| United States brand name | Progestin (mg)* | Estrogen (micrograms) | Notes |
| Monophasic combinations | |||
| Beyaz 28¶ | Drospirenone (3) | Ethinyl estradiol (20) | Also approved for acne and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. In patients with conditions requiring chronic therapy with medications that may increase potassium, monitor serum potassium during the first treatment cycle and periodically thereafter if patient begins medication or develops a condition that increases risk for hyperkalemia. |
| Gianvi 28Δ | |||
| Loryna 28Δ | |||
| Nikki 28Δ | |||
| YazΔ | |||
| Amethyst 28 | Levonorgestrel (0.09) | Ethinyl estradiol (20) | |
| Aviane 28 | Levonorgestrel (0.1) | Ethinyl estradiol (20) | Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days. |
| Balcoltra 28 | |||
| Falmina 28 | |||
| Larissia 28 | |||
| Lessina 28 | |||
| Lutera 28 | |||
| Orsythia 28 | |||
| Sronyx 28 | |||
| Blisovi Fe 1/20◊ | Norethindrone acetate (1) | Ethinyl estradiol (20) | Available in a 28-day regimen with active pills for 24 days and ferrous fumarate for 4 days. |
| Gemmily | |||
| Junel Fe 1/20 28פ | |||
| Larin Fe 1/20פ | |||
| Loestrin Fe 1/20 28◊ | |||
| Melodetta 24 Fe chewable§ | |||
| Microgestin Fe 1/20 28◊ | |||
| Minastrin Fe 1/20 chewable | |||
| Taytulla capsules | |||
| Apri 28 | Desogestrel (0.15) | Ethinyl estradiol (30) | Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days. |
| Cyred Eq 28 | |||
| Emoquette 28 | |||
| Enskyce 28 | |||
| Juleber 28 | |||
| Reclipsen 28 | |||
| Ocella 28¥ | Drospirenone (3) | Ethinyl estradiol (30) | In patients with conditions requiring chronic therapy with medications that may increase potassium, monitor serum potassium during the first treatment cycle and periodically thereafter if patient begins medication or develops a condition that increases risk for hyperkalemia. |
| Safyral 28¶ | |||
| Tydemy 28¶ | |||
| Yasmin 28¥ | |||
| Zarah 28¥ | |||
| Chateal 28 | Levonorgestrel (0.15) | Ethinyl estradiol (30) | Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days. |
| Kurvelo 28 | |||
| Levora 0.15/30 | |||
| Marlissa 28 | |||
| Portia 28 | |||
| Blisovi Fe 1.5/30 | Norethindrone acetate (1.5) | Ethinyl estradiol (30) | Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and ferrous fumarate tablets for 7 days. |
| Larin FE 1.5/30‡ | |||
| Loestrin Fe 1.5/30 28‡ | |||
| Microgestin Fe 1.5/30 28 | |||
| Junel Fe 1.5/30 28 | |||
| Cryselle 28 | Norgestrel (0.3)† | Ethinyl estradiol (30) | Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days. |
| Elinest 28 | |||
| Low-Ogestrel 28 | |||
| Kelnor 28 | Ethynodiol diacetate (1) | Ethinyl estradiol (35) | Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days. |
| Pirmella 1/35 | |||
| Zovia 1/35E 28 | |||
| Balziva 28 | Norethindrone (0.4) | Ethinyl estradiol (35) | Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days. |
| Briellyn 28 | |||
| Philith 28 | |||
| Vyfemla | |||
| Brevicon 28 | Norethindrone (0.5) | Ethinyl estradiol (35) | Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days. |
| Necon 0.5/35 28 | |||
| Nortrel 0.5/35 28 | |||
| Wera | |||
| Alyacen 1/35 28 | Norethindrone (1) | Ethinyl estradiol (35) | Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days. |
| Cyclafem 1/35 | |||
| Dasetta 1/35 28 | |||
| Nortrel 1/35 28‡ | |||
| Ortho-Novum 1/35 28 | |||
| Femynor | Norgestimate (0.25) | Ethinyl estradiol (35) | Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days. |
| Mili | |||
| MonoNessa 28 | |||
| Ortho-Cyclen 28 | |||
| Previfem 28 | |||
| Sprintec 28 | |||
| VyLibra | |||
| Cleo-35, Cyestra-35, Diane 35 Not available in the United States; Canadian product shown | Cyproterone (2) | Ethinyl estradiol (35) | Labeled approval in Canada is for treatment of acne. |
| Kelnor 1/50 28 | Ethynodiol diacetate (1) | Ethinyl estradiol (50) | Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days. NOTE: Pills containing 50 mcg of ethinyl estradiol are not indicated for routine contraceptive use because of increased risk of cardiovascular events compared with lower-dose oral contraceptive pills. |
| Ogestrel 0.5/50 28 | Norgestrel (0.5)† | Ethinyl estradiol (50) | Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days. NOTE: Pills containing 50 mcg of ethinyl estradiol are not indicated for routine contraceptive use because of increased risk of cardiovascular events compared with lower-dose oral contraceptive pills. |
| Nextstellis | Drospirenone (3) | Estetrol (14.2 milligrams) | Packaged as active tablets for 24 days and placebo for 4 days. In patients with conditions requiring chronic therapy with medications that may increase potassium, monitor serum potassium during the first treatment cycle and periodically thereafter if patient begins medication or develops a condition that increases risk for hyperkalemia. |
| ZoelyΔ | Nomegestrol acetate (2.5) | Estradiol (as hemihydrate) (1.5 milligrams) | Not available in the United States; United Kingdom and European Union product shown. |
| Multiphasic combinations | |||
| Natazia 28 | Dienogest (0,2,3,0) | Estradiol valerate (3,2,2,1) NOTE: Estradiol strength listed in milligrams (mg) | Packaged as active tablets for 26 days and placebo for 2 days. |
| Lo Loestrin Fe | Norethindrone acetate (1,0) | Ethinyl estradiol (10,10) | Packaged as active tablets for 26 days and ferrous fumarate for 2 days. |
| Azurette 28 | Desogestrel (0.15,0,0) | Ethinyl estradiol (20,0,10) | Packaged as active tablets for 26 days and placebo for 2 days or ferrous fumarate for Lo Loestrin Fe. |
| Bekyree 28 | |||
| Kariva 28 | |||
| Mircette 28 | |||
| Pimtrea 28 | |||
| Viorele 28 | |||
| Volnea 28 | |||
| Estrostep Fe 28 | Norethindrone acetate (1,1,1) | Ethinyl estradiol (20,30,35) | Also approved for acne. Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and ferrous fumarate tablets for 7 days. |
| Tilia Fe 28 | |||
| Tri-Legest Fe 28§ | |||
| Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo 28 | Norgestimate (0.18,0.215,0.25) | Ethinyl estradiol (25,25,25) | Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days. |
| Tri-Lo-Marzia | |||
| Tri-Lo-Sprintec | |||
| TriNessa Lo | |||
| Caziant 28 | Desogestrel (0.1,0.125,0.15) | Ethinyl estradiol (25,25,25) | Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days. |
| Cyclessa 28 | |||
| Velivet | |||
| Enpresse 28 | Levonorgestrel (0.05,0.075,0.125) | Ethinyl estradiol (30,40,30) | |
| Levonest 28¥ | |||
| Myzilra 28¥ | |||
| Trivora 28¥ | |||
| Ortho Tri-Cyclen 28 | Norgestimate (0.18,0.215,0.25) | Ethinyl estradiol (35,35,35) | Also approved for acne. Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days. |
| Tri-Femynor 28 | |||
| Tri-Linyah 28 | |||
| Tri-Previfem 28 | |||
| Tri-Sprintec 28 | |||
| TriNessa 28 | |||
| Alyacen 7/7/7 28 | Norethindrone (0.5,0.75,1) | Ethinyl estradiol (35,35,35) | Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days. |
| Cyclafem 7/7/7 28 | |||
| Dasetta 7/7/7 28 | |||
| Nortrel 7/7/7 28 | |||
| Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 28 | |||
| Pirmella 7/7/7 | |||
| Aranelle 7/9/5 28 | Norethindrone (0.5,1,0.5) | Ethinyl estradiol (35,35,35) | Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days. |
| Leena 7/9/5 28 | |||
| Extended combinations | |||
| Amethia Lo 91 | Levonorgestrel (0.1) | Ethinyl estradiol (20,10) | Packaged as a 91-day regimen: 84 days of the combination and 7 days of ethinyl estradiol only. |
| Camrese Lo 91 | |||
| LoJaimiess 91 | |||
| LoSeasonique 91 | |||
| Fayosim 91 | Levonorgestrel (0.15) | Ethinyl estradiol (20,25,30,10) | Packaged as a 91-day regimen: 84 days of the combination and 7 days of ethinyl estradiol only. |
| Rivelsa 91 | |||
| QuarteSe 91 | |||
| Amethia 91 | Levonorgestrel (0.15) | Ethinyl estradiol (30,10) | Packaged as a 91-day regimen: 84 days of the combination and 7 days of ethinyl estradiol only. |
| Ashlyna | |||
| Camrese 91 | |||
| Jaimiess 91 | |||
| Seasonique 91 | |||
| Introvale 91 | Levonorgestrel (0.15) | Ethinyl estradiol (30) | Packaged as a 91-day regimen: active tablets for 84 days and placebo for 7 days. |
| Jolessa 91 | |||
| Quasense 91 | |||
| Continuous combinations | |||
| May use any monophasic 21/7 combination by taking active hormone pills for 28 or more days continuously. Refer to example (Amethyst) at right; any progestin may be used, and higher doses of ethinyl estradiol may be used in some women. Refer to the topic in UpToDate. | Levonorgestrel (0.09) | Ethinyl estradiol (20) | |
| Progestin-only | |||
| Camila 28 | Norethindrone (0.35) | None | Packaged as active tablets for 28 days. |
| Deblitane | |||
| Errin 28 | |||
| Heather | |||
| Incassia | |||
| Jencycla | |||
| Jolivette 28 | |||
| Lyleq | |||
| Nora-BE 28 | |||
| Norlyda | |||
| Ortho Micronor | |||
| Sharobel | |||
| Slynd | Drospirenone (4) | None | Packaged as active tablets for 24 days and placebo for 4 days. In patients with conditions requiring chronic therapy with medications that may increase potassium, monitor serum potassium during the first treatment cycle and periodically thereafter if patient begins medication or develops a condition that increases risk for hyperkalemia. |
| Opill | Norgestrel (0.075) | None | Packaged as active tablets for 28 days. Not in production globally but in review for use in the United States. |
| Cerazette | Desogestrel (0.075) | None | Packaged as active tablets for 28 days. Available outside of the United States and Canada. |
| Cerelle | |||
| Transdermal patch, weekly | |||
| Xulane | Norelgestromin (releases 0.15 mg/day) | Ethinyl estradiol (releases 35 mcg/day) | May have diminished efficacy in women ≥90 kg. A new patch is applied every 7 days for 3 weeks followed by a patch-free week. This is therapeutically equivalent to Ortho Evra, which is no longer available in the United States. |
| Zafemy | |||
| Twirla | Levonorgestrel (releases 0.12 mg/day) | Ethinyl estradiol (releases 30 mcg/day) | Contraindicated in women with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 due to decreased efficacy and increased risk of VTE. Diminished efficacy was observed in women with BMI ≥25 kg/m2. A new patch is applied every 7 days for 3 weeks followed by a patch-free week. |
| Vaginal ring, monthly | |||
| NuvaRing | Etonogestrel (releases 0.12 mg/day) | Ethinyl estradiol (releases 15 mcg/day) | Ring is inserted for 3 weeks followed by 1 week without ring in place. A new ring is inserted 7 days after the last was removed. |
| EluRyng | |||
| Annovera | Segesterone (releases 0.15 mg/day) | Ethinyl estradiol (releases 13 mcg/day) | Ring is inserted for 3 weeks followed by 1 week without ring in place. The ring is then reinserted for the first 21 days of subsequent 28-day cycles. One system provides contraception for 13 28-day cycles (1 year). Not yet adequately evaluated in women with BMI >29 kg/m2. |
Fe: contains iron; BMI: body mass index; VTE: venous thromboembolism; IUD: intrauterine device.
* Different progestins are not equivalent on a milligram basis. Refer to the UpToDate overview of combined hormonal contraceptives for guidance on selection.
¶ Also contains 451 mcg of levomefolate calcium per tablet. Beyaz is taken for 24 days followed by 4 days of levomefolate calcium alone. Safyral and Tydemy are taken for 21 days followed by 7 days of levomefolate calcium alone.
Δ Taken as active pills for 24 days and placebo for 4 days.
◊ Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and ferrous fumarate tablets for 7 days.
§ Also available as a 21-day regimen that does not contain iron.
¥ Packaged as active tablets for 21 days and placebo for 7 days.
‡ Also available in a 21-day regimen.
† The progestin norgestrel contains two isomers; only levonorgestrel is bioactive. The amount of norgestrel in each tablet is twice the amount of levonorgestrel.Modified with special permission from The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics, October 8, 2018; Vol. 60 (1557):161-168. For more information on The Medical Letter, please visit www.medicalletter.org.
Additional data from: