Levonorgestrel vs Ethinyl Estradiol: side-by-side comparison
Levonorgestrel (Synthetic progestin (emergency contraception)) and Ethinyl Estradiol (Synthetic estrogen / contraceptive) 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 | Levonorgestrel | Ethinyl Estradiol |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic class | Synthetic progestin (emergency contraception) | Synthetic estrogen / contraceptive |
| CAS | 797-63-7 | 57-63-6 |
| ATC | G03AC03 | G03CA01 |
| Molecular weight | 312.5 g/mol | 296.40 g/mol |
| Brands with this active ingredient | 1 | 1 |
What they share
Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol 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
Levonorgestrel acts by a different mechanism than Ethinyl Estradiol, 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
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. Ethinyl Estradiol: L'éthinylestradiol se lie aux récepteurs des estrogènes et produit des effets estrogéniques comparables à ceux de l'estradiol naturel.
Indications compared
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… Ethinyl Estradiol: L'éthinylestradiol est autorisé comme composante estrogénique des contraceptifs hormonaux combinés destinés à prévenir la grossesse.
Safety profile
Levonorgestrel: Les effets indésirables fréquents de la contraception d'urgence comprennent nausées, céphalées, fatigue, vertiges, tension mammaire et modifications du cycle menstruel. Ethinyl Estradiol: Les effets indésirables fréquents comprennent nausées, tension mammaire, céphalées, saignements intercurrents, variations de l'humeur et du poids.
Questions fréquentes
Is Levonorgestrel better than Ethinyl Estradiol? ▾
Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol are not "better or worse" — they treat different things. The sensible question is which fits your specific need.
Can Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol 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 Levonorgestrel
Products with Ethinyl Estradiol
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.