II. Background: Legend
- Progesterone Activity (Progestin/Androgen/Endometrial)
- Activity Grading
- Low: L
- Medium: M
- High: H
III. Preparations: Good Monophasic Initial Choices
-
Ethinyl Estradiol 20 mcg
- Loestrin 1/20 (Norethindrone 1000 mcg)
- Alesse (Levonorgestrel 100 mcg)
-
Ethinyl Estradiol 30 mcg (Progesterone Activity: M/M/M)
- Loestrin 1/30 (Norethindrone 1000 mcg)
- Nordette or Levlen (Levonorgestrel 150 mcg)
- Ortho-Cept (Desogestrel 150 mcg)
- Lo-Ovral (Norgestrel 300 mcg)
-
Ethinyl Estradiol 35 mcg (Progesterone Activity: L/L/L)
- Ovcon 35 (Norethindrone 400 mcg)
- Ortho-Novum 1/35 or Norinyl (Norethindrone 1000 mcg)
IV. Preparations: Good Triphasic Initial Choices
-
Ethinyl Estradiol 35 mcg (Progesterone Activity: L/M/M)
- Ortho Novum 7/7/7 (Norethindrone 500/750/1000 mcg)
- Tri-Norinyl (Norethindrone 500/1000/500 mcg)
- Ortho Tri-Cyclen (Norgestimate 180/215/250 mcg)
-
Ethinyl Estradiol 30/40/30 mcg
- Triphasil or Tri-Levlen (Levonorgestrel 50/75/125 mcg)
V. Preparations: Non-Contraceptive Uses of Oral Contraceptive
-
Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
- OCP Characteristics
- Balanced OCP
- High Endometrial Activity
- Examples
- Demulen 1/35
- Loestrin 1.5/30 or 1/20
- Brevicon 0.5/35
- Modicon 0.5/35
- OCP Characteristics
-
Dysmenorrhea (in DUB or Endometriosis)
- OCP Characteristics
- Examples
-
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (Stein-Leventhal)
- Ovarian suppression
- OCP Characteristics
- High Estrogenic Activity (or higher Estrogen dose)
- Low Androgenic Activity
- Examples
- Demulen 50
- Ovcon 50
-
Acne Vulgaris
- OCP Characteristics
- Examples
-
Endometriosis or Adenomyosis
- OCP Characteristics
- Low Estrogenic Activity (or low Estrogen dose)
- High Progestational Activity
- Examples
- OCP Characteristics
- Fibrocystic Breast Disease
- OCP Characteristics
- Low Estrogenic Activity (or low Estrogen dose)
- Examples
- OCP Characteristics
-
Breast Tenderness or Engorgement
- OCP Characteristics
- Low Estrogenic Activity
- Higher Androgenic Activity
- Examples
- OCP Characteristics
VI. References
- Cerel-Suhl (1999) Am Fam Physician 60(7):2073 [PubMed]
- Speroff (1993) Obstet Gynecol 81:1034-47 [PubMed]
- Dickey (1998) Managing Contraceptive Pill Patients