the dose of estrogen or progestogen changes from week to week.

How they work
Combination pills usually work by preventing a person's ovaries from releasing eggs (ovulation). They also thicken the cervical mucus, which keeps sperm from joining with an egg. The hormones in combination and progestogen-only pills also thin the lining of the uterus. This could prevent pregnancy by interfering with implantation of a blastocyst.

Main action in typical use is prevention of ovulation.

Combined oral contraceptive pills
All contain an estrogen, ethinyl estradiol or mestranol (the inactive 3-methyl ether of ethinyl estradiol, which must be metabolized by the liver into the active ethinyl estradiol; 50 µg of mestranol is equivalent to only 35 µg of ethinyl estradiol and should not be used when high-dose [50 µg ethinyl estradiol] estrogen pills are needed; mestranol was the estrogen used in the first oral contraceptive, Enovid), although in varying amounts, and one of a number of different progestogens. They are usually taken for 21 days with then a seven-day gap during which a withdrawal bleed (often, but incorrectly, referred to as a menstrual period) occurs. These differ in the amount of estrogen given, and whether they are monophasic (only one dose of estrogen and progestogen during the 21 days) or multiphasic (varying doses). The introduction of extended-cycle monophasic pills (i.e. Seasonale) has shown that the withdrawal bleeding intervals can be decreased.

Monophasic
These are typically given as 21 tablets of estrogen and progestogen, followed by seven tablets of placebo or an iron supplement, although some newer formulations contain more active tablets and fewer placebos. Everyday regimens (Microgynon 30 ED, Femodene ED, Logynon ED), which include seven inactive placebo pills, are rarely used in UK practice. Different formulations contain different amounts of estrogen and progestogen:


 * 15 µg ethinyl estradiol
 * 60 µg gestodene: 24 days + 4 days placebo (Spain: Melodene-15 Israel:Minesse)


 * 20 µg ethinyl estradiol
 * 1000 µg norethindrone acetate (UK: Loestrin 20, Galen; US: Loestrin 1/20, Duramed; Microgestin 1/20, Watson; Junel 1/20, Barr)
 * 1000 µg norethindrone acetate: 24 days + 4 days ferrous fumarate only (US: Loestrin 24 Fe, Warner Chilcott)
 * 90 µg levonorgestrel: continuous: 365 days/year, no placebo (US: Lybrel, Wyeth)
 * 100 µg levonorgestrel (US: Alesse, Wyeth; Aviane, Barr; Lessina, Barr; Lutera, Watson; Sronyx, Watson)
 * 150 µg desogestrel (UK: Mercilon, Organon)
 * 150 µg desogestrel: 21 days + 2 days placebo + 5 days 10 µg ethinyl estradiol only (US: Mircette, Duramed; Kariva, Barr)
 * 75 µg gestodene (UK: Femodette, Bayer)
 * 3000 µg drospirenone: 24 days + 4 days placebo (US: Yaz, Beyaz, Bayer) 21 days + 7 days placebo (US: Yasminelle, Schering)


 * 30 µg ethinyl estradiol
 * 1500 µg norethindrone acetate (UK: Loestrin 30, Galen; US: Loestrin 1.5/30, Duramed; Microgestin 1.5/30, Watson; Junel 1.5/30, Barr)
 * 300 µg norgestrel (US: Lo/Ovral, Wyeth; Low-Ogestrel, Watson; Cryselle, Barr)
 * 150 µg levonorgestrel (UK: Ovranette, Wyeth; Microgynon 30, Microgynon 30 ED, Bayer; US: Nordette, Duramed, Levora, Watson, Portia, Barr)
 * 150 µg levonorgestrel: 21 day cycle + 7 days no pills (Canada: Min-Ovral 21; Sweden: )
 * 150 µg levonorgestrel: 21 day cycle + 7 days placebo (Canada: Min-Ovral 28)
 * 150 µg levonorgestrel: extended cycle: 84 days + 7 days placebo (US: Seasonale, Duramed; Quasense, Watson; Jolessa, Barr)
 * 150 µg levonorgestrel: extended cycle: 84 days + 7 days 10 µg ethinyl estradiol only (US: Seasonique, Duramed)
 * 150 µg desogestrel (UK: Marvelon, Organon; US: Desogen, Organon; Ortho-Cept, Ortho-McNeil; Apri, Barr)
 * 75 µg gestodene (UK: Femodene, Femodene ED, Bayer; Minulet, Wyeth)
 * 3000 µg drospirenone (US: Yasmin, Bayer; Ocella, Barr; Zarah, Watson)


 * 35 µg ethinyl estradiol
 * 400 µg norethindrone: chewable, spearmint flavor (US: Femcon Fe, Warner Chilcott)
 * 400 µg norethindrone (US: Ovcon 35, Warner Chilcott; Balziva, Barr)
 * 500 µg norethindrone (UK: Ovysmen, Janssen-Cilag; Brevinor, Pfizer; US: Modicon, Ortho-McNeil; Brevicon, Watson; Nortrel 0.5/35, Barr)
 * 1000 µg norethindrone (UK: Norimin, Pfizer; US: Ortho-Novum 1/35, Ortho-McNeil; Norinyl 1/35, Watson; Necon, Watson; Nortrel 1/35, Barr)
 * 1000 µg ethynodiol diacetate (US: Demulen 1/35, Pfizer; Zovia 1/35, Watson; Kelnor, Barr)
 * 250 µg norgestimate (UK: Cilest, Janssen-Cilag; US: Ortho Cyclen, Ortho-McNeil; MonoNessa, Watson; Sprintec, Barr)
 * 2000 µg cyproterone acetate: only for severe acne or severe hirsutism (UK: BAN of Co-cyprindiol sold as Dianette, Bayer)
 * 50 µg mestranol (equivalent to 35 µg ethinyl estradiol)
 * 1000 µg norethindrone (UK: Norinyl-1, Pfizer; US: Ortho-Novum 1/50; Ortho-McNeil; Norinyl 1/50, Watson; Necon 1/50, Watson)


 * 50 µg ethinyl estradiol
 * 1000 µg norethindrone (US: Ovcon 50, Warner Chilcott)
 * 1000 µg ethynodiol diacetate (US: Demulen 1/50, Pfizer; Zovia 1/50, Watson)
 * 500 µg norgestrel (US: Ogestrel, Watson)
 * 250 µg levonorgestrel (US: Nordiol, Wyeth)

Multiphasic

 * 25 µg ethinyl estradiol: triphasic
 * ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate combination with 7 tablets 25 µg/180 µg, 7 tablets 25 µg/215 µg, 7 tablets 25 µg/250 µg followed by 7 placebos (Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, Ortho-McNeil)
 * ethinyl estradiol/desogestrel combination with 7 tablets 25 µg/100 µg, 7 tablets 25 µg/125 µg, 7 tablets 25 µg/150 µg, followed by 7 tablets of ferric oxide (US: Cyclessa, Organon; Velivet, Barr)


 * 20/30/35 µg ethinyl estradiol: estrophasic
 * ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone acetate combination with 5 tablets 20 µg/1000 µg, 7 tablets 30 µg/1000 µg, 9 tablets 35 µg/1000 µg, followed by 7 tablets of ferrous fumarate 75 mg (US: Estrostep Fe, Warner Chilcott)


 * 30/40/30 µg ethinyl estradiol: triphasic
 * ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel combination with 6 tablets 30 µg/50 µg, 5 tablets 40 µg/75 µg, 10 tablets 30 µg/125 µg (UK: Trinordiol, Wyeth; Logynon, Logynon ED, Bayer; US: Triphasil, Wyeth; Trivora, Watson; Enpresse, Barr)
 * ethinyl estradiol/gestodene combination with 6 tablets 30 µg/50 µg, 5 tablets 40 µg/70 µg, 10 tablets 30 µg/100 µg (UK: Triadene, Bayer; Tri-Minulet, Wyeth)


 * 35 µg ethinyl estradiol: triphasic
 * ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone combination with 7 tablets 35 µg/500 µg, 9 tablets 35 µg/1000 µg, 5 tablets 35 µg/500 µg (UK: Synphase, Pfizer; US: Tri-Norinyl, Watson; Leena, Watson)
 * ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone combination with 7 tablets 35 µg/500 µg, 7 tablets 35 µg/750 µg, 7 tablets 35 µg/1000 µg (UK: TriNovum, Janssen-Cilag; US: Ortho-Novum 7/7/7, Ortho-McNeil; Necon 7/7/7, Watson; Nortrel 7/7/7, Barr)
 * ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate combination with 7 tablets 35 µg/180 µg, 7 tablets 35 µg/215 µg, 7 tablets 35 µg/250 µg followed by 7 placebos (Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Ortho-McNeil; TriNessa, Watson; Tri-Sprintec, Barr)
 * 35 µg ethinyl estradiol: biphasic
 * ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone combination with 10 tablets 35 µg/500 µg, 11 tablets 35 µg/1000 µg, followed by 7 placebos (US: Ortho-Novum 10/11, Ortho-McNeil; Necon 10/11, Watson)
 * ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone combination with 7 tablets 35 µg/500 µg, 14 tablets 35 µg/1000 µg (UK: BiNovum, Janssen-Cilag)


 * 3/2/1 mg estradiol valerate: estrophasic
 * estradiol valerate/dienogest combination with 2 tablets 3 mg/0 mg, followed by 5 tablets 2 mg/2 mg, 17 tablets 2 mg/3 mg, 2 tablets 1 mg/0 mg, and 2 placebos. (US: Natazia, Bayer; EU: Qlaira, Bayer Schering)

Progestogen-only pills
Progestogen-only pills (POPs) use progestogen alone with doses taken continuously and no gap between packs taken. People who use them may experience irregular light bleeds on POPs, and whilst irregular in the first few months of taking, usually settles to a regular pattern in time.

The following progestogens are used:
 * 350 µg norethindrone (UK: Micronor, Janssen-Cilag; Noriday, Pfizer; US: Micronor, Ortho-McNeil; Nor-QD, Watson; Nora-BE, Watson; Jolivette, Watson; Camila, Barr; Errin, Barr)
 * 500 µg ethynodiol diacetate (UK: Femulen, Pfizer)
 * 30 µg levonorgestrel (UK: Norgeston, Bayer; AUS: Microlut, Bayer)
 * 75 µg desogestrel (UK: Cerazette, Loestrin)

Contraindications
Oral contraceptives should not be used in women who currently have the following conditions:
 * Thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disorders
 * A past history of deep vein thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disorders
 * Cerebrovascular or coronary artery disease (current or history)
 * Valvular heart disease with thrombogenic complications
 * Severe hypertension
 * Diabetes with vascular involvement
 * Headaches with focal neurological symptoms
 * Major surgery with prolonged immobilization
 * Known or suspected carcinoma of the breast or personal history of breast cancer
 * Carcinoma of the endometrium or other known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasia
 * Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding
 * Cholestatic jaundice of pregnancy or jaundice with prior pill use
 * Hepatic adenomas or carcinomas, or active liver disease
 * Known or suspected pregnancy
 * Hypersensitivity to any component of this product