What are hormonal contraceptives?

 As the name implies, hormonal contraceptives are a method of birth control that uses hormones to prevent pregnancy. They either contain progesterone or both estrogen and progesterone. They do this by halting the release of eggs from the ovaries, thinning the uterine lining, or thickening cervical mucus, all of which help inhibit sperm from reaching the egg. Hormonal contraceptives can be taken orally, injected, implanted in the vagina or uterus, given topically as a patch, or taken orally.

What was the first hormonal contraceptive?

The first hormonal pill, Enovid, was given FDA approval in May 1960. It contains both mestranol and norethisterone.

What are the common form of hormonal contraception?

• Implant: The implant includes progestin, which is delivered into your arm via the small rod. It lasts up to three years and is inserted by your doctor under the skin on the inside of your upper arm.
• Intrauterine devices(IUD): You can get IUDs with or without hormones. Those who are releasing hormones might contain progesterone. IUDs are implanted into the uterus by a doctor and must be replaced every three to ten years, depending on the type.
• Birth control pills or oral contraceptives: The estrogen and progesterone levels in each brand differentiate one brand from another. Because of this, some women will switch brands if they think their symptoms indicate they are getting too little or too many hormones. These pills should be taken every day to prevent pregnancy.
• Vaginal patch: The patch is placed on the skin and includes progesterone and estrogen. For best results, it must be replaced once each week.
• Vaginal ring: The ring is worn into the vagina to release progestin and estrogen into the body so that the vaginal lining may absorb them. Every month, you’ll need to swap it out for a fresh vaginal ring.
• Depo-Provera (birth control shot): It is administered at your doctor’s office every 12 weeks and only includes progestin.

Hormonal contraceptives classification :

1. Classification based on hormonal components:

Contraceptives containing progestin:

• Implant
• Hormonal IUDs
• Birth control shot
• Progestin-only pills

Contraceptives containing both estrogen and progestin:

• Combined oral contraceptives
• Contraceptive patch
• Vaginal Ring

2. Classification based on the route of administration:

Oral contraceptives:

• Birth control pills

Vaginal route:

• Vaginal ring
• Intrauterine devices (IUD)

Under the skin:

• Implant
• Contraceptive patch

Intramuscular (IM) route:

• Birth control shot

3. Classification based on the duration of action:

Long-acting contraceptives:

• IUD
• Implants

Short-acting contraceptives:

• Birth control pills
• Vaginal ring
• Contraceptive patch
• Birth control shot

Hormonal contraceptive pills :

Birth control pills, often known as hormonal contraceptives, are oral contraceptives that also include minute amounts of the hormones your body requires during the menstrual cycle. You must take one pill daily; they are supplied in packs that typically contain a 28-day cycle. Depending on the pill, you take a birth control pill every day at roughly the same time. It maintains some hormone levels up and lowers your chance of getting pregnant.

Oral contraceptives, such as birth control pills, include hormones that stop ovulation, or the release of an egg from the ovary, preventing pregnancy. Additionally, certain birth control pills temporarily alter the uterine lining, reducing the likelihood of implantation of the fertilised egg.

The oral contraceptive pills are divided into two types :

• Combination pills (contain hormones estrogen and progestin)
• Progestin-only pills (known as the mini pill)

Some women prefer mini-pills, which include only progestin. For instance, women who are breastfeeding or have a history of blood clots or strokes need to stay clear of estrogen.

The pill is available in several dosage forms, including 21-day, 90-day, and even 365-day active pill packs. You typically take hormone-free (inactive) pills for two to seven days after taking active pills for at least three weeks, depending on the brand and dosage. Most women who use inactive pills get their period. Several manufacturers only include three weeks of active pills in their oral contraceptive packs; they do not include the inactive pill.

What are 21-day hormone pills?

If a woman uses the 21-day pack, she can miss one week of taking the pills. Most women get their periods throughout the inactive pill period.

What are the advantages of birth control pills?

The benefits of the birth control pill include:

• Regulate and normalise the menstrual cycle
• Prevents anaemia
• Lessen dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps)
• Management of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Treat PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)
• Treat uterine fibroids or endometriosis
• Reduce your risk of developing colon, ovarian, or uterine cancer
• Reduce acne
• Reduce migraines and stop the growth of unwanted hair
• Control hot flashes during the menopausal transition.

What are the side effects of hormonal contraceptives?

When starting the pill, some women have medicinal side effects. Usually, these side effects go away within a few months.

• Swollen and tender breasts
• Headaches
• Irritability or moodiness
• Nausea
• Spotting between periods (abnormal menstruation)

Is Ipill hormonal contraceptive?

Yes, the Ipill is a type of emergency contraception. If your method of birth control fails unexpectedly (a condom split or you missed a pill), you can use these pills to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. This pill (also known as Unwanted 72) contains the hormone levonorgestrel, which is used to delay ovulation.

Contraceptives for hormonal imbalance:

Hormonal birth control methods may assist in balancing the hormonal imbalance that occurs during your menstrual cycle. As a result, it can aid in treating menstrual problems such as excessive or irregular blood flow. Additionally, it can aid in controlling PCOS symptoms, including excess hair and acne. While every method of birth control functions differently, most of them can lighten and regulate periods. It can also aid in the treatment of some cancers and endometriosis.

Non-hormonal contraceptive method :

It describes any method that does not interfere with hormones in your body. There are numerous types of contraception besides condoms. Hormonal contraceptives work by changing the hormone levels to stop pregnancy, such as pills and hormonal implants. They can be dependable and efficient. For other individuals, however, they might not be the best option because of things like:

• Do not forget to take the medication at the same time each day.
• For prescriptions or to insert the device, you must visit a doctor.
• If you had unprotected sex, they cannot prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• They could also lead to mood swings, weight gain, or an increased risk of blood clots or breast cancer.
• You might not require continued birth control if you don’t have sex often enough.
• Breastfeeding exposes the baby to hormones.

There are various non-hormonal birth control options, including spermicides, vaginal gel, copper IUDs, cervical caps, barrier methods (male and female condoms), and contraceptive diaphragms.

You can further lower your risk of becoming pregnant by combining barrier and hormonal contraception methods. For instance, combining condoms with another form of birth control, such as the pill, patch, ring, shot, implant, IUD, or pulling out, can significantly increase the safety of vaginal sex. Combining them is a highly efficient strategy to lower the chance of getting pregnant and contracting or spreading an STI.

Contraindications of hormonal contraceptives :

Consult your doctor before beginning any new medication or herbal supplements. Certain medications can make the pill less effective and raise your risk of getting pregnant. These things include:

• Anti-seizure medicines
• Some herbal supplements
• HIV medicines

What are the risks of hormonal contraceptives?

Birth control pills are generally safe for most women. The medication has been available for 60 years! As a result, women typically feel very comfortable and satisfied when using them. Also, remember that if you are over 35, smoke, or have some medical issues, the combination pill is not right for you. A small percentage of women who use the combined (estrogen-containing) birth control pill are more likely to experience the following rare complications:

• Blood clots
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
• Heart attack.
• Hypertension (high blood pressure).
• Stroke.

Your doctor will talk to you about your level of risk based on your medical history. Fortunately, a woman can still use progestin-only pills safely if she cannot take an estrogen-containing pill.

If you are worried about the right birth control option for yourself, consult a gynaecologist on the Pinky Promise app @ ₹59/- only! You can also check out our gynaecologist-verified chatbot to understand more about your reproductive health symptoms and connect with thousands of women on our anonymous community support chat rooms. So what are you waiting for? Download the Pinky Promise App now!