AQA GCSE Biology 1 Views 1 Answers
Avatar for Sourav
SouravNovember 13, 2024

What are the different hormonal and non-hormonal methods of contraception, and how do they work to control fertility?

What are the different hormonal and non-hormonal methods of contraception, and how do they work to control fertility?

Sourav
SouravNovember 13, 2024

Answer

Contraceptive methods can be categorized into hormonal and non-hormonal types, each functioning through different mechanisms to control fertility. Here’s a detailed overview of these methods:

Hormonal Methods

Hormonal contraceptives work primarily by altering the hormonal balance in the body to prevent ovulation, thicken cervical mucus, and thin the uterine lining. They include:

  1. Combined Oral Contraceptives (COCs):
    • Description: Pills containing both estrogen and progestin.
    • Mechanism: Suppress ovulation, thicken cervical mucus, and thin the endometrial lining to prevent implantation.
  2. Progestin-Only Pills (Mini-Pills):
    • Description: Pills containing only progestin.
    • Mechanism: Primarily thickens cervical mucus and may prevent ovulation.
  3. Hormonal Intrauterine Devices (IUDs):
    • Description: T-shaped devices inserted into the uterus that release progestin.
    • Mechanism: Thicken cervical mucus and thin the uterine lining; some may also inhibit ovulation.
  4. Implants:
    • Description: Small rods placed under the skin of the arm that release progestin.
    • Mechanism: Prevents ovulation and thickens cervical mucus.
  5. Injectables:
    • Description: Progestin injections (e.g., Depo-Provera) administered every three months.
    • Mechanism: Prevents ovulation and alters cervical mucus.
  6. Patch:
    • Description: A transdermal patch that releases estrogen and progestin.
    • Mechanism: Similar to COCs, it prevents ovulation and thickens cervical mucus.
  7. Vaginal Ring:
    • Description: A flexible ring placed in the vagina that releases hormones.
    • Mechanism: Delivers hormones similar to COCs to prevent ovulation.

Non-Hormonal Methods

Non-hormonal contraceptive methods do not involve hormones and typically work by creating a physical barrier or using natural methods to prevent pregnancy:

  1. Barrier Methods:
    • Condoms (male and female): Prevent sperm from entering the uterus; also protect against STIs.
    • Diaphragm/Cervical Cap: Inserted into the vagina to cover the cervix; used with spermicide to block sperm.
  2. Copper IUD:
    • Description: A non-hormonal device inserted into the uterus.
    • Mechanism: The copper acts as a spermicide, preventing sperm from fertilizing an egg.
  3. Natural Family Planning (NFP):
    • Involves tracking menstrual cycles to identify fertile days and abstaining from intercourse during those times. This method requires careful monitoring but has a higher failure rate compared to other methods.
  4. Withdrawal Method (Coitus Interruptus):
    • Involves withdrawing before ejaculation; however, it is less effective due to pre-ejaculatory fluid potentially containing sperm.
  5. Abstinence:
    • The only method that guarantees 100% effectiveness against pregnancy and STIs by avoiding all sexual activity.
  6. Spermicides:
    • Chemical substances that kill sperm, often used in conjunction with barrier methods for increased effectiveness

Start Asking Questions

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Adblocker detected! Please consider reading this notice.

We've detected that you are using AdBlock Plus or some other adblocking software which is preventing the page from fully loading.

We don't have any banner, Flash, animation, obnoxious sound, or popup ad. We do not implement these annoying types of ads!

We need money to operate the site, and almost all of it comes from our online advertising.

Please add biologynotesonline.com to your ad blocking whitelist or disable your adblocking software.

×