An artificially produced female sex hormone, used mostly in birth control pills or capsules.
An oral contraceptive; birth control pill. Together with ethinyl estradiol, levonorgestrel combines natural or synthetic estrogens and progestins that are similar to the natural sex hormones produced in a woman’s body. Ethinyl estradiol is an estrogen, while levonorgestrel is a progestin. Together, these products can prevent ovulation and pregnancy, regulate menstrual flow, and treat acne or other hormone-related problems. The type and amount of each hormone varies among brands of oral contraceptives.
A progestogen medication utilized within certain oral contraceptives and, when combined with an estrogen medication, as a component of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Norgestrel, a related medication, exerts a comparable effect.