EP0253607A1 — Combination dosage form for premenopausal women

USPTO Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method of providing hormonal replacement therapy and contraception for a pre-menopausal woman, which comprises administering to a pre-menopausal woman in need thereof a combination dosage form of an estrogen selected from 0.5-2.0 mg. of 17β-estradiol, 0.008-0.030 mg. of ethinyl estradiol, and 0.015-0.060 mg. of mestranol; and a progestogen selected from 0.025-0.100 mg. of levonorgestrel, 0.010-0.070 mg. of gestodene, 0.025-0.100 mg. of desogestrel, 0.025-0.100 mg. of 3-ketodesogestrel, and 0.085-0.35 mg. of norethindrone, said combination dosage form being administered for 23-25 days beginning at day one of the menstrual cycle, followed by 2-5 pill-free or blank pill days, for a total of 28 days in the administration cycle. The preferred dosage form of the invention is a combination of 1 mg. of 17β-estradiol and 0.050 or 0.075 mg. of levonorgestrel. The preferred administration cycle of the invention is administration of the combination dosage form for the first 24 days of the menstrual cycle and no dosage form for the last 4 days of the menstrual cycle.