Drug & supplement interaction

Yerba Mate + Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol

Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol brand names: Ortho-Cept 28, Ortho-Cept 21, Marvelon 21, Marvelon 28, Desogen, and others.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol falls into 4 drug categories that Yerba Mate can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, estrogens might increase the levels and adverse effects of the caffeine in yerba mate.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
Interactions4
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Yerba Mate and Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol

These two interact in 4 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 4 Interactions?

Yerba Mate interacts with whole categories of medication. Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol falls into 4 of those categories, so it can interact with Yerba Mate in 4 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

ESTROGENS

1 of 4

Why this applies to Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol

Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol falls under ESTROGENS — the group Yerba Mate interacts with.

Theoretically, estrogens might increase the levels and adverse effects of the caffeine in yerba mate.
Yerba mate contains caffeine. Estrogen inhibits caffeine metabolism.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence B

Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's a little twist that surprises a lot of people: it's actually your birth control pill that affects the yerba mate, not the other way around. The estrogen part of Ortho-Cept (ethinyl estradiol with desogestrel) slows down the enzyme that clears caffeine from your body. Since yerba mate is naturally caffeinated, that caffeine can hang around longer and hit a bit harder than you'd expect.

In real life, that might mean feeling extra jittery, a racing or pounding heart, trouble sleeping, or an upset stomach, especially if you drink several cups. This won't make your pill any less effective at preventing pregnancy. It's a moderate, fairly likely interaction, so you don't need to give up mate, just enjoy it in moderation and watch how caffeine affects you. If it feels like too much, chat with your pharmacist.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Pollock BG, Wylie M, Stack JA, et al. Inhibition of caffeine metabolism by estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. J Clin Pharmacol 1999;39:936-40. PubMed
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) INHIBITORS

2 of 4

Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) INHIBITORS.

Theoretically, concomitant use of CYP1A2 inhibitors and yerba mate might increase levels and adverse effects of the caffeine in yerba mate.
Yerba mate contains caffeine. Caffeine is metabolized by CYP1A2. Theoretically, drugs that inhibit CYP1A2 may decrease the rate of caffeine clearance and increase caffeine levels.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the interesting twist with this one: your birth control pill isn't really the thing that builds up. The estrogen in your pill (ethinyl estradiol) can mildly slow down an enzyme called CYP1A2, which is the same enzyme your body uses to clear out caffeine. Since yerba mate is loaded with caffeine, your morning mug may hang around a little longer than usual.

In plain terms, the caffeine may hit a bit harder. You might notice more jitteriness, a racing heart, trouble sleeping, or an upset stomach. This is a theoretical, minor interaction based on how these compounds behave, not strong human studies, and it won't make your pill less effective. If you feel wired, just trim back the mate. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Hagg S, Spigset O, Mjorndal T, Dahlqvist R. Effect of caffeine on clozapine pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2000;49:59-63. PubMed
  2. Carrillo JA, Benitez J. Clinically significant pharmacokinetic interactions between dietary caffeine and medications. Clin Pharmacokinet 2000;39:127-53. PubMed
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

3 of 4

Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, yerba mate might increase the levels and clinical effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research shows that yerba mate extract inhibits CYP3A4 enzymes. Theoretically, taking yerba mate may increase levels and adverse effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the short version: your birth control pill (desogestrel with ethinyl estradiol) is partly cleared by a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. In a test-tube study, yerba mate slowed that enzyme down a little. In theory, that could let a bit more of the hormones linger in your body. If anything, that might mean slightly stronger estrogen-type side effects like nausea, breast tenderness, headaches, or bloating.

I want to be honest about how thin this evidence is. It comes from lab dishes, not real people, and the interaction is rated as minor. Your everyday cup or two of mate is very unlikely to throw off your pill. If you drink large amounts or take concentrated mate supplements, just mention it to your pharmacist or doctor so they can keep an eye on you.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Feltrin C, Farias IV, Sandjo LP, Reginatto FH, Simões CMO. Effects of Standardized Medicinal Plant Extracts on Drug Metabolism Mediated by CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 Enzymes. Chem Res Toxicol 2020;33(9):2408-2419. PubMed
Minor

CONTRACEPTIVE DRUGS

4 of 4

Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol also falls under CONTRACEPTIVE DRUGS.

Theoretically, contraceptive drugs might increase the levels and adverse effects of the caffeine contained in yerba mate.
Yerba mate contains caffeine. Contraceptive drugs decrease the rate of caffeine clearance by 40% to 65%.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence B

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the thing to know about this combo: your birth control pill (Desogen, Marvelon, Ortho-Cept) doesn't change in any harmful way. Instead, it's the caffeine in yerba mate that gets affected. The estrogen in the pill slows down how fast your body clears caffeine, by roughly 40% to 65%. So that same cup of mate can hang around longer and feel stronger than usual.

In real life, that may mean more jitteriness, a racing heart, trouble sleeping, or feeling wired. This is rated minor and is partly theoretical, so most people do fine. If you notice caffeine hits you harder than before, simply cut back on mate. Nothing about your contraception's effectiveness is harmed here. As always, check with your pharmacist if you're unsure.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Pollock BG, Wylie M, Stack JA, et al. Inhibition of caffeine metabolism by estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. J Clin Pharmacol 1999;39:936-40. PubMed
  2. Abernethy DR, Todd EL. Impairment of caffeine clearance by chronic use of low-dose oestrogen-containing oral contraceptives. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1985;28:425-8. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Yerba Mate Also Interacts With Other Medications

Yerba Mate has 8 major, 504 moderate, 573 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 8 Moderate 504 Minor 573 No known interaction 1,745 (incl. Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Yerba Mate

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Yerba Mate. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol

This page covers Yerba Mate only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol page lists 246 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major) and St. John's Wort (major).

By severity: 6 major · 201 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol page

“St. John's Wort is the supplement I would flag first for anyone on desogestrel with ethinyl estradiol (Desogen, Ortho-Cept, Marvelon).”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Yerba Mate as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 68 real supplement products containing Yerba Mate, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Yerba Mate. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol too, on top of Yerba Mate — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Yerba Mate and Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Yerba Mate
Steady interest

#1,067 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol
Top 25%

#413 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Yerba Mate

What is Yerba Mate?

Yerba Mate
  • Energy and alertness
  • Weight loss
  • Mental focus
  • Digestive support
  • Antioxidant support

Yerba mate is a caffeine-containing herbal beverage from South America that is widely enjoyed for its stimulating, coffee-like effects. While it is rich in antioxidants and is being studied for weight, blood sugar, and cholesterol, strong human evidence for most health claims is limited. Drinking very hot mate over many years has been linked to higher risk of certain cancers, so enjoy it warm and in moderation.

Read the full Yerba Mate monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Yerba Mate

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Yerba Mate — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

8Major
504Moderate
573Minor
1,744No known interaction
8 Major 504 Moderate 573 Minor 1,744 No interaction
Major

8 interactions

Moderate

504 interactions

Showing 60 of 504 moderate interactions — see all 504 on the Yerba Mate page.

Minor

573 interactions

Showing 60 of 573 minor interactions — see all 573 on the Yerba Mate page.

No interaction 1,744 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Yerba Mate against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,744 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Yerba Mate list.

See the full Yerba Mate interactions page
See every supplement checked against Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Yerba Mate monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Yerba Mate and Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol Together: Common Questions

Can you take Yerba Mate with Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 4 interactions listed for Yerba Mate and Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol?
Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol belongs to more than one drug category, and Yerba Mate interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Yerba Mate and Desogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.