Pharmacology of oral contraceptives

Oral contraceptives include two types of steroids; ethinyl-estradiol as the main estrogenic component which dose vary from 20 to 50 micrograms per tablet (mostly 30 to 35 micrograms) and progestins essentially derivatives of 19 nortestosterone. Derivatives of 19 norprogesterone such as nomegestrol acetate or ST 1435 are not used as oral contraceptives but are being evaluated through parenteral administration, e.g. implants or transdermal systems. The assessment of the pharmacological properties of these progestins indicate a high antigonadotropic and a high antiestrogenic properties for levonorgestrel and for the newer gestagens as well. Therefore very low doses are being used in the current oral contraceptives. However, there is a lower margin of security with the low dose contraceptives than with previous standard combinations and especially when concomitant medications are ingested such as enzyme-inducing agents. Selection of contraceptive methods should be discussed when specific co-medications are necessary.