Hormonal Contraceptive Combinations

Estrogen	Progestogen	Androgenicity	Estrogenicity	Notes	Anti-androgenic rating	Brandname
Ethinylestradiol Containing (the classics)
Ethinylestradiol	Norethisterone acetate	++	++	This was the first oral contraceptive i ever was on.	10	Activella, Alyacen, Amabelz, Aranelle, Aurovela, Aygestin, Balziva, Blisovi, Brevicon, Briellyn, Camila, Chabelina, Charlotte, Combipatch, Cyclafem, Cyonanz, Dasetta, Errin, Estrostep, Femcon, Finzala, Fyavolv, Gemmily, Gencept, Gildagia, Gildess, Hailey, Heather, Incassia, Jencycla, Jinteli, Junel, Kaitlib, Larin, Leribane, Loestrin, Minastrin, Lomedia, Lupaneta, Melodetta, Merzee, Mibelas, Microgestin, Micronor, Minastrin, Modicon, Myfembree, Nexesta, Nor-Qd, Norcept, Norethrin, Norinyl, Norlestrin, Norlutate, Norlutin, Norminest, Norquest, Nortrel, Nylia, Oriahnn, Ortho-Novum, Ovcon, Philith, Pirmella, Taytulla, Vyfemia, Wera
Ethinylestradiol	Norethisterone	++	++		10	Alyacen, Aranella, Balziva, Brevicon, Briellyn, Cyclafem, Dasetta, Femcon, Gencept, Gildagia, Kaitlib, Modicon, N.E.E., Norcept, Norethrin, Norinyl, Norquest, Nortrel, Ortho-Novum, Ovcon, Philith, Pirmella, Vyfemla, Weraw
Ethinylestradiol	Levonorgestrel	++			8	Alesse, Altavera, Ashlyna, Aviane, Ayuna, Daysee, Elifemme, Enpresse, Falmina, Fayosim, Introvale, Kurvelo, Lessina, Levlite, Levonest, Levora, Lybrel, Marlissa, Myzilra, Nordette, Orsythia, Portia, Quartette, Quasense, Seasonale, Seasonique, Setlakin, Vienva
Ethinylestradiol	Norgestimate	+			9	Estarylla, Mili, Mono-Linyah, Ortho Cyclen, Previfem, Sprintec
Ethinylestradiol	Norgestrel	++			8	Cryselle, Elinest, Ovral, Ogestrel
Ethinylestradiol	Desogestrel	+			9	Bekyree, Cyclessa, Desogen, Emoquette, Enskyce, Isibloom, Kariva, Kimidess, Mircette, Ortho-Cept, Pimtrea, Velivet, Viorele, Volnea
Ethinylestradiol	Drospirenone	---			13	Beyaz, Loryna, Melamisa, Nikki, Safyral, Syeda, Yaela, Yasmin, Yaz
Ethinylestradiol	Etynodiol diacetate	++	++		10	Demulen, Keinor, Zovia
Alternative Estrogens (the strange)
Estradiol valerate	Dienogest	*	*	Increases liver proteins less than ethinylestradiol.	*	Natazia
Estetrol	Drospirenone	*	*	Estetrol and this combination is new in this domain and strange. Estersol affects tissues differently, like a SERM, but it native to the body. It also does not stimulate SHBG. Drospirenone is anti-gonadotropic.	*	Nextstellis
Mestranol	Norethisterone	*	*		*	Norinyl
The Estrogen-Free (the forgotten)
<None>	Norethisterone	++	++		0	Camila, Errin, Heather, Incassia, Jencycla, Micronor, Nor-QD
<None>	Norgestrel	++		Available over the counter	-2	Opill
<None>	Drospirenone	---		This is the one i'm currently on!!	3	Slynd

Notes On This Table

The most important value for each combination is it's anti-androgenic rating. This value is largely relative and is useful for comparing, but is conjecture. Estrogen-containing formulations inherently are far more estrogenic and anti-androgenic than progestogen-only formulations, but i do not know the differences between the different estrogens. Additionally, a progestogen-only pill, even if its purely an androgenic type, may be on the whole anti-androgenic due to suppressing the gonads or competing with the user's endogenous androgens. Similarly, an anti-androgenic progestogen-only pill may on the whole be androgenic if it lower's the user's estrogen too much. Estrogens and androgens work against each other, even tho they activate different receptors. It is this in mind that i have devised this anti-androgenic rating system. As you try the different oral contraceptives in this table, let me know what your experience is, so that i may refine the rating system.

This table only includes combinations approved in the U.S.A.

I am not confident in the brand list. Use it as a starting point. Let me know if any of these brands are in the wrong spot or not the kind of pills you take regularly (like emergency contraceptive pills).

Notes On Contraceptive Pills

You can modulate the anti-androgenic score of your pill by requesting a smaller or larger dose of estrogens. Many brands come with multiple sub-formulations.

Additional Information

Estrogens

Estetrol: Estetrol differs in various ways both from other natural estrogens like estradiol and synthetic estrogens like ethinylestradiol, with implications for tolerability and safety. For instance, it appears to have minimal estrogenic effects in the breasts and liver, and strangely does not increase SHBG. Estetrol interacts with nuclear ERα in a manner identical to that of the other estrogens and distinct from that observed with Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs). Estetrol was first discovered in 1965, and basic research continued up until 1984. It started to be studied again as well as investigated for potential medical use in 2001, and by 2008, was of major interest for possible medical use. As of 2021, estetrol is in mid- to late-stage clinical development for a variety of indications.
Estradiol Valerate: It is an estrogen ester and a prodrug of estradiol in the body. Because of this, it is considered to be a natural and bioidentical form of estrogen. Estradiol valerate was first described in 1940 and was introduced for medical use in 1954. It increases liver proteins less than ethinylestradiol.
Ethinylestradiol: It is a synthetic derivative of estradiol, a natural estrogen, and differs from it in various ways. Compared to estradiol, ethinylestradiol is more resistant to metabolism, has greatly improved bioavailability when taken by mouth, and shows relatively increased effects in certain parts of the body like the liver and uterus. These differences make ethinylestradiol more favorable for use in birth control pills than estradiol, though also result in an increased risk of blood clots and certain other rare adverse effects. Ethinylestradiol was developed in the 1930s and was introduced for medical use in 1943. The medication started being used in birth control pills in the 1960s. Ethinylestradiol is found in almost all combined forms of birth control pills and is nearly the exclusive estrogen used for this purpose, making it one of the most widely used estrogens.
Mestranol: Mestranol is a prodrug of ethinylestradiol in the body. Mestranol was discovered in 1956 and was introduced for medical use in 1957. It was the estrogen component in the first birth control pill. Mestranol was quickly dropped by many companies after the risk of blood clots associated with taking estrogens was discovered and replaced with ethinylestradiol, an estrogen that still produces blood clots. It's understudied as an oral contraceptive.

Progestogens

Desogestrel: It has very weak androgenic and glucocorticoid activity and no other important hormonal activity. The medication is a prodrug of etonogestrel (3-ketodesogestrel) in the body. Desogestrel was discovered in 1972 and was introduced for medical use in Europe in 1981. It became available in the United States in 1992.
Dienogest: It is a unique progestogen, with strong effects in the uterus. The medication has some antiandrogenic activity and has no other important hormonal activity. Dienogest was discovered in 1979 and was introduced for medical use in 1995. Additional formulations of dienogest were approved between 2007 and 2010.
Etynodiol Diacetate: It has weak androgenic and estrogenic activity and no other important hormonal activity. The medication is a prodrug of norethisterone in the body, with etynodiol occurring as an intermediate. Etynodiol, a related compound, was discovered in 1954, and etynodiol diacetate was introduced for medical use in 1965. The combination ethynodiol with mestranol (Ovulen) was approved for medical use in the United States in 1966.
Levenorgestrel: It has weak androgenic activity and no other important hormonal activity. Levonorgestrel was patented in 1960 and introduced for medical use together with ethinylestradiol in 1970.
Norethisterone: It has weak androgenic and estrogenic activity, mostly at high dosages, and no other important hormonal activity. Norethisterone was discovered in 1951 and was one of the first progestins to be developed. It was first introduced for medical use on its own in 1957 and was introduced in combination with an estrogen for use as a birth control pill in 1963.
Norethisterone Acetate: It has weak androgenic and estrogenic activity and no other important hormonal activity. The medication is a prodrug of norethisterone in the body. NETA was patented in 1957 and was introduced for medical use in 1964.
Norgestimate: It has very weak androgenic activity and no other important hormonal activity. The medication is a prodrug of norelgestromin and to a lesser extent of levonorgestrel in the body. Norgestimate was patented in 1965 and introduced for medical use, specifically in birth control pills, in 1986.
Norgestrel: It has weak androgenic activity and no other important hormonal activity. Norgestrel was patented in 1961 and came into medical use, specifically in birth control pills, in 1966.
Drospirenone: It has antimineralocorticoid and antiandrogenic activity and no other important hormonal activity. Because of its antimineralocorticoid activity and lack of undesirable off-target activity, drospirenone is said to more closely resemble bioidentical progesterone than other progestins. Drospirenone was patented in 1976 and introduced for medical use in 2000.

Glossary

SERM: Selective estrogen receptor modulators. They are a class of drugs that act on estrogen receptors (ERs). Compared to pure ER agonists–antagonists like ethinylestradiol, SERMs are more tissue-specific, allowing them to selectively inhibit or stimulate estrogen-like action in various tissues.
SHBG: Sex hormone-binding globulin. It is a glycoprotein that binds to androgens and estrogens. SHBG levels are usually about twice as high in women as in men. In women, SHBG serves to limit exposure to both androgens and estrogens. Low SHBG levels in women have been associated with hyperandrogenism. Most oral contraceptives stimulate the liver to produce SHBG.