Birth Control Pills: How Do They Compare?

August 12, 2008

I don't know about you, but just about every woman I know has been on or is taking birth control pills. There are so many different brands out there and they all offer different amounts of hormones, so I made this handy chart to help you figure out which one may be right for you. These pills are combination pills, which means they contain a type of estrogen (ethinyl estradiol), and a type of progestin (levonorgestrel, desogestrel, norethindrone). The pills with the least amount of ethinyl estradiol tend to offer the least amount of side effects, and the ones that offer the same hormonal dosages each day (monophasic pills) will help to ease PMS symptoms (mainly mood swings). With so many different options out there, it's important to know what's actually in these pills, since every woman's body reacts differently to hormonal birth control. Check out my chart below:

Birth Control	Hormone Dosage
Alesse	.10 mg levonorgestrel and 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Brevikon	.5 mg norethindrone acetate and 35 mcg estrogen per pill
Cyclessa	Phase 1: .1 mg desogestrel and 25 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 2: .125 mg desogestrel and 25 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 3: 15 mg desogestrel and 25 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Jolessa	.15 mg levonorgestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Junel 21 Day	1.5 mg norethindrone acetate and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Kelnor	1 mg ethynodiol diacetate and 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Loestrin 21	1 mg norethindrone acetate and 20 mcg estrogen per pill

Don't see yours on the list? To see the others, read more.

Birth Control	Hormone Dosage
Lybrel	.09 mg levonorgestrel and 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Nordette	.15 mg levonorgestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Orthro Tri-Cyclen	Phase 1: .18 mg norgestimate and 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 2: .215 mg norgestimate and 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 3: 25 mg norgestimate and 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Orthro Tri-Cyclen Lo	Phase 1: .18 mg norgestimate and 25 mcg ethinyl estradiol (type of estrogen) per pill Phase 2: .215 mg norgestimate and 25 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 3: 25 mg norgestimate and 25 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Reclipsen	.15 mg desogestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Seasonal	.15 mg levonorgestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Seasonique	.15 mg levonorgestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Solia	.15 mg desogestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Trivora-28	Phase 1: .5 mg levonorgestrel and 30 mcgethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 2: .075 mg levonorgestrel and 40 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 3: .125 mg levonorgestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Velivet	Phase 1: .1 mg desogestrel and 25 mcgethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 2: .125 mg desogrestrel and 25 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 3: .15 mg desogestrel and 24 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Yasmin	3 mg drospirenone and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Yaz	3 mg drospirenone and 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill

Pretty interesting information, huh? So ladies, if you're on the pill, which one works best for you?

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52 Comments

2 years 50 weeks

in response to Dee87 i was on loestrin 1/20 when i was younger, anything higher dose made me throw up. when they switched me to generic, it made me have mood swings and feel like crap. but later, when i was about 22, i went on generic loestin 1/20 and i was fine. the only side affect i had was that i got bladder infections a lot. but then... when i went back on them about a year ago... no more bladder infections. not sure why the change. but basically, if you get sick, ask your doc for the lowest hormones possible. it's normal to get nauseous the first few days, but after that, no. my question now is, i noticed a thinning of my hair on the implanon, and got it removed... now i want to go back on a pill, but i'm afraid that since my hormones are different now than they were in my teens and early tweinties, that the same pill i was on before might also thin my hair. any help on this?

Kristensaurus 2 years 51 weeks

I've been on both ortho-tri cyclen and ortho-tri cyclen lo. No decreased libido, and to ohkate above, no hair loss either! I've been on it for 8 years and it works well for me. Everyone is different. Some people can take one Tylenol and be very effected by it, and some can take three and still have pain. Some have one beer and are drunk, while it takes others six beers to get to the same level. Just because one person had a terrible experience with a certain brand of BCP does not mean anyone else will have the same experience. My Gyn told me this when I asked about Yaz because my friend had a good experience with it, and she warned me that my experience could be the opposite.

Bacall83 3 years 3 weeks

Isn't Diane only available in Canada? I also thought the Health Canada, the Canadian version of the FDA, said in 2005 that Diane could only be prescribed for the treatment of acne no longer for birth control.

3 years 40 weeks

I was put on Yasmin for a month, and I had the worst side effects. Crying all the time, breakingout, and no labido. I was then switched to Microgestin Fe 1/20, which was nice for the first month but I still had no labido. After 3 months of that I just stopped taking the pills, as the loss of my sex drive was having a toll on my current relationship. I'm still interested in BC, but I'd rather not take the pill than lose my sex drive again. Any suggestions?

3 years 51 weeks

I have tried ortho tricyclin lo, nuva ring and yaz. I vomit or have nausea from all three of them. I was hoping to find someone here who has the same problem. I'm tired of wasting money on birth controls that haven't worked for me. I'm also tired of going for dr. visit everytime I need a new prescription for a new bc. Please someone help! I need bc that doesn't have the vomiting/nausea as side effects (In my dreams?)

Teagan 4 years 14 weeks

Seasonal/ Seasonique. It's the first one I ever tried (3 years ago now) and I NEVER had any side effects not even when I first started it. Also no weight gain, it's harder for me to lose weight, but then again my BMI is 19, I don't need to lose weight :).

Natalie Love 4 years 32 weeks

I've been on Diane for the past 2.5 years. It has a bad rep as it has increased chances of giving you blood clots, so I had to beg my gyno to give it to me again. I originally went on it for messed up periods and acne, and now, my skin is SO great, no side affects, I REALLY don't wanna switch. I think I'll be put on Yasmin next time I go, in a year. Hopefully my skin won't be bad.. eek.

Natalie Love 4 years 32 weeks

I've been on Diane for the past 2.5 years.It has a bad rep as it has increased chances of giving you blood clots, so I had to beg my gyno to give it to me again.I originally went on it for messed up periods and acne, and now, my skin is SO great, no side affects, I REALLY don't wanna switch.I think I'll be put on Yasmin next time I go, in a year. Hopefully my skin won't be bad.. eek.

YoursToKeep 4 years 35 weeks

I just started on Yasmin almost a week ago, so I haven't seen any changes yet, but I was just wondering what to expect. A couple of you commented on the awful side effects you had from it, what specifically did you have? And will my boobs grow for sure? (thats something I'm definitely not looking forward too!)

Phunkometry 4 years 40 weeks

I've been on Yaz for over a year... at first, it gave me weird acne, but recently I've had a boob growth spurt (from a B to almost more than a C in like a moth or so... so it might be from that. However, my terrible cramps that kept me in bed for a few days are gone (I still get mild dull pain, but not like it used to be), and I tend not to be as bitchy as I used to be. And period is right on time, and somewhat lighter than it used to be. No insurance plan, though, so it's $50+ a month. :( Anyone know if there's a generic for Yaz?

Phunkometry 4 years 40 weeks

nopenope 4 years 40 weeks

I've been on Microgestin Fe 1/20 (Alesse generic) for 2.5 years. No problems at all! Haven't had to purchase tampons -- I always had light periods, but on this BC it's non-existent. I get mild cramps about 3 times a year, though, in return. I just switched to my own insurance plan and it's $40 a year ($10 for 3 months) for the prescription. Previously, on my mom's work plan, it was $20 a year ($5 for 3 months). The first BC I tried (can't remember which one) I was only on for three months before my current one. While bigger boobs were awesome, I also gained a couple of pounds in the process and the hormones were definitely getting to me.

nopenope 4 years 40 weeks

I've been on Microgestin Fe 1/20 (Alesse generic) for 2.5 years. No problems at all! Haven't had to purchase tampons -- I always had light periods, but on this BC it's non-existent. I get mild cramps about 3 times a year, though, in return.I just switched to my own insurance plan and it's $40 a year ($10 for 3 months) for the prescription. Previously, on my mom's work plan, it was $20 a year ($5 for 3 months).The first BC I tried (can't remember which one) I was only on for three months before my current one. While bigger boobs were awesome, I also gained a couple of pounds in the process and the hormones were definitely getting to me.

arbywhopper 4 years 40 weeks

I am on Ortho- Lo. I can remember to take it at all. I use to be on the ring and I didn't like it at all! It was painful and my hubby said he could feel it during sex. I want to try Implanon, but I'm scared. And i can never remember to take the pill. I haven't even been on it a week and I have already forgotten it twice. And i DON'T want to get pregnant!!

MisterPinkNoTip 4 years 40 weeks

After the dreadful side effects of Yaz, I'm really reluctant to try another birth control again.

MisterPinkNoTip 4 years 40 weeks

After the <i>dreadful</i> side effects of Yaz, I'm really reluctant to try another birth control again.

Beaner 4 years 40 weeks

I was on ortho tricyclen Lo and Loestren and I just didn't like being on them, and neither did my man. He said he didn't want me putting chemicals in my body. Plus it made me gain weight and I cried for a week before my period. Now I'm off hormonal BC and I feel sane again.

cjmara805 4 years 40 weeks

I'm all about the ring. Years ago I tried Mircette and Zovia, they were terrible and I stopped taking them because the side effects weren't worth the benefit. Last year my doctor put me on Yaz but it made my boobs HUGE and painful and I had a permanent headache... now I'm on the ring and I couldn't be happier.

dameneko 4 years 40 weeks

i used ortho tri-cyclen for over 15 years, and finally my body said "NO MORE!" -- i started getting side effects like fatigue, bloat and bleeding that went away when i went off it. :( i think it is because my body is hormonally different in my early 30's than when i was 16...so just as an exercise, i'm seeing what's really "normal" for my body and my cycle. when i go back on the pill, it will probably be something like yaz -- many of my friends switched to it in the past few years and they are all pretty happy with it.

GlowingMoon 4 years 40 weeks

Wow, I happy that BC pills works for many of you. I've had a bout with them, and they did NOT agree with me. If memory serves me correctly, I tried about three brands. Physically and psychologically, I was a wreck. I had every possible side effect, and I was so FATIGUED. Well, I'm glad the pill works for many of you.

GlowingMoon 4 years 40 weeks

zabrow 4 years 40 weeks

i was taken off combo pills because of migraines with auras. now i'm off hormonal birth control for the first time in nine years & it is GREAT. my skin has cleared up, my sex drive is back & i'm losing weight like crazy. i know it usually works just the opposite for most people, but MAN, i had no idea!

Greentea1203 4 years 40 weeks

I've been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for a couple years now and have had no side effects. Definitely not a lower sex drive at all, that's for sure! I haven't noticed any hair loss or anything. I think it makes me gain a few lbs--but that could just be my crazy mind. I used to think it gave me terrible mood swings, but it turns out that was just my exboyfriend doing that to me. :P

bibliophile 4 years 40 weeks

Ortho Tri-cyclen Lo gave me the worst nausea, but since I've switched to Loestrin, I've been feeling great.

sushi09 4 years 40 weeks

ohkate - i am on ortho lo and my sex drive is lower and my hair loss has increased, but otherwise the pill has worked great for 4 years. however, i am thinking of switching to yaz cuz these 2 side effects are pretty major!!

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52 Comments

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