Contraception (Birth Control)

Home » Contraception (Birth Control) » Hormonal Birth Control

Hormonal Birth Control

Hormonal contraceptives are made up of female sex hormones: estrogen and progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone). The most popular hormonal contraceptive is the combination pill, or oral contraceptive (OC). Other hormonal contraceptions include injected progestins, subdermal implants that release progestins, transdermal patch, vaginal ring, and emergency contraception.

The Pill
Four out of 5 women in the United States use oral contraceptives (commonly called "the pill") during their lifetime. The pill is the most popular form of reversible contraception (can be discontinued to restore fertility).

Recent studies have alleviated safety concerns about the pill. It is a safe form of birth control and provides several additional health benefits:

• reduces the risk for ovarian and endometrial cancer
• reduces bone loss associated with ageing
• regulates the menstrual cycle
• relieves dysmenorrhea (pain associated with menstruation)
• relieves perimenopausal (prior to the onset of menopause) symptoms
• manages acne

There are several different oral contraceptives, allowing women more choices to select a product that best suits their needs.

If used correctly, women between the ages of 25 and 34 who take combination oral contraceptives with 0.05 mg of estrogen have a pregnancy rate of 0.25% in the first 1 or 2 years of use. That is, only 2.5 women out of 1000 become pregnant during the first year. The pregnancy rate is slightly higher when the level of estrogen is less than 0.05 mg per pill.

Side effects include the following:

• increases risk for thromboembolism (blocked blood vessel) and stroke in women who smoke
• weight gain
• irregular menstrual bleeding
• increases blood pressure
• adverse effects on cholesterol and lipid levels

YAZ® is a combination birth control pill approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that effectively prevents pregnancy; treats emotional and physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS); and also can cause shorter, lighter, and more regular menstrual periods.

Injectable hormones
The most common injectable hormonal contraceptive is Depo-Provera®, a synthetic hormonal substance also known as DMPA (depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate) that is injected into the muscle in the upper arm or buttocks every 3 months. Another, shorter-acting injectable hormone, norethdrone enanthate, is injected at a higher dose every 2 months. Injectable hormones prevent pregnancy by suppressing ovulation; by making it more difficult for the sperm to swim through the cervical mucus; and by destroying the endometrial lining of the uterus, keeping fertilized eggs from implanting.

DMPA is a safe and highly effective contraceptive. The success rate for women using DMPA is 99.7%. It reduces menstrual cramps, iron-deficiency anemia, and the risk for endometrial cancer. A disadvantage of DMPA is that it requires visits to the doctor or other health care professional every 3 months.

Side effects include:

• Abdominal discomfort
• Dizziness
• Hair loss
• Headaches
• Irregular bleeding
• Loss of bone density
• Mood changes
• Nervousness
• Weakness or fatigue
• Weight gain

Fifteen percent of women between 15 and 17 years of age use DMPA for birth control.

Subdermal implants
Subdermal implants, also known as contraceptive implants, are matchstick-sized, hollow, rubber rods filled with synthetic progestin that are placed under the skin on the inside of the upper or lower arm. Subdermal implants were FDA-approved for use in the United States in 1991. Norplant® is the most commonly used brand.

The tubes provide a slow, constant release of progestin into the bloodstream, maintaining hormone levels. Possible side effects include irregular bleeding, changes in the menstrual cycle, weight gain, and breast tenderness.

Subdermal implants are the most effective method of birth control and one of the most cost-effective, but only 1.3% of women in the United States use this form. The implants are effective for up to 5 years and can be removed by a physician at any time. Inserting and removing them requires local anesthesia and a small incision. New capsules are being developed to make insertion and removal easier.

Transdermal Administration (Birth Control Patch)
The birth control patch is a form of hormonal contraception that delivers a steady level of the hormones norelgestromin/ethinyl estradiol (progestin and estrogen) into the bloodstream through the skin. Ortho Evra has been shown in clinical trials to be 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. The hormones in the patch prevent pregnancy by suppressing ovulation and by thickening the cervical mucus, making it difficult for sperm to enter the uterus. Each square patch is less than 2 inches in size and is thin enough to be unobtrusive under clothing.

The patch is worn directly on the skin and can be applied on the upper torso (back or front, but not on the breasts), abdomen, upper arm, or buttocks. It is changed once a week, on the same day of the week, and is worn for 3 weeks per month. A new patch must be applied immediately after removing the old one. It is worn continuously, including while exercising, showering, bathing, and swimming. If the patch loosens or becomes detached, backup contraception (e.g., diaphragm, condom) may be necessary and a health care professional should be consulted.

Side effects include the following:

• Abdominal pain
• Application site reaction
• Breast tenderness
• Menstrual cramps
• Nausea
• Upper respiratory infection

Rare, serious side effects include blood clots, stroke, or heart attack. Cigarette smoking increases the risk for developing serious side effects, especially in women over age 35.

The birth control patch was approved in November 2001 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is available by prescription. In January 2008, the FDA approved a label warning indicating that women who use the birth control patch are at higher risk for developing blood clots than women who use birth control pills.

Etonogestrel Ethinyl Estradiol Vaginal Ring
The vaginal ring (NuvaRing®) is a once-a-month form of hormonal contraception that delivers steady levels of the pregnancy-preventing hormones etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol into the body. The ring is made of a flexible, transparent polymer and is approximately 2 inches in diameter and about one-eighth inch thick. The ring is self-inserted and does not require a visit to the doctor's office. In clinical trials, 1 or 2 out of every 100 women who use the vaginal ring as directed become pregnant.

The ring is inserted into the vagina, remains in place for 3 weeks, and is removed for the fourth week. Menstruation should begin a few days into week 4. A new ring is inserted 1 week after removing the old one, at about the same time of day. The ring must stay in place continuously to be effective. If it slips out, the same ring may be reinserted if fewer than 3 hours have elapsed. If more than 3 hours have elapsed without the ring in place, the ring can be reinserted, but backup contraception (e.g., condom) is necessary. When in place, the ring may interfere with diaphragm placement, so a diaphragm should not be used as backup contraception.

Common side effects include the following:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vaginal discharge
• Vaginal infection
• Weight gain

NuvaRing® was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in October 2001 and is available by prescription.

Emergency contraception
Emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) have been marketed in the United States within the past several years. ECPs must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse to be effective. ECPs do not disrupt pregnancy and are not considered abortifacients (something that induces or causes an abortion).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two ECPs:

• Preven kits were approved in 1997. They include 4 pills taken in pairs, 12 hours apart. They contain 0.1 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.5 mg levonorgestrel. Preven kits are 75% effective.

• An ECP containing only levonorgestrel was approved in 1999, and it is 85% effective at reducing pregnancy. Women take 2 pills, 12 hours apart.

In 2006, the FDA approved Plan B, a high-dose oral contraceptive that may reduce the risk for pregnancy by as much as 89%, if it is taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. This drug is available over the counter for women aged 18 and older, and by prescription for women under the age of 18.

Contraception (Birth Control) Resources

	Join Our Contraception Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted. June 1st is National Cancer Survivors Day Share your survival story and help others in the fight against cancer. Read cancer survivor stories already submitted.
	Stay Updated Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.
Are you interested in becoming a nurse? Take this test. Advertising Disclaimer To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer