Question

A low dose oral contraceptive pill contains which of the following?

• A. Levonorgestrel
• B. Norgestrel
• C. Desogestrel
• D. Norethisterone

Hint:

The third-generation, highly potent progestogen lets the dose be kept lowest.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Think of this in terms of how progestogens have improved over time. The earliest pills used first-generation progestogens like norethisterone, which had to be given in relatively large milligram amounts to work. The next wave introduced second-generation agents such as levonorgestrel and norgestrel, which were more potent but still carried some androgenic side effects. The third generation then arrived with compounds like desogestrel, which are so selective and powerful that only a tiny dose is needed for dependable ovulation suppression, allowing the overall hormone content of the pill to be kept very low. This is exactly the property that defines a low dose combined oral contraceptive. So when a question pairs the phrase low dose pill with a list of progestogens, the modern third-generation member is the intended answer because its high potency permits the smallest dose. Among the choices, that member is desogestrel. \[\boxed{\text{Desogestrel}}\]