Contraception is used to prevent a pregnancy. It can be done in various ways. However, a commonly used contraception method is contraceptive pill intake for women.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), during the period 20152017 in a National Survey of Family Growth, the most common contraceptive methods used were female sterilization (18.6%), oral contraceptive pill (12.6%), long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) (10.3%), and male condom (8.7%). It also notes that female sterilization has declined while the use of the pill has increased among those with higher education. Thus, birth control pills remain crucial for preventing unplanned pregnancies. In this blog, we will explore various contraception methods.
How Do Contraceptive Pills Work?
Contraceptives primarily decrease fertility by inhibiting ovulation. They also promote the thickening of the cervical mucus, creating a physical barrier for sperm passage and modifying the endometrium, making it less favorable for implantation.
Classification of Oral Contraceptives
Oral contraceptives can be classified based on the hormones they contain, such as:
- Combination Oral Contraceptives: Contain both estrogen and progestin. They are further divided into four subgroups:
- Monophasic: This provides a constant daily dosage of estrogen and progestin.
- Biphasic: That provides constant estrogen with an increasing progestin dosage during the second half of the cycle.
- Triphasic: Progestin dosage changes for each phase of the cycle.
- Four-Phasic: Contains four different progestin/estrogen dosing combinations during the 20-day cycle.
- Progestin-Only Oral Contraceptives: Contain only progestin.
This document provides a comprehensive list of oral contraceptives, detailing the hormones they contain, their active ingredients, and dosage formulations. The contraceptives are categorized based on the hormonal doses they deliver, including monophasic, biphasic, triphasic, four-phasic, extended-cycle, continuous cycle, and progestin-only pills.
Additionally, the list includes options for emergency contraception and other alternatives, such as injectables and intrauterine devices (IUDs), offering a wide range of choices for birth control methods.
Combination Oral Contraceptives
Low-Dose Monophasic Pills:
- Aubra: Ethinyl estradiol (EE) 20 micrograms (mcg), Levonorgestrel 0.1 milligrams (mg)
- Aviane: EE 20 mcg, Levonorgestrel 0.1 mg
- Falmina: EE 20 mcg, Levonorgestrel 0.1 mg
- Lessina: EE 20 mcg, Levonorgestrel 0.1 mg
- Lutera: EE 20 mcg, Levonorgestrel 0.1 mg
- Orsythia: EE 20 mcg, Levonorgestrel 0.1 mg
- Sronyx: EE 20 mcg, Levonorgestrel 0.1 mg
- Junel 1/20: EE 20 mcg, Norethindrone 1 mg
- JunelFe 1/20: EE 20 mcg, Norethindrone 1 mg
- Loestrin Fe 1/20: EE 20 mcg, Norethindrone 1 mg
- Microgestin Fe 1/20: EE 20 mcg, Norethindrone 1 mg
- Tarina Fe 1/20: EE 20 mcg, Norethindrone 1 mg
- Altavera: EE 30 mcg, Levonorgestrel 0.15 mg
- Levora: EE 30 mcg, Levonorgestrel 0.15 mg
- Marlissa: EE 30 mcg, Levonorgestrel 0.15 mg
- Portia-28: EE 30 mcg, Levonorgestrel 0.15 mg
- Cryselle-28: EE 30 mcg, Norgestrel 0.3 mg
- Lo/Ovral-28: EE 30 mcg, Norgestrel 0.3 mg
- Low-Ogestrel-28: EE 30 mcg, Norgestrel 0.3 mg
- Junel 1.5/30: EE 30 mcg, Norgestrel 0.3 mg
- Junel Fe 1.5/30: EE 30 mcg, Norgestrel 0.3 mg
- Larin 1.5/30: EE 30 mcg, Norgestrel 0.3 mg
- Loestrin Fe 1.5/30: EE 30 mcg, Norgestrel 0.3 mg
- Microgestin 1.5/30: EE 30 mcg, Norgestrel 0.3 mg
- Microgestin Fe 1.5/30: EE 30 mcg, Norgestrel 0.3 mg
- Apri: EE 30 mcg, Desogestrel 0.15 mg
- Desogen: EE 30 mcg, Desogestrel 0.15 mg
- Reclipsen: EE 30 mcg, Desogestrel 0.15 mg
- Yasmin: EE 30 mcg, Drospirenone 3 mg
- Ocella: EE 30 mcg, Drospirenone 3 mg
- Syeda: EE 30 mcg, Drospirenone 3 mg
- Kelnor 1/35: EE 35 mcg, Ethynodiol diacetate 1 mg
- Zovia 1/35: EE 35 mcg, Ethynodiol diacetate 1 mg
- Ortho-Cyclen: EE 35 mcg, Norgestimate 0.25 mg
- Mononessa: EE 35 mcg, Norgestimate 0.25 mg
- Previfem: EE 35 mcg, Norgestimate 0.25 mg
- Sprintec: EE 35 mcg, Norgestimate 0.25 mg
- Necon 1/50: EE 50 mcg, Norethindrone 1 mg
- Norinyl 1+50: EE 50 mcg, Norethindrone 1 mg
- Mestranol 50 mcg: EE 50 mcg, Norethindrone 1 mg
- Balziva: EE 35 mcg, Norethindrone 0.4 mg
- Femcon Fe: EE 35 mcg, Norethindrone 0.4 mg
- Brevicon-28: EE 35 mcg, Norethindrone 0.5 mg
- Necon 0.5/35: EE 35 mcg, Norethindrone 0.5 mg
- Nortrel 0.5/35: EE 35 mcg, Norethindrone 0.5 mg
- Nortrel 1/35: EE 35 mcg, Norethindrone 1 mg
- Ortho-Novum 1/3528: EE 35 mcg, Norethindrone 1 mg
High-Dose Monophasic Pills:
- Zovia 1/5028: EE 50 mcg, Ethynodiol diacetate 1 mg
- Ogestrel 0.5/5028: EE 50 mcg, Norgestrel 0.5 mg
Biphasic Pills:
- Azurette: EE 20 mcg 21 days, 10 mcg 5 days, Desogestrel 0.15 mg 21 days
- Kariva: EE 20 mcg 21 days, 10 mcg 5 days, Desogestrel 0.15 mg 21 days
- Mircette: EE 20 mcg 21 days, 10 mcg 5 days, Desogestrel 0.15 mg 21 days
Triphasic Pills:
- Tilia: EE 20 mcg 5 days, 30 mcg 7 days, 35 mcg 9 days, Norethindrone 1 mg 21 days
- Tri-Legest Fe: EE 20 mcg 5 days, 30 mcg 7 days, 35 mcg 9 days, Norethindrone 1 mg 21 days
- Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo: EE 25 mcg 21 days, Norgestimate 0.18 mg 7 days, 0.215 mg 7 days, 0.25 mg 7 days
- Caziant: EE 25 mcg 21 days, Desogestrel 0.1 mg 7 days, 0.125 mg 7 days, 0.15 mg 7 days
- Cyclessa: EE 25 mcg 21 days, Desogestrel 0.1 mg 7 days, 0.125 mg 7 days, 0.15 mg 7 days
- Velivet: EE 25 mcg 21 days, Desogestrel 0.1 mg 7 days, 0.125 mg 7 days, 0.15 mg 7 days
- Enpresse: EE 30 mcg 6 days, 40 mcg 5 days, 30 mcg 10 days, Levonorgestrel 0.05 mg 6 days, 0.075 mg 5 days, 0.125 mg 10 days
- Trivora: EE 30 mcg 6 days, 40 mcg 5 days, 30 mcg 10 days, Levonorgestrel 0.05 mg 6 days, 0.075 mg 5 days, 0.125 mg 10 days
- Ortho Tri-Cyclen: EE 35 mcg 21 days, Norgestimate 0.18 mg 7 days, 0.215 mg 7 days, 0.25 mg 7 days
- Tri-Previfem: EE 35 mcg 21 days, Norgestimate 0.18 mg 7 days, 0.215 mg 7 days, 0.25 mg 7 days
- Tri-Sprintec: EE 35 mcg 21 days, Norgestimate 0.18 mg 7 days, 0.215 mg 7 days, 0.25 mg 7 days
- Aranelle: EE 35 mcg 21 days, Norethindrone 0.5 mg 7 days, 1 mg 9 days, 0.5 mg 5 days
- Leena: EE 35 mcg 21 days, Norethindrone 0.5 mg 7 days, 1 mg 9 days, 0.5 mg 5 days
- Ortho-Novum 7/7/7: EE 35 mcg 21 days, Norethindrone 0.5 mg 7 days, 0.75 mg 7 days, 1 mg 7 days
- Nortrel 7/7/7: EE 35 mcg 21 days, Norethindrone 0.5 mg 7 days, 0.75 mg 7 days, 1 mg 7 days
Four-Phasic Pills:
- Natazia: Estradiol 3 mg 2 days, 2 mg 22 days, 1 mg 2 days, Dienogest 2 days, 2 mg 5 days, 3 mg 17 days
Extended-Cycle Pills:
- Loestrin FE: EE 20 mcg 24 days, Norethindrone 1 mg 24 days
- Jolessa: EE 30 mcg 84 days, Levonorgestrel 0.15 mg 84 days
- Quartette: EE 20 mcg 42 days, 25 mcg 21 days, 30 mcg 21 days, 10 mcg 7 days, Levonorgestrel 0.15 mg 84 days
- Seasonique: EE 30 mcg 84 days, 10 mcg 7 days, Levonorgestrel 0.15 mg 84 days
- Yaz: EE 20 mcg 24 days, Drospirenone 3 mg 24 days
- Gianvi: EE 20 mcg 24 days, Drospirenone 3 mg 24 days
Continuous Cycle Pill:
- Amethyst: EE 20 mcg, Levonorgestrel 90 mcg
Progestin-Only Pills
- Camilla: Norethindrone 0.35 mg
- Errin: Norethindrone 0.35 mg
- Jolivette: Norethindrone 0.35 mg
- Nora-BE: Norethindrone 0.35 mg
Emergency Contraception
- Plan B: Levonorgestrel 0.75 mg (two tablets taken 12 hours apart)
- Ella: Ulipristal 30 mg (one time within 5 days after unprotected intercourse)
Hormonal Alternatives to Oral Contraception
- Depo-Provera CI: Medroxyprogesterone Acetate 150 mg
- Depo-SubQ Provera 104: Medroxyprogesterone 104 mg
- Kyleena: Levonorgestrel 19.5 mg for 5 years
- Liletta: Levonorgestrel 52 mg for 3 years
- Mirena: Levonorgestrel 20 mcg/day for 5 years
- NuvaRing: Ethinyl estradiol 15 mcg/day, Etonogestrel 0.12 mg/day
- Skyla: Levonorgestrel 13.5 mg for 3 years
Common Adverse Effects of Contraceptives
Contraceptives are generally well tolerated. However, they can cause adverse effects, such as:
- Too Much Estrogen: Nausea, bloating, breast tenderness, increased blood pressure, melasma, headache.
- Too Little Estrogen: Early or mid-cycle breakthrough bleeding, increased spotting, hypomenorrhea.
- Too Much Progestin: Breast tenderness, headache, fatigue, mood changes.
- Too Little Progestin: Late breakthrough bleeding.
- Too Much Androgen: Increased appetite, weight gain, acne, oily skin, hirsutism, decreased libido, increased breast size, breast tenderness, increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
The Bottom Line
It's important to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to choosing a contraception method; each individual's needs are different. It is essential to help patients select the contraceptive option that best suits their bodies and personal requirements. Encourage them to make informed decisions about which contraceptive method is right for them.
About the Author:
Mariya Rizwan is an experienced pharmacist who has been working as a medical writer for four years. Her passion lies in crafting articles on topics ranging from Pharmacology, General Medicine, Pathology to Pharmacognosy.
Mariya is an independent contributor to CEUfast's Nursing Blog Program. Please note that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this blog post are solely of the independent contributor and do not necessarily represent those of CEUfast. This blog post is not medical advice. Always consult with your personal healthcare provider for any health-related questions or concerns.
If you want to learn more about CEUfasts Nursing Blog Program or would like to submit a blog post for consideration, please visit https://ceufast.com/blog/submissions.
