I read somewhere that the best brands of birth control pills for the peri years have lower proestin to estrogen potency. These brands are: Otho-Cyclen, Brevicon, Modicon and Ovcon 35.

Has anyone else heard that these were the better brands to try for the peri years? Thanks!

They may have lower prog to estrogen ratio but I don't think they are low dose which they recommend to peri women - because its supposed to be safer -

I've been on Orthocyclen since 2004. It is a great pill and has caused me few or no problems.

I used seasonique for two years, seemed fine excerpt for breakthrough bleeding.

Dr Vliet recommends Ovcon-35 (least progestin), Modicon, and Brevicon (next lowest amount of progestin) for nonsmoking women over 30. She prefers monophasic (so you receive a steady dose daily) and states these brands, having the least amount of progestin and a little better level of estrogen, are best for those in peri with diminishing estrogen production, erratic cycles and PMS symptoms.

After having another period from h*ll this month, I decided to try bcp's. My dr. said he most often suggests Ortho-Cyclen for the peri years, so I just started that brand. He gave me a chart for the estrogen/progestin amounts in various brands. Here are the doses for the brands I had mentioned in the starting post:

Ortho Cyclen: estrogen 35 mcgm, .25 progestin (norgestimate)
Brevicon: estrogen 35 mcgm, .50 progestin (norethindrone)
Modicon: estrogen 35 mcgm, .50 progestin (norgestimate)
Ovcon 35: estrogen 35 mcgm, .40 progestin (norethindrone)
Ovcon 50: estrogen 50 mcgm, 1.00 progestin (norethindrone)