Low-Dose pill vs. Progestin-Only: which stops ovulation best?
NCT ID NCT03106454
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at whether a very low-dose combination birth control pill (10 mcg estrogen) prevents ovulation better than a progestin-only pill with a similar amount of progestin. Fifty-eight women took one of the two pills for a few months. Researchers checked ovulation using blood tests and also looked at cervical mucus quality. The goal was to see which pill works better and has fewer side effects.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone acetate combination pill (Loestrin) vs. norethindrone-only pill (Micronor)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help doctors choose the best birth control pill for each woman, balancing effectiveness and side effects.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study with only 58 participants, so results may not apply to all women. It does not test long-term safety or real-world use.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 3
Large-scale testing in a bigger group. Usually the last step before a treatment can be approved.
- Participants
-
58 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Aug 2014
- Finished
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Jan 2024
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 45 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Reproductive aged women 18-45 years old. * Menstrual cycle length 25-35days * BMI less than or equal to 40 * English or Spanish speaking Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant or breastfeeding in the previous 3 months. * Use of OC, hormonal vaginal rings or patches, levonorgestrel containing intrauterine device, or etonogestrel implant in the previous 1 month. No use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) injection in the previous 6 months and at least one menses since discontinuation. * Medical contraindications to estrogen or progestin use. Specifically: smoking among participants over 35 years old, migraines with aura, history of blood clots, ischemic heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, cervical cancer, liver disease, symptomatic gallbladder disease, uncontrolled hypertension, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, hyperlipidemia, diabetes with end organ damage (retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy) or diagnosis \>20 years ago, organ transplant * Desire to become pregnant in the next 4 months
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Brian T. Nguyen
Los Angeles, California, 90065, United States
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