Hormonal Methods of Birth Control

Medical Author: Barbara K. Hecht, Ph.D.
Revising Medical Author: Carolyn Janet Crandall, MD, FACP
Revising Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

• Introduction to birth control
• Hormonal methods of contraception
  • Oral hormones - The Pill
  • Injection - Depo-Provera, Lunelle
  • Patch - Ortho-Evra
  • Vaginal ring-Nuvaring
• Other birth control options

Introduction

If a woman is sexually active and she is fertile -- physically able to become pregnant -- she needs to ask herself, "Do I want to become pregnant now?" If her answer is "No," she must use some method of birth control (contraception).

There are a number of different ways to describe birth control. Terms include contraception, pregnancy prevention, fertility control, and family planning. But no matter what the process itself is called, sexually active people can choose from a plethora of methods to reduce the possibility of their becoming pregnant. Nevertheless, no method of birth control available today offers perfect protection against sexually transmitted infections (sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs), except abstinence.

In simple terms, all methods of birth control are based on either preventing a man's sperm from reaching and entering a woman's egg (fertilization) or preventing the fertilized egg from implanting in the woman's uterus (her womb) and starting to grow.

The direct responsibility for most of the methods of birth control that are currently available rests with the woman. However, responsibility for contraception should ideally involve the man as well as the woman. The chosen method (or methods) of birth control should thus optimally be a decision and an activity shared by both partners. The input of their health care professionals may sometimes be essential. New methods of birth control are being developed and tested all the time. And what is appropriate for a couple at one point may change with time and circumstances.

Unfortunately, no birth control method, except abstinence, is considered to be 100% effective.

Hormonal methods of contraception

There are several different hormonal methods of birth control. The differences among them involve:

• The type of hormone;
• The amount of hormone; and
• The way the hormone enters a woman's body.

The hormones can be estrogen and/or progesterone. These hormones may be oral (taken by mouth), implanted into body tissue, injected under the skin, absorbed from a patch on the skin, or placed in the vagina. The mode of delivery determines whether the hormonal exposure is continuous or intermittent.

The different hormonal types of birth control are comparable in that they are all highly effective and all are reversible. However, none of the hormonal methods of birth control protect a woman against sexually transmitted infections.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

Birth Control - There are a number of different methods of birth control to include: barrier methods, IUDs, hormonal methods, natural methods, and surgical sterilization. No birth control method, except abstinence, is considered to be 100% effective. Source:MedicineNet Trichomoniasis (Vaginal Infection) - Read about trichomoniasis, a STD caused by a parasite. Symptoms include yellow, green, or gray vaginal discharge, strong vaginal odor, painful sex or urination and abdominal pain. Treatment information is included in the information. Source:Government Oral Contraceptives, Birth Control Pills - Source:MedicineNet Read 6 more Hormonal Methods of Birth Control related articles ... So Much to Do, So Little Sleep Head Injuries All Too Common in Summer Play Health Tip: The Word on Wisdom Teeth Health Tip: Make Exercise a Daily Habit New Source of Heart Stem Cells Found Health Highlights: June 23, 2008 Poorer Patients Have Poorer Survival After Cancer Diagnosis One Gene May Be Key to Myeloma Crocodile Babies Cry Out for Hatching Immune Molecule Key to Preventing Organ Rejection