What Is Ethinyl Estradiol and Norgestrel?

Ethinyl estradiol and norgestrel are forms of estrogen and progesterone that are combined to create hormonal birth control, and in some cases may also be used as a back up, or morning after pill. In order to be effective, they must be taken exactly as directed. A number of minor to severe side effects may accompany their use and they may interact with other drugs or medical conditions. Additionally, any form of birth control pill should not be viewed as effective prevention against sexually transmitted diseases.

Drugs that combine these two medications have several effects that reduce the chances of pregnancy. They create thickening of the cervical mucus, which makes it difficult for sperm to reach female ova, but they also generally suppress ovulation. This means it is unlikely that sperm have any way of causing pregnancy. On the other hand, skipped pills may begin to reduce the effectiveness of the combination drug. If more than one pill is missed, women are advised to use another form of birth control for the remainder of the month.

Any form of hormonal birth control is associated with certain side effects. Pills with ethinyl estradiol and norgestrel may cause minor but uncomfortable symptoms like breakthrough bleeding, weight changes, nausea, and/or vomiting. Some women note an increase in headaches or a decrease in sexual interest. Other side effects are swelling or tenderness of the breasts and minor changes in mood. Women using the pill may not experience most or any of these adverse reactions, and in many instances, early unpleasant symptoms resolve after a few months as the body adjusts to the medication.

There are severe side effects that need immediate medical attention. Like most hormonal birth control methods, ethinyl estradiol and norgestrel may cause blood clots and stroke, and this risk is highest for women over 35, especially if they smoke. Sudden altered behavior, loss of consciousness, difficulty moving one side of the body or chest pain are possible signs of a dangerous reaction. Users of this medication should also be aware extreme allergy symptoms, which include hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the face, lips and tongue. Other serious side effects are extreme depression, migraines, elevated risk for ectopic pregnancy, and jaundice.

In some cases, use of any hormonal birth control is contraindicated by certain medical conditions. These include being a smoker over 35, being pregnant, or just having given birth, which elevates blood clot risks. Women with a history of heart disease or blood clotting disorders are also advised not to use this drug. Liver disease and breast cancer are other contraindications.

Certain medications interact with ethinyl estradiol and norgestrel. Most anti-seizure drugs and antimanic medicines like lithium are likely to make the birth control ineffective. Even over-the-counter acetaminophen could slightly diminish the medicine’s effects. Patients should present their doctors with a complete list of medications they use to avoid interactions.

It’s especially important that women be advised about the benefits and disadvantages of hormonal birth control. Used perfectly, ethinyl estradiol and norgestrel pills prevent pregnancy 99% of the time. On the other hand, they don’t prevent HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. For those people who are not in stable monogamous relationships, using condoms and spermicide are still advised to lower disease risk.