Hormonal contraception

Hormonal contraception refers to birth control methods that act on the endocrine system. Almost all methods are composed of steroid hormones, although in India one selective estrogen receptor modulator is marketed as a contraceptive. The original hormonal method—the combined oral contraceptive pill—was first marketed as a contraceptive in 1960.

Types of Hormonal Contraception

Hormonal contraception comes in a variety of forms, including oral, patch, implant, injection, vaginal ring, and intrauterine system.

Oral Contraceptives

Oral contraceptives, also known as birth control pills, are medications taken by mouth for the purpose of birth control.

Contraceptive Patch

The Contraceptive patch is a transdermal patch applied to the skin that releases synthetic estrogen and progestin hormones to prevent pregnancy.

Contraceptive Implant

A Contraceptive implant is an implantable medical device for long-term, reversible birth control.

Contraceptive Injection

Contraceptive injections are shots of synthetic hormones that prevent pregnancy for a certain period of time.

Vaginal Ring

The Vaginal ring is a flexible, plastic ring that's inserted into the upper vagina. It releases synthetic hormones to prevent pregnancy.

Intrauterine System

The Intrauterine system is a form of long-term, reversible birth control that involves the insertion of a small device into the uterus to prevent pregnancy.

Effectiveness

Hormonal contraceptives are highly effective when used correctly. Effectiveness is generally expressed as the percentage of women who become pregnant using a given method during the first year, and sometimes as a lifetime failure rate, among typical couples who initiate use of a method (not necessarily for the first time).

Side Effects

Like all medications, hormonal contraceptives can have side effects. Some common side effects include irregular menstrual periods, nausea, headache, and weight gain.

See Also

• Birth control
• Emergency contraception
• Barrier contraception
• Sterilization

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