Hormones

Hormones have an important part to play during the menstrual cycle. Your body produces the hormones progesterone and oestrogen. That helps an egg to mature and gets the uterus ready for pregnancy. If no egg is fertilised, hormone levels drop. Then you have your period and the cycle starts again.

Do you use a hormonal contraceptive? Then it will contain progestogen, a synthetic version of progesterone.  It may also contain oestrogen, often a type called estradiol. Your body produces progesterone and oestrogen itself too, but these hormone levels rise and fall during the menstrual cycle. If you use hormonal contraception, the level of hormones in your body is always the same. So your body doesn’t get ready for conception. Just like during pregnancy itself!

Progestogen

If you use a contraceptive that contains progestogen, it will stop the ovaries releasing an egg. It will also thicken the mucus in the cervix, making it more difficult for sperm to reach the egg.  And it prevents a fertilised egg from implanting itself in the uterus.

Oestrogen

Oestrogen makes sure that mucus builds up in a woman’s uterus. If you use a contraceptive with oestrogen, then the mucus is released in the contraceptive-free week. It seems like you’re having your period, but is not actually menstrual bleeding. This contraceptive-free break means you know exactly when you’ll have a bleed every month. If a contraceptive contains oestrogen, it doesn’t make it more reliable but it does make the bleeding more predictable.
 

The hormones in a contraceptive mean you don’t have a real period. How come?
During a menstrual period, your body sheds the unfertilised egg and the mucus in the uterus. If you use a hormonal contraceptive, no egg is released and less mucus builds up in the uterus. So it doesn’t have to be broken down every month. Having no bleeding for a long time is not unhealthy. During pregnancy you don’t bleed either.

Which hormonal contraceptive is the best one for you? That depends on your health, medicine use and any history of family illness. Ask your doctor which contraceptives you can use. You can also discuss this with the doctor at a Sense clinic.

No. Hormones are natural substances that your body also produces itself. Sometimes taking hormones can slightly increase the risk of something like thrombosis or heart disease. Smoking, in particular, increases that risk. Your doctor can tell you which contraceptives you can use.

You may have some side effects if you use a hormonal contraceptive. These could be positive or negative.

Positive side effects 

• Less acne 
• Less period pain
• Less severe bleeding during your period
• Slightly less risk of some types of cancer

Negative side effects 

Do you have a hormonal coil (IUS), contraceptive implant or contraceptive injections. Or take the mini pill? These only contain the hormone progesterone and could give you:

• Irregular blood loss
• Headaches
• Acne 
• Hair loss
• Painful breasts
• Low moods
• Weight gain

Do you take the pill? Or use a contraceptive patch or contraceptive ring? These contain the hormones oestrogen and progestogen and could give you:

• Headaches
• Irregular blood loss
• Painful breasts
• Nausea
• Low moods
• Weight gain
• Reduced sex drive

Negative side effects often go away. That’s because your body just needs time to get used to the hormonal changes.

If you still have side effects after 3 months, go back to your doctor. Talk to them about changing to a different contraceptive that may suit you better. For example, a contraceptive containing less hormones, or one with a different combination of hormones.  

Do you want to use a contraceptive that doesn’t contain hormones? Non-hormonal methods of contraception include: the copper coil (IUD), male and female condoms, and the contraceptive diaphragm or cap.