Birth Control Pill Brands

Birth Control Pill Brands

Since its introduction in the early 1960s, the number of birth control pill brands in the market has exploded. Even with the entry of other sophisticated contraceptive products like injections and patches, the pill remains as the most popular form of contraception with over 100 million satisfied users worldwide.

It must be emphasized that birth control pills are not classified according to their brands especially with the hundreds of manufacturers around the world. Instead, contraceptive pills are categorized according to their ingredients as well as their time and frequency of use. This article discusses the two main types in the classification with the most popular birth control pill brands under each one.

Combination Pills

As implied, combination pills contain two synthetic hormones – progestin and estrogen in various formulations and forms depending on the brand. Their main action is to prevent the release of the eggs from the ovaries as well as thickening the cervical mucus and making the uterine walls inhospitable for fertilized eggs. These pills come in either the 21-day or the 28-day pack and come in three types:

• Monophasic type contains the same level of hormones for all 21 pills. Brands include Alesse, Brevicon, Ortho-Cept and Yasmin, among others.
• Biphasic type contains two different hormone levels for the 21 active pills with the most popular brands being Jenest=28, Ortho Novum 10/11 and Mircette.
• Triphasic type contains three different levels for the 21 active pills with changes in the dose happening every 7 days. Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Tri-Levlen and Tri-Norinyl are popular.

It must be noted that all of these combination birth control pill brands are interchangeable since their efficacy rates are equal. The final choice depends on the woman’s preferences as well as the doctor’s professional judgment about which formulation will work best for each case.

Mini-Pills

The mini-pills are neither smaller in size nor lesser in efficacy than the combination pills. Instead, it refers to the fact that a mini-pill only has one synthetic hormone in it – progestin. Women who are breastfeeding or who have conditions that preclude estrogen use (i.e., a history of blood clots) are prescribed the mini-pill.

Mini-pills also work in the same way as the combination pills. However, there are certain critical differences between these two types of contraceptives that must be noted, as follows:

• Mini birth control pill brands only come in 28-day packs with all the pills being active (no placebos)
• Mini-pills must be taken meticulously for even a single day of a missed dose can result in pregnancy. The efficacy of these pills do not last for a full 24 hours so it is also important to take one pill at the exact same time every day.

The most popular brands in this category are Micronor, Nor-QD and Ovrette. Many more brands are set to be introduced.

Of course, combination pills and mini-pills are not the only birth control pill brands in the market today. Women can also choose from the extended cycle pills and the emergency pills, of which the most popular brands are Seasonale, Seasonique and Lybrel as well as Plan B, Plan B One-Step and Ella, respectively, but these contraceptive products deserve their own article.

 

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