The low-dose combination pill
Whereas the first combined pills that came onto the market in the early 1960s contained relatively high hormone doses, these have been reduced in the course of time. Most of the combined pills available today have low doses, i.e. they contain only 15 to 30 micrograms of the estrogen ethinyl estradiol.
The low-dose combination pill
Whereas the first combined pills that came onto the market in the early 1960s contained relatively high hormone doses, these have been reduced in the course of time. Most of the combined pills available today have low doses, i.e. they contain only 15 to 30 micrograms of the estrogen ethinyl estradiol.
Monophasic and multiphasic preparations
A distinction is made among combined preparations between monophasic and multiphasic pills. The most frequently prescribed are monophasic preparations. Here, each active tablet contains both an estrogen and a progestin in a fixed ratio. By contrast, in multiphasic pills the hormone doses of estrogen and progestin are varied and the correct sequence of intake is important. This is why the tablets of the different phases are marked with different colors.
Dosing regimens: 21+7, 24+4 und 26+2
Apart from the doses, a distinction is also made between three different intake regimens. The classic intake principle is 21+7. Here, the Pill is taken every day for 21 days, followed by a seven-day break (or seven days of tablets containing no active ingredient), during which menstrual bleeding takes place. On the 29th day, the woman again starts taking the Pill for 21 days, again followed by a break – or seven days of tablets with no active ingredient – and so on.
A novel intake regimen is the 24+4 principle. In this case, although the rhythm of the 28-day cycle is retained, these preparations consist of 24 hormone-containing tablets plus four tablets with no active substance which are distinguished by a different color. Menstrual bleeding occurs during the four days of taking tablets that contain no active ingredient.
The multiphasic preparation with an intake principle of 26+2 has another regimen with a similar mode of action. Here, hormones of varying doses are taken every day for 26 days, while the last two pills again contain no active substance.
Other hormonal contraceptives
The Pill is the best-known hormonal contraceptive preparation. But there are also other contraceptives whose effect is based on hormones and which contain different hormone doses. These can contain a combination of estrogen and progestin (patches, vaginal rings and some injectables) or only progestins (some injectables, implants and intrauterine devices). These hormonal contraceptives are only available on prescription issued by a physician.
