Question

Discuss the mode of action and advantages/disadvantages of hormonal contraceptives.

Answer 1

The devices used to prevent conception are known as contraceptives. Hormonal contraceptives include pills, some intrauterine devices, implants, etc which mostly include hormone progesterone and estrogen to suppress endometrial changes and prevent pregnancy.

Complete answer:
Contraception is defined as the temporary or permanent prevention of pregnancy and conception by the use of contraceptives. Contraceptives are of different types which have no side effects, easy to use, and reversible. Hormonal contraceptives include hormone-releasing IUDs like progesterone IUDs and LNG-20 which after insertion release a small amount of hormone which resists endometrial changes leading to anovulation and insufficient luteal activity. Hormonal pills maintain the level of hormone for contraception which inhibits ovulation, makes endometrium unsuitable for implantation, resists the passage of sperm, and inhibits the secretion of fallopian tubes. Pills containing estrogen and progesterone inhibits FSH and LH production. Implants are hormone-containing devices that are inserted under the skin containing 3- keto desogestrel.
Advantages of hormonal contraceptives include prevention from pregnancy, reduction of pain during ovulation, reduction of the chances of pelvic inflammatory disease, reduction of bleeding during periods, protection from cancer, etc. Hormonal shots protect from pregnancy for three months whereas implant protects for three years. There are very few chances of any type of side effects in case hormonal contraceptives show their disadvantages and it includes headache, nausea, sore throat, vaginal infection, mood swing, irregular periods, etc. In the case of the high level of hormones, blood clot starts to form. It also does not protect from sexually transmitted diseases.

Note: Patches are also an example of a hormonal contraceptive that is not much effective to prevent pregnancy. In the case of heat and sunlight high doses of hormones get released out which leads to low amounts of hormones in patches. The use of patches increases the risk of blood clots in the legs and lungs due to hormonal imbalance.