Main content Birth Control Pills, Patch, or Ring

    Birth Control Pills, Patch, or Ring



    Examples

    Very low-dose pills

    Brand NameGeneric NameChemical Name
    Mircette desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol
    YAZ drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol
    Lybrel levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol
    LoEstrin norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol

    Low-dose pills

    Brand NameGeneric NameChemical Name
    Yasmin drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol
    Seasonale, Seasonique levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol
    Lo/Ovral norgestrel and ethinyl estradiol

    Phasic pills

    Brand NameGeneric NameChemical Name
    Trivora levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol
    Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol
    Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol
    Natazia dienogest and estradiol valerate

    High-dose pills

    Brand NameGeneric NameChemical Name
    Zovia ethynodiol and ethinyl estradiol
    Norinyl norethindrone and mestranol
    Note:

    This is not a complete list of all brand-name birth control pills available.

    Skin patch

    Brand NameGeneric NameChemical Name
    Ortho Evra patch ethinyl estradiol and norelgestromin

    Vaginal ring

    Brand NameGeneric NameChemical Name
    NuvaRing ethinyl estradiol and etonogestrel

    Birth control pills

    Very low-dose and low-dose pills generally have less estrogen than other pills.

    Phasic pills have changing levels of estrogen and progestin.

    For information on progestin-only pills, see Reference progestin-only hormonal methods.

    Some birth control packets have pills without hormones for certain days of the month. Other brands of birth control, such as LoEstrin, may add an iron supplement to the nonhormonal pills.




    By: Reference Healthwise Staff Last Revised: May 3, 2012
    Medical Review: Reference Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
    Reference Femi Olatunbosun, MB, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology


    This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.


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