Green Pages
Medicines
group 1 — triphasic pills
These contain low amounts of both
estrogen and progestin in a mix that
changes throughout the month. Since
the amounts change, it is important to
take the pills in order.
Brand names:
Logynon
Synophase
Tricyclen
Triquilar
Triphasil
Trinordiol
Trinovum
group 2 — low dose pills
These contain low amounts of estrogen
(35 micrograms of the estrogen “ethinyl
estradiol” or 50 micrograms of the
estrogen “mestranol”) and progestin in a
mix that stays the same throughout the
month.
Brand names:
Brevicon 1 + 35
Neocon
Noriday 1 + 50
Norimin
Norinyl 1 + 35, 1 + 50
Ortho-Novum
1/35, 1/50
Ovysmen 1/35
Perle
group 3 — low dose pills
These pills are high in progestin and low
in estrogen (30 or 35 micrograms of the
estrogen “ethinyl estradiol”).
Brand names:
Lo-Femenal
Lo-Ovral
Microgynon 30
Microvlar
Nordette
group 4 — high dose pills
These pills are higher in estrogen
(50 micrograms of the estrogen
“ethinyl estradiol”) and most are also
higher in progestin.
Brand names:
Denoval
Eugynon
Femenal
Neogynon
Nordiol
Ovral
Primovlar
group 5 — progestin only pills
These pills, also known as “mini-pills,”
contain only progestin.
Brand names:
Femulen
Micronor
Micronovum
Nor-Q D
Microlut
Microval
Neogest
Neogeston
Ovrette
These brands can also be used for
emergency contraception (see p. 316).
A Book for Midwives (2010)
491