Should I Avoid ethinylestradiol During Pregnancy? | VeriMom

What to use instead

Pregnancy-safe ingredients that serve a similar function:

Pregnancy-safe products to use instead

Products built around the safer ingredients above, scored "no known risks" or "low risk".

Unknown

100

schmidts here now

L'Occitane

100

L´Occitane Powder To-mousse Facial Exfoliator

Sustain Yourself

100

Sustain Yourself Natural Deodorant

Bitamin

100

Bitamin Natural Deodorant N'orange

Mew mew tweet

100

Mew mew tweet Cedar Spruce Baking Soda Free

Avero

100

Avero Solid Deodorant

Avril

99

Déodorant baume

HappySoaps

99

Happysoaps Neutraal

Laura Mercier

99

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum Spf 20 - Oil Free

Woohoo

99

Woohoo Deodorant & Anti-Chafe Stick

Pregnancy-Safe Alternatives to ethinylestradiol | VeriMom

Ingredients — Pregnancy-Safe Ingredients Database — 28,000+ Ingredients Rated

See also

• Is ethinylestradiol safe during pregnancy?
• Is ethinylestradiol safe for babies?
• What are pregnancy-safe alternatives to ethinylestradiol?

FAQ

Is ethinylestradiol safe during pregnancy?

Ethinylestradiol (CAS 57-63-6) has a harmonised CLP classification as Repr. 1B (H360—may damage fertility or the unborn child) per ECHA, which meets the criterion for h=3. It is a potent synthetic estrogen with demonstrated estrogen receptor agonism and animal data showing adverse effects on fetal growth/survival, supporting m=2. For topical cosmetic use, systemic exposure from a cosmetic formulation would be negligible/very low, so e=0 (noting ethinylestradiol is primarily used as an oral/vaginal pharmaceutical rather than a cosmetic). ([echa.europa.eu](https://echa.europa.eu/brief-profile/-/briefprofile/100.014.129?utm_source=openai))

Is ethinylestradiol safe while breastfeeding?

Harmonised classification H360 (Repr. 1B) equally flags lactation-related reproductive hazard (h=3). Mechanistically, ethinylestradiol is an estrogen receptor agonist with demonstrated endocrine activity (m=2). Human studies indicate transfer into breast milk is negligible with low‑dose combined hormonal contraceptives, so exposure via milk from typical systemic use is low but measurable (e=1); for topical cosmetic use systemic uptake would be expected to be very low. ([echa.europa.eu](https://echa.europa.eu/brief-profile/-/briefprofile/100.014.129?utm_source=openai))

Is ethinylestradiol safe for baby skin?

Hazard (H360 Repr. 1B) remains (h=3). Mechanistic evidence of estrogenic activity supports m=2. For topical cosmetic use adult dermal exposure is expected to be negligible (adult e=0); per the scoring rules, baby skin exposure is increased by +1 (e=1) because infant skin is more permeable — although ethinylestradiol is not a typical cosmetic ingredient and meaningful topical cosmetic exposure is unlikely. Animal studies show prenatal/placental effects but no infant‑specific dermal data were found. ([echa.europa.eu](https://echa.europa.eu/brief-profile/-/briefprofile/100.014.129?utm_source=openai))

How does VeriMom score ethinylestradiol?

VeriMom scores ethinylestradiol at 27/100 (high risk) based on EU CosIng status, ECHA hazard classifications, and peer-reviewed PubMed studies. Our scoring pipeline is fully transparent.

What are pregnancy-safe alternatives to ethinylestradiol?

See our curated list of pregnancy-safe alternatives to ethinylestradiol based on similar function and a no-known-risks safety band.