Hormone contraceptives have three potential modes of action:
- They cause the cervical mucus to be thick and therefore impenetrable to sperm.
- The lining of the uterus (endometrium) remains thin and not capable of allowing succ the combined oral contraceptive pill, follicular development and ovulation (egg ressful implantation of an embryo.
- With the combined oral contraceptive pill, follicular development and ovulation (egg release) are suppressed.
The normal menstrual cycle involves a cycle of hormone stimulation and suppression (menstrual cycles). The pituitary gonadotrophic hormones (FSH and LH) stimulate follicular development and ovulation and the oestrogen from the follicles prevents pituitary hormone levels from rising (negative feedback). The oestrogen in the combined oral contraceptive pill suppresses FSH and LH so that follicular development and oocyte release are infrequent at most.
Progesterone and progestogens result in the cervical mucus being thick. In the normal menstrual cycle, progesterone levels rise only after ovulation. Progestogen is present in each of the hormone contraceptives and this keeps the mucus thick even at the time of ovulation. The endometrium in a normal cycle becomes thickened before ovulation (proliferative phase) in preparation for a possible embryo to become implanted. Progestogen, when present throughout the cycle, prevents adequate proliferation for implantation.
Please click on the required question.
- 1 What types of hormone contraceptives are available?
- 2 How effective are hormonal contraceptives?
- 3 How do hormone contraceptives work?
Progestogen-only pills
- 4 What is a progestogen-only pill?
- 5 How do progestogen-only pills provide contraception?
- 6 How does the progestogen-only pill compare to the combined oral contraceptive pill?
- Q14. 7 When are POPs recommended in preference to COPs?
- 8 How effective are progestogen-only pills?
- 9 When should POPs be started and how quickly are they are effective?
- 10 When should progestogen-only pills be taken?
- 11 What should be done if a POP is missed?
- 12 What will happen to my periods whilst I am taking progestogen-only pills?
- 13 What should be done if my periods stop when I am taking the progestogen-only pill?
- 14 What should be done if vomiting occurs?
- 15 Should additional precautions be used during a course of antibiotics?
- 16 Can POPs cause ovarian cysts?
- 17 Should the POP be discontinued before I have an operation?
Long-acting hormonal contraception.
- 18 What are long-acting hormonal contraceptives?
- 19 Depo-Provera What is Depo-Provera?
- 20 What are the advantages of Depo-Provera?
- 21 I have recently had a Depo-Provera injection and now I need to have an operation. Will the operation be delayed?
- 22 What are the disadvantages of Depo-Provera?
- 23 Will my fertility return three months after my last Depo-Provera injection?
- 24 Do long-acting hormonal contraceptives increase the risk of cancer?
- 25 What are contraceptive implants?
Levonorgestrel Intrauterine System - LNG-IUS - Mirena
- 26 Mirena: What is the Levonorgestrel Intrauterine System (LNG-IUS)
- 27 How does the Mirena work?
- 28 How effective is the Mirena as a method of family planning?
- 29 How would a Mirena effect my long-term fertility?
- 30 How long has the Mirena been in use?
- 31 How is the Mirena introduced into the womb?
- 32 How quickly will a Mirena work?
- 33 What problems can occur with the Mirena?
- 34 How frequently should my Mirena be changed?
- 35 What will happen to my periods after a Mirena is introduced?
- 36 What value is Mirena in the management of period problems?
- 37 What value is Mirena for premenstrual syndrome?
- 38 What value is Mirena in Hormone Replacement Therapy?
- 39 Family Planning Support Groups.
- 40 Support Groups.
Thank you for choosing to visit us.
This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.
I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.
