Abstract: Gestagens, preferably dienogest, chlormadinone acetate or levonorgestrel, in combination with estrogens, for example ethinylestradiol, 17?-estradiol or estradiol valerate, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary agents/excipients provide lactose-free oral contraception. The possibility is provided of improving the prophylaxis for lactose intolerance concerning a possibly contributing factor and also in regard to the costly examinations for lactose intolerance. The invention is also suitable for long-term use.

Abstract: The method produces a lactose-free oral contraceptive composition containing a combination of a gestagen and an estrogen together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary agents and/or excipients. The contraceptive composition is a tablet, powder, or capsule that contains the gestagen and estrogen, filler material such as microcrystalline cellulose and a binder such as hydroxypropylcellulose, but no lactose. Preferably the gestagen is dienogest, chlormadinone acetate, or levonorgestrel and the estrogen is ethinylestradiol, 17?-estradiol, or estradiol valerate. A method is provided for improving the prophylaxis of lactose intolerance in women taking oral contraceptives. The oral contraceptive preparations for a standard 28-day cycle or for long-term use contain at least 21 daily dose units of the gestagen and the estrogen in a low-dosage but without lactose and at most 7 daily dose units containing no active ingredient or a placebo.

Abstract: The pharmaceutical composition for oral contraception and for reducing the risk of congenital abnormalities contains, in a daily dosage unit, 2.0 mg or 1.5 mg of 17?-cyanomethyl-17?-hydroxyoestra-4,9-dien-3-one (dienogest), 0.015 mg of 17?-ethynyloestradiol (ethynyloestradiol), and (6S)-5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate, preferably as the calcium salt of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (metafolin), together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliaries/carriers. A kit for oral contraception contains 21 daily dosage units of the pharmaceutical composition and 7 daily dosage units solely containing (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate, preferably in the form of metafolin.

Abstract: The pharmaceutical preparation for oral contraception has 28 daily dosage units, of which at least 21 daily dosage units each contain from 1.5 mg to 2 mg of dienogest and from 0.015 mg to 0.02 mg of ethinyl estradiol together in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Seven or fewer daily dosage units contain no effective ingredient. Each daily dosage unit can be a film tablet for oral administration, which has a tablet core and film coating on the tablet core. At least 30% of the dienogest is released from the tablet core preferably in a delayed manner after more than 30 minutes, while at least 70% of the dienogest and ethinyl estradiol are released from the film coating preferably in 30 minutes, as determined by a standard dissolution test.