oral contraceptives, ethinyl estradiol comes in a variety of dosages. Some are higher than the dose used in HRT, and some are lower. Some low-dose oral contraceptives contain only 0.01 milligram of ethinyl estradiol and tend to be prescribed primarily for perimenopausal women who want contraception but who also have irregular or heavy menses or hormonally related symptoms that impair quality of life. These preparations provide adequate estrogen to relieve hot flashes and other vasomotor symptoms.21 (The progesterone components of birth control pills and HRT are often similar.)
