Modicon® (norethindrone/ethinyl estradiol) is a prescription oral contraceptive. It is approved for the prevention of pregnancy and is one of the many versions of "the pill."
(Click Modicon Uses for more information on what Modicon is used for, including possible off-label uses.)
Modicon is made by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. Generic versions of Modicon are made by various manufacturers
(see Generic Modicon for more information).
Modicon is classified as a "combined" oral contraceptive, which means that it contains two different types of hormones. It contains both an estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and a progestin (norethindrone). Combined
oral contraceptives are the most common type of
birth control pills used today and are usually more effective than progestin-only birth control pills.
Primarily, the hormones in Modicon prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation (the maturation and release of eggs from the ovaries). However, Modicon also works to prevent pregnancy in two other, minor ways. The drug changes the cervical mucus (the fluid of the cervix, which is the lower, narrow part of the uterus that is connected to the vagina), making it more difficult for sperm to enter the uterus. Lastly, Modicon alters the lining of the uterus (called the endometrium), making it less receptive to an embryo.
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