Hormonal contraceptives

Hormonal Contraceptives

Hormonal contraceptives (pronunciation: /hɔːrˈmoʊnəl kɒntrəˈsɛptɪvz/) are a type of birth control that use hormones to prevent pregnancy. The etymology of the term comes from the words 'hormone', a substance produced by living organisms, and 'contraceptive', which is derived from the Latin 'contra', meaning against, and 'ceptivus', meaning taken.

Types of Hormonal Contraceptives

There are several types of hormonal contraceptives, including:

• Combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP)
• Progestogen-only pill (POP)
• Contraceptive patch
• Vaginal ring
• Contraceptive injection
• Intrauterine system (IUS)
• Contraceptive implant

Mechanism of Action

Hormonal contraceptives work by releasing synthetic versions of the hormones estrogen and progestogen into the body. These hormones prevent ovulation, thicken cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching the egg, and thin the lining of the uterus to prevent a fertilized egg from implanting.

Side Effects

Like all medications, hormonal contraceptives can have side effects. These may include:

• Nausea
• Breast tenderness
• Weight gain
• Mood changes
• Irregular menstrual bleeding

Related Terms

• Birth control
• Contraception
• Family planning
• Reproductive health

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Hormonal contraceptives
• Wikipedia's article - Hormonal contraceptives

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