Mili and Sprintec contain the same active ingredients at the same doses. Both are generic versions of the brand-name pill Ortho-Cyclen, delivering 0.25 mg of norgestimate (a progestin) and 0.035 mg of ethinyl estradiol (a synthetic estrogen) in every active tablet. They are manufactured by different companies, which is why they have different names, but pharmacologically they do the same thing.
Why Two Names for the Same Pill
When a brand-name drug’s patent expires, multiple generic manufacturers can produce their own version. Sprintec is made by Teva Pharmaceuticals, based in North Wales, Pennsylvania. Mili is made by Lupin Pharmaceuticals. Each company gives its generic product a unique trade name, but the FDA requires both to meet the same bioequivalence standards, meaning the hormones must be absorbed into your bloodstream at the same rate and to the same extent as the original brand.
This is a common pattern with birth control. Ortho-Cyclen alone has spawned several generics beyond Mili and Sprintec, including MonoNessa, Previfem, and Femynor. All share the identical hormone combination.
How They Work
Both Mili and Sprintec are monophasic pills, meaning every active tablet in the pack contains the same hormone dose. You take 21 active (blue or colored) pills followed by 7 inactive (white or green) placebo pills, during which you typically get a withdrawal bleed. The consistent daily dose of progestin and estrogen prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation, thickening cervical mucus to block sperm, and thinning the uterine lining.
Combination pills with norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol at these doses have an overall failure rate of roughly 2.4 pregnancies per 100 women per year in clinical trials, which accounts for both perfect and typical use. With consistent, correct use, the method failure rate drops to about 1.7 per 100 women per year. Real-world effectiveness depends heavily on taking the pill at the same time every day and not missing doses.
Where They May Differ
The active hormones are identical, but the inactive ingredients (fillers, binders, coatings, and dyes) can vary between manufacturers. These substances don’t affect how the drug works for the vast majority of people. However, if you have a known sensitivity to a specific dye, lactose, or another filler, it’s worth comparing the inactive ingredient lists on the packaging or asking your pharmacist to pull them up. Rare cases of digestive sensitivity or mild allergic reactions to inactive ingredients have been reported with generic switches across all drug categories, not just birth control.
Some people notice subtle differences in side effects after switching between generics. Breakthrough bleeding, mild nausea, headaches, or changes in skin are occasionally reported during the first one to two cycles after a switch. These effects are more likely related to the adjustment itself or to slight variations in how quickly the tablet dissolves rather than to a meaningful difference in hormone delivery. They typically resolve within two to three months.
Switching Between Mili and Sprintec
If your pharmacy substitutes one for the other, you can continue your pack without interruption. Start the new brand’s active pills on the same schedule you were following. No backup contraception is needed, and you don’t need to restart your pill count. The switch is treated the same as refilling an identical prescription because, from a regulatory standpoint, it is.
Pharmacies frequently swap between generics based on which manufacturer offers the better wholesale price at any given time. This means you might get Sprintec one month and Mili the next without anyone mentioning it. The pill color or shape might change, which can be confusing, but the hormones inside are the same. If consistency matters to you for peace of mind, you can ask your pharmacist to note a preference for one specific generic on your profile, though availability isn’t always guaranteed.
Cost Differences
Because both are generics, they tend to be inexpensive, but your out-of-pocket cost depends on your insurance formulary. Some plans cover one generic at a lower copay than the other, or your pharmacy may stock only one. Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans cover at least one version of generic birth control with no copay. If your plan covers Sprintec but not Mili (or vice versa), your prescriber can usually write the prescription for whichever version your insurance prefers without any clinical concern.
Without insurance, both generics typically cost between $15 and $50 for a one-month supply at most retail pharmacies, though discount programs and manufacturer coupons can bring the price lower.