Desogestrel / Ethinyl Estradiol Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 9, 2025.

Applies to desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol: oral tablet.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly and does not cause unwanted effects. These visits will usually be every 6 to 12 months, but some doctors require them more often. Your doctor may also want to check your blood pressure while taking this medicine.

Although you are using this medicine to prevent pregnancy, you should know that using this medicine while you are pregnant could harm your unborn baby. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away. Make sure your doctor knows if you have had a baby within 4 to 6 weeks before you start using this medicine.

Vaginal bleeding of various amounts may occur between your regular menstrual periods during the first 3 months of use. This is sometimes called spotting when slight, or breakthrough bleeding when heavier.

• If this should occur, continue with your regular dosing schedule.
• The bleeding usually stops within 1 week. Check with your doctor if the bleeding continues for more than 1 week.
• If the bleeding continues after you have been taking hormonal contraceptives on schedule and for more than 3 months, check with your doctor.

Check with your doctor right away if you miss a menstrual period. Missed periods may occur if you skip one or more tablets and have not taken your pills exactly as directed. If you miss two periods in a row, talk to your doctor. You might need a pregnancy test.

If you suspect that you may be pregnant, check with your doctor immediately.

Do not use this medicine together with medicine to treat hepatitis C virus infection, including ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir.

Do not use this medicine if you smoke cigarettes or if you are over 35 years of age. If you smoke while using birth control pills, you increase your risk of having a blood clot, heart attack, or stroke. Your risk is even higher if you are over age 35, if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or if you are overweight. Talk with your doctor about ways to stop smoking. Keep your diabetes under control. Ask your doctor about diet and exercise to control your weight and blood cholesterol level.

Using this medicine may increase your risk of having blood clotting problems. This usually occurs when you first start taking this medicine, or after starting birth control pills after not using them for a month or more. Check with your doctor right away if you have pain in the chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves, difficulty with breathing, a sudden, severe headache, slurred speech, a sudden, unexplained shortness of breath, a sudden unexplained shortness of breath, a sudden loss of coordination, or vision changes while using this medicine.

Using this medicine may increase your risk of breast cancer or cervical cancer. Talk with your doctor about this risk. Check with your doctor immediately if your experience abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Check with your doctor immediately if you wear contact lenses or if blurred vision, difficulty in reading, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment. Your doctor may want an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) to check your eyes.

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, dark urine or pale stools, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Using this medicine may increase your risk for gallbladder surgery. Talk with your doctor about this risk.

Check with your doctor before refilling an old prescription, especially after a pregnancy. You will need another physical examination and your doctor may change your prescription.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. The results of some medical tests may be affected by this medicine. You may also need to stop using this medicine at least 3 to 4 weeks before and 2 weeks after having major surgery.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects

Along with its needed effects, desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol:

Other side effects

Some side effects of desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol: oral tablet.

Genitourinary adverse events

• Common (1% to 10%): Breast pain/tenderness, amenorrhea, irregular bleeding
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Breast enlargement/hypertrophy, metrorrhagia
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Vaginal/breast discharge, vaginal candidiasis
• Frequency not reported: Breakthrough bleeding, spotting, menstrual flow change, cervical ectropion and secretion, temporary infertility (after discontinuation), vaginitis, candidiasis, lactation diminution, premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, uterine myoma^[Ref]

Diminution of lactation may theoretically occur when this drug is given immediately postpartum.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, abdominal pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vomiting, diarrhea
• Frequency not reported: Gallbladder disease, mesenteric thrombosis, gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., abdominal pain, cramps, bloating), pancreatitis, colitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Depressed mood, altered mood
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Decreased libido, nervousness
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Increased libido
• Frequency not reported: Depression/mental depression^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Headache, dizziness
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Migraine
• Frequency not reported: Stroke, transient ischemic attack, cerebral hemorrhage/thrombosis, chorea exacerbation, Sydenham's chorea, epilepsy^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Common (1% to 10%): Increased weight
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Fluid retention
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Decreased weight
• Frequency not reported: Decreased serum folate, porphyria exacerbation, decreased carbohydrate tolerance, increased/decreased folate^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rash/allergic rash, urticaria, acne
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Erythema nodosum/multiforme, pruritus, alopecia, hirsutism
• Frequency not reported: Scalp hair loss, melasma/chloasma or persistent melasma/chloasma, gestational herpes gestationis, hemorrhagic eruption^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypertension, fluid retention/edema
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Arterial/venous thromboembolism
• Frequency not reported: Myocardial infarction, venous thrombosis, arterial/venous thromboembolic disorders, varicose vein aggravation, thrombophlebitis and venous thrombosis with/without embolism^[Ref]

Ocular

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Contact lens intolerance, cataract
• Frequency not reported: Retinal thrombosis, optic neuritis, partial/complete vision loss, corneal curvature change/steepening^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hypersensitivity
• Frequency not reported: Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions, hereditary angioedema/angioedema, severe reactions with respiratory and circulatory symptoms^[Ref]

Other

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Otosclerosis^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Frequency not reported: Cholestatic jaundice, Budd-Chiari syndrome, acute/chronic liver function disturbances, liver tumors/hepatic adenomas or benign liver tumors^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Frequency not reported: Hormone-dependent tumors, breast cancer^[Ref]

Renal

• Frequency not reported: Cystitis-like syndrome, impaired renal function^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Frequency not reported: Pulmonary embolism^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Frequency not reported: Hemolytic uremic syndrome^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Frequency not reported: Systemic lupus erythematosus^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

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