Implanon is a matchstick-size slender rod 1У2 inches long. It is inserted under the skin of the upper arm and releases contraceptive hormones. Implanon had been sold in more than 30 countries since 1998 before it was approved by the FDA in 2006 for use in the United States (Bridges, 2006). In developing countries, long […]

Depo-Provera is an injectable hormone-based contraceptive. It was approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992. Lunelle, another injected contra­ceptive, was approved in 2000. How Injected Contraceptives Work The active ingredient in Depo-Provera is progestin, which inhibits the secretion of gonadotropins and prevents follicular maturation and ovulation. These actions also cause […]

The ring is inserted into the vagina between day 1 and day 5 of a menstrual period. It is worn inside the vagina for 3 weeks, then removed for 1 week and replaced with a new ring. The ring can remain in place during intercourse, or it can be removed for up to 3 hours […]

NuvaRing and Ortho Evra are two hormone-based contraceptive methods that do not require taking a pill each day. Both synthetic estrogen and progestin are embedded in either a 2-inch-diameter soft and transparent vaginal ring (NuvaRing) or a beige matchbook-size transdermal patch (Ortho Evra), as shown in I Figure 10.1. How the Ring and Patch Work […]

Several ways exist to begin taking oral contraceptives; a woman who does so should carefully follow the instructions of her health-care practitioner. Unlike other oral contraceptives that are taken in 28-day cycles, Seasonale is taken daily for 3 months, followed by 7 days of inactive tablets before taking it for another 3 months. Some med­ications […]

The estrogen in the combination, triphasic, and extended-release pills prevents con­ception primarily by inhibiting ovulation. The progestin in these pills provides second­ary contraceptive protection by thickening and chemically altering the cervical mucus so that the passage of sperm into the uterus is hampered. Progestin also causes changes in the lining of the uterus, making it […]

The constant-dose combination pill has been available since the early 1960s and is the most commonly used oral contraceptive in the United States. It contains two hormones, synthetic estrogen and progestin (a progesterone-like substance). The dos­age of these hormones remains constant throughout the menstrual cycle. There are more than 32 different varieties of combination pills, […]

In this section, we look at the most popular hormone-based birth control methods: oral contraceptives, the vaginal ring, the transdermal patch, injected contraception, and contraceptive implant. chapter 10 Oral Contraceptives Oral contraceptives have evolved during 40 years of developing variations in the chemi­cal structure and dosage of hormones, resulting in a wide range of choices. […]

Effectiveness is not the only important factor in choosing a method of birth control. Many additional factors—including cost, ease of use, and potential side effects—influence indi­viduals’ and couples’ decisions about whether to use or to continue a particular birth control method (Westhoff et al., 2007). Table 10.1 summarizes some of the most important fac­tors: comparative […]

About half of all unintended pregnancies occur among women using contraceptives (Frost & Darroch, 2008). Unmarried women younger than 30 years old are most likely to have a contraceptive failure, and married women older than 30 are least likely to do so. In addition, low-income women experience greater failure rates than more-affluent women, possibly because […]