| abstract |
A transdermal contraceptive delivery system (TCDS) for fertility control in women is described comprising a backing layer, an adjoining layer of a solid absorption adhesive polymer matrix in which minimum effective daily doses of an estrogen and a progestin are dispersed and released for transdermal absorption. Presently preferred is use of the natural estrogen, 17-beta-estradiol, and the synthetic progestin, levonorgestrel. Along with these two steroidal contraceptive agents, a combination of several chemical skin permeation enhancing agents, blended at specific weight ratios, are homogeneously dispersed in the adhesive polymer matrix. The invention also provides a process of fertility control utilizing the transdermal contraceptive delivery system. |