DRUGS FOR WOMEN’S

HEALTH AND
REPRODUCTIVE
DISORDERS
Oral Contraceptive Products
- Known as the pill
- Have ease of use and high degree of effectiveness with
relative safety
- Prevent ovulation

Two Main Types of Oral Contraceptives

 estrogen-progestin combination products (OCPs)
 progestin-only products (POPs) / the minipill
 Estrogen-Progestin Combination Products
- Prevent pregnancy by suppressing pituitary release of follicle-
stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH),
which are needed to mature the graafian follicle in the ovary.
- Create changes in the endometrium
- Progestins change the quantity and the viscosity of the
cervical mucus, making it hostile to sperm.

 Progestin- synthetic progesterone

- reduces the effects of estrogen
 Types of Combination Products

- most common, provide Norinyl

a fixed ratio of estrogen
monophasics to progestin throughout Genora
the menstrual cycle
Demulen
- the amount of estrogen
is fixed throughout the
biphasics cycle but the amount of Ortho-Novum
progesterone varies

- Deliver low doses of Ortho Tri-Cyclen

both hormones with
triphasics minimal side effects Estrostep
 Seasonale – first FDA-approved extended-cycle birth control pill
- reduces a woman’s periods from 13 to just 4 per year
- generic Quasense
 Seasonique – extended-cycle birth control pill that gives women four
periods instead of 12
- women get a low dose of estrogen during their period

! Extended-cycle regimen always have a Sunday start.