Last reviewed 2026-04-20 · How we verify

Ortho-Cept (DESOGESTREL)

At a glance

Approved indications

• Contraception

Boxed warnings

• BOXED WARNING Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from oral contraceptive use. This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Women who use oral contraceptives are strongly advised not to smoke.

Common side effects

• Pregnancy on oral contraceptive
• Muscle injury
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Folliculitis
• Lower respiratory tract infection
• Blister
• Impaired healing
• Peripheral swelling
• Gastrointestinal disorder
• Stomatitis
• Peripheral venous disease
• Night sweats

Drug interactions

• fosamprenavir
• rifabutin
• rifampicin
• rifapentine

Key clinical trials

• An Ethno-bridging Study of Pergoveris in Healthy Premenopausal Participants of Japanese or Caucasian Origin (PHASE1)
• Comparison of Sequential CFA vs CFA +rFSH for Elective Fertility Preservation. (PHASE3)
• Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill and Resistance Starch (PHASE2)
• PPOS (Progestin Primed Ovarian Stimulation) and Corifollitropin Alfa (CFA) Cross-over Study (PHASE4)
• Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP) Pharmacogenomics (PHASE4)
• Desogestrel-containing COCP Pharmacokinetic Validation Study (PHASE4)
• Assessing the Impact of Contraceptives on Bone Health Using 41Ca (PHASE4)
• Evaluation of Pharmacokinetic Drug-drug Interactions Between Hormonal Contraceptives and Doravirine-containing ART Among Women Living With HIV in South Africa (PHASE4)

Primary sources

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