A method of female contraception involves administering a combination of estrogen and progestin for 60-110 consecutive days in which the daily amounts of estrogen and progestin are equivalent to about 5-35 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and about 0.025 to 10 mg of norethindrone acetate, respectively. The advantages include less menstrual bleeding, less patient anemia, less total exposure to medication, higher compliance rates and more lifestyle convenience for patients.