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Quick facts
- Type
- human prescription drug
- Brand names
- Microgestin 1/20
- RxNorm ID
- 1358762
We do not publish dosing. How much of this medicine to take, how often, and for how long depends on your age, weight, kidney and liver function, other conditions and other medicines. That is a decision for the person who prescribes or dispenses it. Follow the directions on your own pack and ask your pharmacist if anything is unclear.
What it is used to treat
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Microgestin 1/20 is indicated for the prevention of pregnancy in women who elect to use oral contraceptives as a method of contraception. Oral contraceptives are highly effective. Table 1 lists the typical accidental pregnancy rates for users of combination oral contraceptives and other methods of contraception. The efficacy of these contraceptive methods, except sterilization, depends upon the reliability with which they are used. Correct and consistent use of methods can result in lower failure rates. 2
About this medicine
DESCRIPTION Microgestin 1/20 is a progestogen-estrogen combination. Microgestin 1/20 provides a continuous dosage regimen consisting of 21 pale yellow oral contraceptive tablets. Each pale yellow tablet contains norethindrone acetate (17 alpha-ethinyl-19-nortestosterone acetate), 1 mg; ethinyl estradiol (17 alpha-ethinyl-1,3,5(10)-estratriene-3, 17 beta-diol), 20mcg. Also contains polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide, talc, macrogol/polyethylglycol 3350 NF, lecithin (soya), D&C Yellow No.10 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Blue No.2 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Yellow No.6 Aluminum Lake, lactose, magnesium stearate and pregelatinized corn starch. The structural formulas are as follows: 1
Who should not take it
CONTRAINDICATIONS Oral contraceptives should not be used in women who currently have the following conditions: ● Thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disorders ● A past history of deep vein thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disorders ● Cerebral vascular or coronary artery disease ● Known or suspected carcinoma of the breast ● Carcinoma of the endometrium or other known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasia ● Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding ● Cholestatic jaundice of pregnancy or jaundice with prior pill use ● Hepatic adenomas or carcinomas ● Known or suspected pregnancy ● Are receiving Hepatitis C drug combinations containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir, due to the potential for ALT elevations (see Warnings , RISK OF LIVER ENZYME ELEVATIONS WITH CONCOMITANT HEPATITIS C TREATMENT ).
Warnings
WARNINGS The use of oral contraceptives is associated with increased risks of several serious conditions including myocardial infarction, thromboembolism, stroke, hepatic neoplasia, and gallbladder disease, although the risk of serious morbidity or mortality is very small in healthy women without underlying risk factors. The risk of morbidity and mortality increases significantly in the presence of other underlying risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemias, obesity, and diabetes. Practitioners prescribing oral contraceptives should be familiar with the following information relating to these risks. The information contained in this package insert is principally based on studies carried out in patients who used oral contraceptives with higher formulations of estrogens and progestogens than those in common use today. The effect of long-term use of the oral contraceptives with lower formulations of both estrogens and progestogens remains to be determined. Throughout this labeling, epidemiological studies reported are of two types: retrospective or case control studies and prospective or cohort studies. Case control studies provide a measure of the relative risk of a disease, namely, a ratio of the incidence of a disease among oral contraceptive users to that among nonusers. The relative risk does not provide information on the actual clinical occurrence of a disease. Cohort studies provide a measure of attributable risk, which is the difference in the incidence of disease between oral contraceptive users and nonusers. The attributable risk does provide information about the actual occurrence of a disease in the population (adapted from References 8 and 9 with the author's permission). For further information, the reader is referred to a text on epidemiological methods. 1. Thromboembolic Disorders and Other Vascular Problems a. Myocardial Infarction An increased risk of myocardial infarction has been attributed to oral contraceptive use. This risk is primarily in smokers or women with other underlying risk factors for coronary artery disease such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, morbid obesity, and diabetes. […]
Reported side effects
ADVERSE REACTIONS An increased risk of the following serious adverse reactions has been associated with the use of oral contraceptives (see WARNINGS section): ● Thrombophlebitis ● Arterial thromboembolism ● Pulmonary embolism ● Myocardial infarction ● Cerebral hemorrhage ● Cerebral thrombosis ● Hypertension ● Gallbladder disease ● Hepatic adenomas or benign liver tumors There is evidence of an association between the following conditions and the use of oral contraceptives, although additional confirmatory studies are needed: ● Mesenteric thrombosis ● Retinal thrombosis The following adverse reactions have been reported in patients receiving oral contraceptives and are believed to be drug-related: ● Nausea ● Vomiting ● Gastrointestinal symptoms (such as abdominal cramps and bloating) ● Breakthrough bleeding ● Spotting ● Change in menstrual flow ● Amenorrhea ● Temporary infertility after discontinuation of treatment ● Edema ● Melasma which may persist ● Breast changes: tenderness, enlargement, secretion ● Change in weight (increase or decrease) ● Change in cervical erosion and secretion ● Diminution in lactation when given immediately postpartum ● Cholestatic jaundice ● Rash (allergic) ● Mental depression ● Reduced tolerance to carbohydrates ● Vaginal candidiasis ● Change in corneal curvature (steepening) ● Intolerance to contact lenses The following adverse reactions have been reported in users of oral contraceptives and the association has been neither confirmed nor refuted: ● Pre-menstrual syndrome ● Cataracts ● Changes in appetite ● Cystitis-like syndrome ● Headache ● Nervousness ● Dizziness ● Hirsutism ● Loss of scalp hair ● Erythema multiforme ● Erythema nodosum ● Hemorrhagic eruption ● Vaginitis ● Porphyria ● Impaired renal function ● Hemolytic uremic syndrome ● Budd-Chiari syndrome ● Acne ● Changes in libido ● Colitis
If too much is taken
OVERDOSAGE Serious ill effects have not been reported following acute ingestion of large doses of oral contraceptives by young children. Overdosage may cause nausea, and withdrawal bleeding may occur in females. NON-CONTRACEPTIVE HEALTH BENEFITS The following non-contraceptive health benefits related to the use of oral contraceptives are supported by epidemiological studies which largely utilized oral contraceptive formulations containing estrogen doses exceeding 0.035 mg of ethinyl estradiol or 0.05 mg of mestranol (79 to 84) . Effects on menses: ● Increased menstrual cycle regularity ● Decreased blood loss and decreased incidence of iron deficiency anemia ● Decreased incidence of dysmenorrhea Effects related to inhibition of ovulation: ● Decreased incidence of functional ovarian cysts ● Decreased incidence of ectopic pregnancies Effects from long-term use: ● Decreased incidence of fibroadenomas and fibrocystic disease of the breast ● Decreased incidence of acute pelvic inflammatory disease ● Decreased incidence of endometrial cancer ● Decreased incidence of ovarian cancer
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This page is built from the openFDA record of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approved labelling for this product, effective 12 November 2025. Label text has been shortened and reformatted for readability; safety wording has not been altered in meaning. FDA labelling describes products approved in the United States — brand names, strengths, formulations and approved uses may differ in your country. Always read the leaflet that comes with your own pack. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the FDA. Retrieved 2026-07-30.