Estradiol valerate
In addition to single-drug formulations, oral estradiol valerate is available in combination with the progestin dienogest as a combined oral contraceptive and intramuscular estradiol valerate is marketed in combination with the progestins hydroxyprogesterone caproate and norethisterone enantate as combined injectable contraceptives. Intramuscular estradiol valerate has also been marketed in combination with testosterone enantate, but this formulation has been discontinued. The availability of estradiol valerate-containing products varies throughout the world.
Estradiol-containing birth control pill
Combined birth control pills that contain natural estradiol or an estradiol ester (e.g., estradiol valerate) include:It is hypothesized that these contraceptives may pose less of a risk of blood clots than contraceptives containing ethinylestradiol, which is the conventional estrogen that is used in oral contraceptives, but this has yet to be proven. However, incidence of irregular vaginal bleeding may be higher with estradiol-containing contraceptives in relation to the fact that estradiol is a weaker estrogen than ethinylestradiol in the endometrium.