A safest category combined pill.

Outside the US? Find us where you live.
Sprintec is a combined birth control pill, so it’s got two hormones in it that make it very effective at preventing pregnancy.
Answer a few questions about your health, get recommendations from our experts and order Sprintec online, by subscription.
Sprintec is a combined birth control pill. When you take it exactly right, your chances of getting pregnant are less than 1%. If you take Sprintec and make the occasional mistake by missing a pill, it’s not quite as effective. It still gives you a good level of protection (around 91% on average).
There are two active ingredients in Sprintec pills, which are synthetic versions of the natural hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Sprintec works in three ways to stop you becoming pregnant.
Firstly, it prevents ovulation. This is the process where the body releases an egg ready to be fertilized. If no egg is released, pregnancy can’t happen.
Sprintec also changes the lining of the womb. So if an egg did happen to be released and become fertilized, it wouldn’t be able to attach itself to the uterus. This uterine lining builds up and then sheds when you have your period.
The “period” you have when you’re using hormonal birth control isn’t the same as a normal period, because the lining doesn’t build up in the same way. It’s technically a withdrawal bleed, which is usually lighter than a true period.
The hormones in the pill also thicken the mucus in your cervix. This makes it harder for a sperm to reach and fertilize the egg.
Yes. Sprintec is the generic for the Ortho-Cyclen pill, a FDA-approved combined birth control pill. So there shouldn’t be any difference in how well they work or their side effect profile. The only real difference between the two is branding, which means the packaging and name.
Another important aspect about generic and branded versions is price. Generic products tend to be cheaper, despite the fact they do exactly the same thing as their brand-name counterparts. So it pays to always see if there is a brand-name version you can use.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Effective contraceptive use: an exploration of theory-based influences. Health Education Research, 24(4), pp.575–585.
Weight and Body Composition Changes During Oral Contraceptive Use in Obese and Normal Weight Women. Journal of Women’s Health, 23(1), pp.38–43.
Registered with NPI (No. 1700446366)
Meet LaurenmarieRegistered with NPI (No. 1710957600)
Meet BruceRegistered with GMC (No. 4624794)
Meet DanielShipping, consultation, treatment. It’s all included in the price.
We know health, but you know you.
Our experts tell you what’s safe, but you decide what’s best.
Answer a few questions and tell us about yourself. Get tailored advice from our clinicians so you can choose better.
Choose your treatment and how often you have it delivered.
We know things change. It’s the nature of life. We’ll check in regularly to make sure your treatment is still right for you.
Pause. Change. Skip. Start again. Any time you like.
Combined Pills: Here are some other options.
Pill with a "regular" estrogen dose. Very similar to Isibloom and Viorele.
Combined pill that's similar to Sprintec and Prevfiem.
The inactive pills contain an iron supplement. Similar to Loestrin Fe and Blisovi Fe.
Triphasic version of Sprintec, also available in a low-dose as Tri-Lo-Sprintec. Helps with acne.
The same active ingredients as Yaz but with a little more estrogen.
We're making healthcare more about you. Sign up to our newsletter for personalised health articles that make a difference.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
We couldn't find what you're looking for.
Here's everything we treat. Or, if you're looking for something we don't have yet, you can suggest something.
If there’s a particular treatment or condition you’re looking for, tell us and we’ll look into it for you.
Submit your question here, or tell us if you’ve found an issue on our site.
If you made a mistake on the gender selection, you can amend this by pressing 'Cancel' below and changing your gender. If you entered the correct gender but made a mistake on the treatment category selection, you can choose a different category by pressing 'Choose other treatment' below.
You have recently requested a change to your treatment plan which is under review.
We'll let you know once our clinician has reviewed your request.
Our clinician has already made treatment suggestions for you
You can view and select an option from your account.
You already have treatment for under review.
You have a consultation being reviewed. Our clinician will contact you soon.
You already have a treatment plan for on pause. You can restart or make changes to this from your account.
You can continue as a guest, or sign in with your Treated account if you have one.
By clicking 'Subscribe now' you're agreeing to our Privacy Policy.
You’re signed up to our newsletter. Keep an eye on your inbox for our latest update.
We’ll get back to you very soon. We aim to respond to all queries in one working day.
We couldn't verify your ID. Please upload a photo ID to continue with your order.
You have an order on hold because we couldn’t take your payment. To continue, please add a new payment method.