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 synthetic estrogen, ethinyl estradiol, and the synthetic progestin, levonorgestrel. Along with these two steroidal contraceptive agents, a combination of several chemical skin permeation enhancing agents, including capric acid, blended at specific weight ratios, ranging from 2.0:1:1:0.8 to 6:1:1:0.8 are homogeneously dispersed in the adhesive polymer matrix. The invention also provides a method of fertility control utilizing the transdermal contraceptive delivery system.
