Extended-cycle oral contraceptive pills with 10 μg ethinyl estradiol pills in place of placebo pills

Abstract

The elimination of monthly withdrawal bleeding with use of extended-cycle (84 pills) monophasic birth-control pills has modernized oral contraceptives. The use bf ethinyl estradiol 10 μg pills in place of the seven placebo pills addresses the problems posed by 21/7 formulations of low-dose birth-control pills, which allow early stimulation of ovarian follicles, and of the early 84/7 formulations, which had higher rates of unscheduled bleeding and spotting. © 2007 Future Medicine Ltd.