EP0491415B1 — Low estrogen oral contraceptives

USPTO Abstract

Disclosed is a contraceptive regimen, and method of using the regimen, comprising 24 daily sequential dosage units of: a first phase comprising about 7 to 9 separate first dosage units containing a progestogen at a daily dosage equivalent in progestogenic activity to 100 mu g desogestrel and an estrogen at a daily dosage equivalent in estrogenic activity to 25 mu g ethinyl estradiol ("EE"). A second phase of 7 to 9 second dosage units, each of the second dosage units containing a progestogen equivalent to 125 mu g desogestrel and an estrogen equivalent to 20 mu g EE. A third phase of 7 to 9 third dosage units, each unit containing a progestogen equivalent to 150 mu g desogestrel and an estrogen equivalent to 20 mu g EE. The kit generally has 28 daily dosage units wherein four of the daily dosage units contain no contraceptive steroid, or, alternatively, have only 24 dosage units with a four day "pill-free" period. The fourth phase may also be four dosage units containing a progestogen equivalent to 25 - 35 mu g desogestrel.