Hormonal contraception - meaning and definition
Alsohormonal birth controlhormonal contraceptiveshormonal methods
Not yet reviewed by a clinician. This health entry was written from the public-health sources listed below and is general information only. It is not medical advice.
Definition
Hormonal contraception uses synthetic versions of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, or progesterone alone, to prevent pregnancy.
At a glance
- Hormonal methods use an estrogen plus a progestogen, or a progestogen alone.
- They include the pill, patch, ring, injection, implant and hormonal IUD.
- They may stop ovulation, thicken cervical mucus and thin the lining of the uterus.
- Side effects can include changes to bleeding, mood, skin or headaches.
- Some methods are not suitable for people with certain conditions, such as a history of blood clots.
In detail
Hormonal methods include the combined pill, the progestogen-only pill, the patch, the vaginal ring, the injection, the implant and the hormonal IUD. Depending on the method, the hormones can stop ovulation, thicken cervical mucus so sperm cannot pass easily, and thin the lining of the uterus.
Because they act on the whole body, hormonal methods can affect bleeding patterns, mood, skin or headaches, and some are not suitable for people with certain health conditions, such as a history of blood clots. Others find they ease heavy or painful periods.
A clinician uses guidance such as the WHO medical eligibility criteria to check which hormonal methods are safe for a particular person.
In a sentence
- She switched from hormonal contraception to a copper IUD because she wanted a method without hormones.
- The nurse explained which kinds of hormonal contraception were options given my migraines.
Not to be confused with
- Gender-affirming hormone therapy
Gender-affirming hormone therapy uses hormones to change physical characteristics and is not a form of contraception.
Common questions
Can hormonal contraception affect mood?
Some people notice changes in mood, while many notice none. Experiences differ between methods and between people, so anyone who feels a method is affecting their wellbeing can talk to a clinician about alternatives.
Is hormonal contraception safe for everyone?
No single method suits everyone. Clinicians use guidance such as the WHO medical eligibility criteria to check which hormonal methods are safe for a particular person, taking into account things like blood clot history, migraines and smoking.