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Ethinylestradiol

Two combined oral contraceptive tablets sit on this shelf: Yaz, which pairs ethinylestradiol with drospirenone, and Diane 35, which pairs it with cyproterone acetate.

Yaz

Contraception, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

0.02mg + 3mg

Ethinylestradiol and drospirenone tablets for contraception and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. They prevent ovulation by altering hormone levels.

From$1.90/ tabletView

Diane 35

Androgen-dependent Acne, Contraception, Hirsutism

0.035mg + 2mg

Cyproterone and ethinylestradiol tablets for acne and contraception. It blocks the effect of male hormones that cause acne.

From$3.23/ tabletView

Key points

  • Combined oral contraceptives raise the risk of venous thromboembolism (blood clots in veins), with the label estimating 3 to 9 cases per 10,000 woman years among users.
  • The boxed warning states that cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events, and these products are not suitable for women over 35 who smoke.
  • Ethinylestradiol undergoes first-pass metabolism via CYP3A4 in the gut and liver, leaving systemic bioavailability at roughly 43%.

Common questions about Ethinylestradiol

What separates Yaz from Diane 35?

Both are Women’s Health combination tablets from Bayer, but they pair ethinylestradiol with different progestogens and at different doses. Yaz contains 0.02 mg ethinylestradiol with 3 mg drospirenone and is listed for Contraception, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and acne. Diane 35 contains 0.035 mg ethinylestradiol with 2 mg cyproterone acetate and is listed for androgen-dependent acne, hirsutism and contraception.

What does the “35” in Diane 35 refer to?

The number marks the ethinylestradiol content: 0.035 mg per tablet, against Yaz’s 0.02 mg. The higher oestrogen dose in Diane 35 pairs with cyproterone acetate, a progestogen with anti-androgenic activity, which is why the product is listed for androgen-dependent acne and hirsutism alongside its contraceptive use.

Further reading