levonorgestrel + ethinyl estradiol

Kurvelo is an FDA-approved combination oral contraceptive (COC) consisting of the synthetic progestin levonorgestrel (0.15 mg) and the synthetic estrogen ethinyl estradiol (0.03 mg). Manufactured by Lupin Pharmaceuticals, it is a generic version of the discontinued brand-name contraceptive Nordette. The drug's primary mechanism of action involves the suppression of ovulation through the stabilization of hormone levels and the inhibition of gonadotropin release, alongside thickening cervical mucus to inhibit sperm penetration and altering the endometrial lining to prevent implantation. Beyond its primary indication for the prevention of pregnancy, Kurvelo is being evaluated in the Phase 4 TeenVIBE clinical trial (sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) for its potential to mitigate irritability and depressive symptoms in female adolescents at risk of suicide by stabilizing fluctuations in estradiol and progesterone levels.

Brand names

KurveloNordette

Other names

levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiollevonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol