Ethinyl Estradiol vs Levonorgestrel: side-by-side comparison
Ethinyl Estradiol (Synthetic estrogen / contraceptive) and Levonorgestrel (Synthetic progestin (emergency contraception)) belong to different therapeutic classes and are rarely substitutes for each other. The comparison is useful when a single patient is weighing both options for adjacent or overlapping needs.
| Property | Ethinyl Estradiol | Levonorgestrel |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic class | Synthetic estrogen / contraceptive | Synthetic progestin (emergency contraception) |
| CAS | 57-63-6 | 797-63-7 |
| ATC | G03CA01 | G03AC03 |
| Molecular weight | 296.40 g/mol | 312.5 g/mol |
| Brands with this active ingredient | 1 | 1 |
What they share
Ethinyl Estradiol and Levonorgestrel share the common regulatory framework for prescription active ingredients, bioequivalence standards for generics, and pharmacist oversight. Beyond that, points in common are limited.
Key differences
Ethinyl Estradiol acts by a different mechanism than Levonorgestrel, with indications that barely overlap. Comparing the two is useful when a clinician has mentioned both in the same context or the patient wants to understand why one was prescribed instead of the other.
Mechanisms compared
Ethinyl Estradiol: L'éthinylestradiol se lie aux récepteurs des estrogènes et produit des effets estrogéniques comparables à ceux de l'estradiol naturel. Levonorgestrel: En contraception d'urgence, le lévonorgestrel agit principalement en retardant ou en inhibant l'ovulation lorsqu'il est pris avant le pic de LH.
Indications compared
Ethinyl Estradiol: L'éthinylestradiol est autorisé comme composante estrogénique des contraceptifs hormonaux combinés destinés à prévenir la grossesse. Levonorgestrel: Le lévonorgestrel est autorisé en contraception d'urgence (dose unique de 1,5 mg), en contraception orale régulière (associé à l'éthinylestradiol ou en progestatif seul), et comme principe actif des dispositifs intra-uté…
Safety profile
Ethinyl Estradiol: Les effets indésirables fréquents comprennent nausées, tension mammaire, céphalées, saignements intercurrents, variations de l'humeur et du poids. Levonorgestrel: Les effets indésirables fréquents de la contraception d'urgence comprennent nausées, céphalées, fatigue, vertiges, tension mammaire et modifications du cycle menstruel.
Questions fréquentes
Is Ethinyl Estradiol better than Levonorgestrel? ▾
Ethinyl Estradiol and Levonorgestrel are not "better or worse" — they treat different things. The sensible question is which fits your specific need.
Can Ethinyl Estradiol and Levonorgestrel be combined? ▾
Whether they can be combined depends on the indications and the interaction profile of each. If both are in a single prescription, the prescriber has weighed it; in self-medication they should never be combined.
Do they have the same side-effect profile? ▾
No — they belong to different classes and have distinct side-effect profiles. Each has its own prescribing information.
Products with Ethinyl Estradiol
Products with Levonorgestrel
Les informations publiées sur ce site sont fournies à titre documentaire et pédagogique. Elles ne remplacent pas l'avis d'un professionnel de santé qualifié.