drospirenone + estetrol at a glance
Medicine class
Combined hormonal contraceptive pill.
Licensed use
Prevention of pregnancy.
Pack design
Pink tablets contain the active ingredients; white tablets are hormone-free placebos.
Food
May be taken with or without food.
Sexually transmitted infections
Does not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections.
What is drospirenone + estetrol used for?
This product is licensed for:
Oral contraception to prevent pregnancy.
How does drospirenone + estetrol work?
Estetrol provides oestrogenic activity. Drospirenone has progestogenic, antiandrogenic and mild antimineralocorticoid properties. Together they suppress gonadotrophins and primarily prevent ovulation.
drospirenone + estetrol preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 3 mg + 14.2 mg
How to take drospirenone + estetrol
Swallow the tablets by mouth, with water if needed, following the arrows and colour sequence on the blister. Use the weekday sticker to track tablets. They may be taken with or without food.
Pink tablets contain hormones; white tablets are placebos.
Follow the pack leaflet when starting, switching contraception or after childbirth.
Vomiting or severe diarrhoea may prevent absorption of an active tablet.
drospirenone + estetrol side effects
Common or expected effects
- Changes in mood or libido
- Headache
- Abdominal pain or nausea
- Acne
- Breast pain
- Painful periods
- Irregular, breakthrough or heavy vaginal bleeding
- Weight fluctuation
Get urgent medical advice
- Symptoms of a venous blood clot, pulmonary embolism, heart attack or stroke
- Sudden visual loss that may indicate a retinal blood clot
- Severe allergic reaction or angioedema
- New or worsening depression, particularly thoughts of self-harm
drospirenone + estetrol in pregnancy
This contraceptive is not intended for use during pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs, stop taking it and contact the prescriber. Evidence about oral contraceptives generally does not show that accidental early-pregnancy exposure harms the baby or requires extra fetal monitoring.
drospirenone + estetrol while breastfeeding
Product-specific information does not recommend drospirenone + estetrol while breastfeeding until the child has been fully weaned because combined hormonal contraceptives may reduce or alter breast milk. Discuss an alternative with a midwife, doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
drospirenone + estetrol interactions
Check all prescribed, non-prescription and herbal products because interactions can reduce contraception or alter other medicines.
Enzyme inducers, including carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone, rifampicin, bosentan and some uses of topiramate
Can increase hormone clearance, causing breakthrough bleeding or contraceptive failure; additional or alternative contraception may be required.
St John's wort
May reduce contraceptive effectiveness; discuss it with a pharmacist or prescriber.
Some HIV or hepatitis C medicines
May increase or decrease hormone exposure; check the specific antiviral product information and contraceptive precautions.
Common questions about drospirenone + estetrol
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Does drospirenone + estetrol protect against sexually transmitted infections?
No. Condoms are needed to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Is its blood-clot risk lower than with other combined contraceptives?
This has not been established. It carries a small but important clot risk, and its risk relative to levonorgestrel-containing contraception is not yet known.
Can I use it if I have migraine?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.