In January–May 2026, the Russian retail market saw a decline in physical demand for hormonal contraceptives (EphMRA group G03A). Previously, for three consecutive years, there had been a steady upward trend in sales of these drugs. Even in 2023, when sales of such products adjusted downward by 1%, it was largely due to the high base of panic buying from the previous year. In the first five months of 2026, 8.6 million packages of hormonal contraceptives worth RUB 14.5 billion (at retail prices, including VAT) were sold on the retail market (including the online channel). Spending on this group of drugs increased by 4.6% compared to the same period in 2025, while physical consumption decreased by 1.1%. For the full year 2025, the market's monetary volume reached RUB 34.4 billion, 9.4% higher than in 2024, with Russians purchasing 21.4 million packages over the year (+2.8% compared to 2024).

In the first five months of 2026, the retail assortment of hormonal contraceptives included 47 brands and over 90 SKUs. The competitive environment in the segment is characterized by extremely high concentration: products are represented by only 11 corporations, with about 88% of the market's monetary volume controlled by two foreign manufacturers — Bayer HealthCare with a 55% share and Gedeon Richter (34%). Their products make up the top ten by revenue, with the absolute leadership among systemic hormonal contraceptives held by the brand Jess from Bayer HealthCare. This brand accounts for 17.6% of all retail sales in the group, showing annual ruble revenue growth of 6%. Second and third places in the ranking are also occupied by Bayer HealthCare products — the drugs Qlaira and Yarina, with shares of 15.2% and 10.6%, respectively.

Most participants in the TOP-10 showed declining demand in packages during the analyzed period. The most pronounced decline in physical volumes was noted for the brand Dimia from Gedeon Richter, whose sales decreased by 21%, driven by a decline in interest in standard 28-tablet packages against the background of growing demand for larger 84-tablet packages (+4% in packages). This trend reflects the overall market dynamics of shifting consumer demand toward economical, larger packaging: compared to January–May 2025, sales of large-volume packages increased by 1%, while small-format items showed a 1.5% decline. Among leading brands, this trend is most pronounced: physical consumption of 84-tablet packages for the brand Jess increased by nearly 11%, while for Qlaira in the same large packaging, physical sales growth reached 19%. It is worth noting that the trend toward larger packaging only partially affected the decline in physical sales volume; when recalculated in minimum dosage units, a consumption decline of -0.3% was also recorded in January–May 2026.

Outside the top ten, the most pronounced positive dynamics were demonstrated by the brand Tri-Mercy from Aspen, with physical consumption increasing tenfold over the year. Such a sharp jump is due to the low base effect and the resumption of regular supplies at the end of 2025 after a prolonged shortage. Since 2023, imports of this brand into Russia had been accompanied by serious disruptions. The situation changed at the end of April last year; according to the "Monitoring of the Release of Medicinal Products into Free Circulation in the Russian Federation" from the analytical company RNC Pharma, three new batches of Tri-Mercy have since been supplied to the Russian market.

The Indian brand Jayna from Sun Pharmaceutical, present on the domestic market since 2022, also demonstrated high growth dynamics. Compared to January–May 2025, demand for this drug increased by 63% in physical terms and 78% in ruble terms. Additionally, the analyzed period saw the market launch of new import-substituting products of Russian origin, including the brand DlyaZhens from Pharmasyntez, which entered retail in 2025. Another notable domestic new product from last year is the drug Dezeriya, introduced to the pharmacy segment by Binnopharm.

Fig. Volume and Dynamics of Systemic Hormonal Contraceptive Sales (EphMRA Group G03A) on the Russian Retail Pharmaceutical Market, in 2022–2025 and January–May 2026