Abstract: An extended triphasic oral contraceptive regimen is disclosed. According to the disclosed regimen, a combination of an estrogen and a progestin is administered for at least 42 consecutive days followed by a hormone-free period of from 4 to 8 days. The estrogen and progestin are administered in a contraceptively effective daily dosage for a sequence of at least two cycles of at least 21 days, wherein the estrogen dosage remains constant over each cycle and the progestin dosage increases in three phases over each cycle.