Estrogen-Progestin Combinations
Class: Contraceptives
- Birth Control Pills
- Oral Contraceptives
- Contraceptives, Oral
- Progestational Agents
VA Class: GU400
CAS Number: 57-63-6
Warning
Cigarette smoking during oral contraceptive use increases the risk of serious adverse cardiovascular effects. This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (≥15 cigarettes daily) and is markedly greater in women >35 years of age. Women who use oral contraceptives should be strongly advised not to smoke.
Introduction
Contraceptive combinations containing estrogenic and progestinic steroids.
Uses for Estrogen-Progestin Combinations
Contraception
Prevention of conception in women.
Postcoital Contraception
Prevention of conception after unprotected intercourse (including known or suspected contraceptive failure) as an emergency contraceptive† (“morning-after” pills). Postcoital (emergency) contraceptive regimens are not as effective as most other forms of long-term contraception and should not be used as routine forms of contraception.
An emergency contraceptive regimen employing a progestin alone (levonorgestrel) appears to be more effective and better tolerated than a common estrogen-progestin emergency contraceptive (“Yuzpe”) regimen when the regimens are initiated within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, and therefore, generally is preferred when readily available.
Contraception and Folate Supplementation
Beyaz, Safyral: Prevention of conception while also increasing folate concentrations (to reduce risk of fetal neural tube defects if pregnancy occurs during or shortly after therapy). US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women of childbearing age receive supplemental folic acid at a dosage of ≥0.4 mg daily. Consider other folate supplementation that a woman may be taking before prescribing this drug combination. Ensure that folate supplementation is maintained if the contraceptive is discontinued due to pregnancy.
Acne Vulgaris
Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Estrostep: Treatment of moderate acne vulgaris in females ≥15 years of age who have no known contraindications to oral contraceptive therapy, desire contraception, have achieved menarche, and are unresponsive to topical anti-acne medication. Estrostep should be used for the treatment of acne vulgaris only in women who desire oral contraception and plan to take the drug for at least 6 months.
Yaz, Beyaz: Treatment of moderate acne vulgaris in females ≥14 years of age who have no known contraindications to oral contraceptive therapy, desire oral contraception, and have achieved menarche.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Yaz, Beyaz: Management of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in women who desire oral contraception.
Estrogen-Progestin Combinations Dosage and Administration
Administration
Administered orally, intravaginally, or percutaneously by topical application of a transdermal system to the skin.
Oral Administration
Contraception
Take as near as possible to the same time each day (i.e., at regular 24-hour intervals) to ensure maximum contraceptive efficacy.
Take with or after the evening mea
