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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Drospirenone and Estetrol vs Desogestrel

National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Data updated May 2026

Desogestrel was dispensed 1,752.0× as often as Drospirenone and Estetrol in May 2026 — 238,271 items versus 136 in England.

136items

Drospirenone and Estetrol · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

238,271items

Desogestrel · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Drospirenone and Estetrol versus Desogestrel: national items dispensed by month

▬ Drospirenone and Estetrol   ·   ╌ Desogestrel

0 138k 276k Nov 2022 May 2023 Nov 2023 May 2024 Dec 2024 Jun 2025 May 2026 Desogestrel 136 Nov 2022: 2 Dec 2022: 6 Jan 2023: 10 Feb 2023: 16 Mar 2023: 22 Apr 2023: 17 May 2023: 26 Jun 2023: 28 Jul 2023: 21 Aug 2023: 39 Sep 2023: 24 Oct 2023: 34 Nov 2023: 37 Dec 2023: 42 Jan 2024: 39 Feb 2024: 47 Mar 2024: 40 Apr 2024: 42 May 2024: 42 Jun 2024: 53 Jul 2024: 58 Aug 2024: 63 Oct 2024: 64 Nov 2024: 77 Dec 2024: 64 Jan 2025: 67 Feb 2025: 69 Mar 2025: 84 Apr 2025: 84 May 2025: 93 Jun 2025: 107 Jul 2025: 115 Aug 2025: 86 Sep 2025: 111 Oct 2025: 163 Nov 2025: 108 Dec 2025: 133 Jan 2026: 137 Feb 2026: 118 Mar 2026: 116 Apr 2026: 152 May 2026: 136

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Drospirenone and Estetrol versus Desogestrel, May 2026
Measure Drospirenone and Estetrol Desogestrel
Items, May 2026 136 238,271
Items, last 12 months 1,482 2,973,506
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £4,025 £1,091,876

See the full profile for Drospirenone and Estetrol or Desogestrel.