Is Marvelon an anti-androgenic contraceptive pill?

[elliev123]

Also, which brands of combined contraceptive pills are the most anti-androgenic? Thanks

Marvelon is not especially anti-androgenic.

Dianette (not specifically a contraceptive but it has a contraceptive effect) and Yasmin are probably the most anti-androgenic of the commonly prescribed OCPs.

According to Wikipedia, no combined contraceptive pills are anti-androgenic

"Oral contraceptives that mediate progesterone have no effect on androgens but may be combined with spironolactone and cyproterone acetate for the purpose of correcting menstrual irregularities.[17]"
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiandrogen

However, this website suggests that Marvelon being a low-dose contraceptive will have "minimal androgyn effect". Marvelon contains desogestrel/ethinylestradiol btw.

www.dermnetnz.org/treatments/antiandrogens.html

Thank you ethelb, so you know if the Yasmin pill is antiandrogenic?

Do you know what is in Yasmin?

Well none of the oral combined contraceptive pills are particularly antiandrogenic. But a few are more likely to reduce androgenic effects such as hirsutism and skin oiliness than others.

Some areas won't routinely prescribe Yasmin as it's expensive so you may need to be explicit with your GP as to what you are asking for and why.

ethelb, I know that drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol is in Yasmin. So would it work to reduce the effects of higher-than-normal levels of androgens in the body?