Brand name: FEMILON (Apri, Cyclessa, Desogen, Kariva, Mircette, Ortho-Cept)

GENERIC NAME: Oral Contraceptives or OCs (also known as Birth Control Pills or BCPs)

Other Names in US * Alesse 3 * Brevicon 5* Cyclessa 1* Demulen 1/35 2* Demulen 1/50 2 * Desogen 1* Estrostep 4* Estrostep Fe 4* Genora 0.5/35 5 * Genora 1/35 5* Genora 1/50 6* Intercon 0.5/35 5
* Intercon 1/35 5* Intercon 1/50 6* Jenest 5* Levlen 3 * Levlite 3 * Levora 0.15/30 3* Loestrin 1/20 4* Loestrin Fe 1/20 4* Loestrin 1.5/30 4* Loestrin Fe 1.5/30 4* Lo/Ovral 8* Mircette 1* ModiCon 5* Necon 0.5/35 5* Necon 1/35 5* Necon 1/50 6* Necon 10/11
* N.E.E. 1/35 5* N.E.E. 1/50 5* Nelova 0.5/35E 5* Nelova 1/35E 5* Nelova 1/50M 6* Nelova 10/11 5* Nordette 3* Norethin 1/35E 5
* Norethin 1/50M 6* Norinyl 1+35 5* Norinyl 1+50 5* Ortho-Cept 1* Ortho-Cyclen 7* Ortho-Novum 1/35 5* Ortho-Novum 1/50 6
* Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 5* Ortho-Novum 10/11 5* Ortho Tri-Cyclen 7* Ovcon-35 5* Ovcon-50 5* Ovral 8* Tri-Levlen 3* Tri-Norinyl 5
* Triphasil 3* Trivora 3* Zovia 1/35E 2* Zovia 1/50E 2

In Canada—

* Brevicon 0.5/35 5 * Brevicon 1/35 5 * Cyclen 7 * Demulen 30 2 * Demulen 50 2 * Loestrin 1.5/30 4 * Marvelon 1 * Minestrin 1/20 4 * Min-Ovral 3 * Norinyl 1/50 5
* Ortho 0.5/35 5 * Ortho 1/35 5 * Ortho 7/7/7 5 * Ortho 10/11 5 * Ortho-Cept 1 * Ortho-Novum 1/50 6 * Ovral 8 * Select 1/35 5 * Synphasic 5 * Tri-Cyclen 7 * Triphasil 3
* Triquilar 3

Other commonly used names are:

* Ethinylestradiol [Ethinyl estradiol]
* Ethinyloestradiol [Ethinyl estradiol]
* Ethynodiol [Ethynodiol diacetate]
* Etynodiol [Ethynodiol diacetate]
* Etynodiol acetate [Ethynodiol diacetate]
* Norethindrone [Norethisterone]

BRAND NAMES: see below

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Oral contraceptives (OCs) are medications that prevent pregnancy. They are one type of birth control. OCs may contain combinations of estrogen and progestin or progestin alone. Combinations of estrogen and progestin prevent pregnancy by inhibiting the release of the hormones LH and FSH from the pituitary gland in the brain. LH and FSH play key roles in the development of the egg and preparation of the lining of the uterus for implantation of the embryo. Progestin also makes the uterine mucus that surrounds the egg more difficult for sperm to penetrate and, therefore, for fertilization to take place. In some women, progestin inhibits ovulation (release of the egg).

The combination OCs are called "mo