Ethinylestradiol/norethisterone

Not to be confused with Ethinylestradiol/norethisterone acetate.

Ethinylestradiol/norethisterone
Combination of
EthinylestradiolEstrogen
NorethisteroneProgestogen
Clinical data
Trade namesAlyacen, Aranelle, Balziva, others
Other namesEE/NET
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa601050
License data
Routes of
administration		By mouth
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
  • None
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)

Ethinylestradiol/norethisterone (EE/NET), or ethinylestradiol/norethindrone, is a combination birth control pill which contains ethinylestradiol (EE), an estrogen and norethisterone (NET), a progestin.[1] It is used for birth control, symptoms of menstruation, endometriosis, and menopausal symptoms.[1][2] Other uses include acne.[1] It is taken by mouth.[1] Some preparations of EE/NET additionally contain an iron supplement in the form of ferrous fumarate.[3]

Side effects can include nausea, headache, blood clots, breast pain, depression, and liver problems.[2] Use is not recommended during pregnancy, the initial three weeks after childbirth, and in those at high risk of blood clots.[2][4] It, however, may be started immediately after a miscarriage or abortion.[4] Smoking while using combined birth control pills is not recommended.[5] It works by stopping ovulation, making the uterus not suitable for implantation, and making the mucus at the opening to the cervix thick.[4]

This combination pill was approved for medical use in the United States in 1964.[6] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[7] It is available as a generic medication.[8] It is marketed under a large number of brand names.[9] In 2023, the combination of ethinylestradiol with norethisterone or with norethisterone acetate was the 79th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 8 million prescriptions.[10][11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone (HRT) medical facts from Drugs.com". www.drugs.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  2. ^ a b c World Health Organization (2009). Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR (eds.). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. p. 365. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 9789241547659.
  3. ^ Hamilton, Richard J. (30 April 2020). Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2020 Deluxe Lab-Coat Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning. pp. 347–. ISBN 978-1-284-40304-6.
  4. ^ a b c "Brevinor Tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) - (eMC)". www.medicines.org.uk. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Estrogen-Progestin Combinations". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  6. ^ Haussman, Melissa (2013). Reproductive Rights and the State: Getting the Birth Control, RU-486, Morning-after Pills and the Gardasil Vaccine to the U.S. Market. ABC-CLIO. p. 72. ISBN 9780313398223. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016.
  7. ^ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
  8. ^ Hamilton, Richart (2015). Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2015 Deluxe Lab-Coat Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 353. ISBN 9781284057560.
  9. ^ "Alyacen 1/35 (birth control) medical facts from Drugs.com". www.drugs.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016.
  10. ^ "Top 300 of 2023". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 12 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone Drug Usage Statistics, United States, 2013 - 2023". ClinCalc. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
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