Norgestrel

Norgestrel, sold under the brand name Opill among others, is a progestin which is used in birth control pills. It is often combined with the estrogen ethinylestradiol, marketed as Ovral. It is also used in menopausal hormone therapy. It is taken by mouth.

Side effects of norgestrel include menstrual irregularities, headaches, nausea, and breast tenderness. The most common side effects of the norgestrel include irregular bleeding, headaches, dizziness, nausea, increased appetite, abdominal pain, cramps, or bloating. Norgestrel is a progestin, or a synthetic progestogen, and hence is an agonist of the progesterone receptor, the biological target of progestogens like progesterone. 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. It was subsequently introduced for use in menopausal hormone therapy as well. Norgestrel is sometimes referred to as a "second-generation" progestin. It is marketed widely throughout the world. Norgestrel is available as a generic medication. In 2022, the version with ethinylestradiol was the 264th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 1 million prescriptions. In July 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved norgestrel for over-the-counter sale.