estradiol-containing birth control pill

{{Infobox Birth control

|name = Estradiol-containing oral contraceptive

|bc_type = Hormonal

|date_first_use = 1993 (Finland)

|reversibility = Yes

|STD_protection_YesNo = No

}}

Combined birth control pills that contain natural estradiol or an estradiol ester (e.g., estradiol valerate) include:{{cite journal | vauthors = De Leo V, Musacchio MC, Cappelli V, Piomboni P, Morgante G | title = Hormonal contraceptives: pharmacology tailored to women's health | journal = Human Reproduction Update | volume = 22 | issue = 5 | pages = 634–46 | year = 2016 | pmid = 27307386 | doi = 10.1093/humupd/dmw016 | doi-access = free }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Stanczyk FZ, Archer DF, Bhavnani BR | title = Ethinyl estradiol and 17β-estradiol in combined oral contraceptives: pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and risk assessment | journal = Contraception | volume = 87 | issue = 6 | pages = 706–27 | year = 2013 | pmid = 23375353 | doi = 10.1016/j.contraception.2012.12.011 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Fruzzetti F, Bitzer J | title = Review of clinical experience with estradiol in combined oral contraceptives | journal = Contraception | volume = 81 | issue = 1 | pages = 8–15 | year = 2010 | pmid = 20004267 | doi = 10.1016/j.contraception.2009.08.010 }}

• Estradiol valerate and cyproterone acetate (brand name Femilar) – introduced in Finland (only) in 1993
• Estradiol valerate and dienogest (brand names Qlaira, Natazia) – introduced in Europe in 2009 and the {{abbrlink|U.S.|United States}} in 2010{{cite journal | vauthors = Guida M, Bifulco G, Di Spiezio Sardo A, Scala M, Fernandez LM, Nappi C | title = Review of the safety, efficacy and patient acceptability of the combined dienogest/estradiol valerate contraceptive pill | journal = International Journal of Women's Health | volume = 2 | pages = 279–90 | year = 2010 | pmid = 21151673 | pmc = 2990895 | doi = 10.2147/IJWH.S6954 | doi-access = free }}
• Estradiol and nomegestrol acetate (brand name Zoely) – introduced in Europe in 2011{{cite journal | vauthors = Burke A | title = Nomegestrol acetate-17b-estradiol for oral contraception | journal = Patient Preference and Adherence | volume = 7 | pages = 607–19 | year = 2013 | pmid = 23836965 | pmc = 3702550 | doi = 10.2147/PPA.S39371 | doi-access = free }}

Estradiol, mainly as esters including estradiol valerate, estradiol cypionate, and estradiol enanthate, is also the exclusive estrogen used in combined injectable contraceptives.{{Cite journal|url=http://www.wjpps.com/download/article/1412071798.pdf|title = WJPPS | ABSTRACT|journal = World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences}}

As of 2021, more than 95% of prescriptions are for combined hormonal birth control forms containing the synthetic estrogen ethinylestradiol (EE).{{cite journal | last1 = Mawet | first1 = M | last2 = Gaspard | first2 = Ulysse | last3 = Foidart | first3 = JM | title = Estetrol as estrogen in a combined oral contraceptive, from the first in-human study to the contraceptive efficacy | journal = European Gynecology and Obstetrics | volume = 3 | issue = 1 | pages = 13–21 | year = 2021 | url = https://www.egojournal.eu/wp-content/uploads/journal/2021/3.1/13/13-21.pdf | quote = On the other side, only three different estrogens have been used in COC since 1961: the first one was the pro-drug mestranol rapidly replaced by its potent active form, ethinylestradiol (EE). Ethinylestradiol has remained the only estrogen used in COC during more than four decades. After initial unsuccessful attempts, estradiol (E2) was finally introduced into two COCs in the early 2010’: in the form of the pro-drug E2 valerate in combination with dienogest (E2V/DNG) and in the form of E2 in combination with nomegestrol acetate [4, 5]. However, these E2-containing COCs are less prescribed as over 95% of combined hormonal contraceptive users still utilize an EE-containing product.}} Hence, estradiol-based birth control pills are still not widely used.