What are Triphasil Pills?: An In-Depth Guide to This Triphasic Contraceptive

October 7, 2025 •

4 min read

With a correct-use failure rate of less than 1% per year, what are Triphasil pills is a question often asked about a specific type of combined oral contraceptive. These pills use a unique triphasic dosing schedule to prevent pregnancy effectively by mimicking the body's natural hormonal fluctuations.

Quick Summary

Triphasil is a combination birth control pill containing varying levels of ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel in three distinct phases over a 28-day cycle, designed to prevent pregnancy.

Key Points

Triphasic Formulation: Triphasil is a triphasic oral contraceptive, meaning it delivers three different hormone dosages throughout the cycle to mimic natural hormonal fluctuations.
Multi-Method Contraception: It prevents pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation, thickening cervical mucus to block sperm, and altering the uterine lining to prevent implantation.
Non-Contraceptive Benefits: Beyond preventing pregnancy, Triphasil can lead to more regular, lighter, and less painful periods, and may reduce the risk of ovarian cysts and certain cancers.
Important Risks: Taking Triphasil increases the risk of serious side effects like blood clots, heart attack, and stroke, especially for smokers and women over 35.
Daily Consistency Required: For maximum effectiveness, the pill must be taken at the same time each day, and careful adherence to the color-coded phases is crucial.
Brand Discontinuation: The original Triphasil brand has been discontinued in some countries like the U.S., but generic versions with the same active ingredients are still available.

What is a Triphasil Pill?

Triphasil is a brand name for a type of combined oral contraceptive pill, which was historically prescribed for pregnancy prevention. While the original Triphasil brand has been discontinued in some regions, including the U.S., generic versions containing the same active ingredients—ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel—remain available. The 'triphasic' name refers to its dosing schedule, where the levels of hormones change in three distinct phases during the 28-day cycle. This design is intended to more closely simulate the natural hormonal fluctuations that occur during a woman's menstrual cycle. The pack typically includes 21 active tablets containing hormones and 7 inactive (placebo) tablets, which are taken during the last week to maintain the daily routine.

The Triphasic Regimen Explained

The most distinctive feature of a triphasic pill like Triphasil is its phased approach to hormone delivery. Instead of a consistent hormone dose each day, the amount of synthetic hormones (estrogen and progestin) changes throughout the cycle. This method was developed to reduce the total amount of hormones a woman is exposed to, potentially minimizing some side effects.

Phases of the Triphasil-28 Tablet Cycle

A standard Triphasil-28 pack (or its generic equivalent) is color-coded to guide the user through the regimen. The active pills contain varying amounts of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol across three phases.

Phase 1 (typically 6 tablets): Contains specific amounts of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol. For Triphasil, this phase is represented by brown tablets.
Phase 2 (typically 5 tablets): Features specific amounts of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol, differing from the first phase. These are typically white tablets.
Phase 3 (typically 10 tablets): Offers specific amounts of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol, differing from the previous phases. These tablets are light yellow.
Inactive Pills (typically 7 tablets): These reminder pills, often green, contain no hormones and are taken for the last seven days of the cycle. This is when withdrawal bleeding, similar to a menstrual period, typically occurs.

How Triphasil Works to Prevent Pregnancy

Triphasil, like other combination oral contraceptives, utilizes a multi-pronged mechanism of action to ensure contraceptive effectiveness. The combination of ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel works to suppress the natural hormones that trigger the release of an egg (ovulation).

Inhibition of Ovulation: The primary mechanism is the suppression of gonadotropins, which prevents the release of an egg from the ovaries. Without an egg to be fertilized, pregnancy cannot occur.
Cervical Mucus Thickening: The hormones alter the cervical mucus, making it thicker and more viscous. This creates a barrier that hinders sperm from traveling to the egg.
Uterine Lining Changes: The lining of the uterus (the endometrium) is also altered, making it less suitable for a fertilized egg to attach and implant. If a fertilized egg were to still be created, it would be unable to properly attach to the uterine wall.

Potential Side Effects and Risks

As with any medication, Triphasil can cause side effects. Many are mild and tend to diminish after the first few months of use.

Common Side Effects:

Nausea and vomiting
Headaches
Breast tenderness
Breakthrough bleeding or spotting, particularly during the first few months
Weight changes
Mood changes
Acne (though it can also improve acne in some)

Serious Risks:

Blood Clots: The most significant risk associated with combined oral contraceptives is the formation of blood clots, which can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This risk is higher for those who smoke, are over 35, or have other risk factors.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): Hormonal contraceptives can increase blood pressure in some individuals.
Liver Problems: Very rarely, issues like liver tumors or jaundice can occur.
Gallbladder Disease: An increased risk of gallbladder disease has been linked to the use of oral contraceptives.

Triphasic vs. Other Oral Contraceptives

Choosing the right oral contraceptive depends on an individual's health profile, preferences, and how their body responds to hormones. The differences between monophasic, biphasic, and triphasic pills lie in their hormone delivery pattern.


Feature	Triphasil (Triphasic)	Monophasic	Biphasic
Hormone Levels	Varying in three phases to mimic the natural cycle.	Constant estrogen and progestin levels for all active pills.	Progestin levels change once, with constant estrogen levels.
Side Effect Profile	May result in fewer side effects related to hormone fluctuations for some users.	Consistent hormone levels may lead to more predictable side effects.	Some studies suggest better cycle control than early versions, but potentially more breakthrough bleeding than triphasics.
Cycle Control	Designed to provide good cycle control by managing endometrial lining changes.	Offers stable hormone levels for predictable bleeding patterns.	Can have more mid-cycle spotting or breakthrough bleeding than triphasic or monophasic options.
Mimicking Natural Cycle	Most closely mimics the natural hormonal shifts of a menstrual cycle.	Does not mimic the natural cycle; provides a constant dose.	Designed to mimic the natural cycle in two stages.

Conclusion

Triphasil and its generic counterparts are effective triphasic oral contraceptives that work by suppressing ovulation and creating a less-hospitable environment for sperm and implantation. While the brand name is no longer available in some countries, the underlying medication with its unique, variable-dose regimen is still a valid contraceptive option. It offers numerous non-contraceptive benefits, including cycle regularity and potentially a reduced risk of certain cancers. However, as with all hormonal birth control, it comes with potential side effects and a risk of serious complications like blood clots, which must be considered in consultation with a healthcare provider. Proper, consistent use is essential for maximizing both contraceptive effectiveness and therapeutic benefits. For further information, consider consulting resources like the U.S. National Library of Medicine, which provides access to studies on oral contraceptives.

Visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine for more studies on oral contraceptives

Frequently Asked Questions

The Triphasil brand name has been discontinued in some regions, including the U.S., but generic versions containing the same active ingredients, levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol, are still available with a prescription.

Triphasic pills work primarily by suppressing ovulation, preventing the release of an egg. They also thicken the cervical mucus to block sperm and alter the uterine lining to make implantation less likely.

Besides pregnancy prevention, benefits can include more regular menstrual cycles, lighter periods, decreased menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea), and a reduced risk of ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, and certain cancers.

Common side effects include nausea, headache, breast tenderness, bloating, weight changes, and breakthrough bleeding. These symptoms often decrease after the first few months of use.

Serious but rare risks include an increased chance of blood clots (venous thromboembolism), heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. These risks are significantly higher in smokers, especially those over 35.

When used correctly and consistently, triphasic pills like Triphasil are highly effective, with a failure rate of less than 1% per year. However, typical use, which includes occasional missed pills, has a higher failure rate.

The action to take depends on the specific instructions in your pill pack, which vary based on which phase tablet was missed and for how long. You may need to take two pills on one day or use a backup contraceptive method. Always refer to your pill's specific instructions or consult a doctor.