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Mechanism of action

These POICs work by providing an influx of progesterone into the female body. This influx will signal to the body that it does not need to synthesize its own hormones to induce the cycle. Since the body does not release any hormones of its own, there are no fluctuations in levels to trigger the phases in menstruation and ovulation does not occur. ⁹

Potential side effects

As will all birth control medications, certain side effects may occur from taking the hormonal supplements. Changes in menstrual bleeding may occur, such as a lighter flow or complete stop to the regular monthly menses, or abnormal bleeding throughout the cycle. Others have reported small weight gain, and increase in headaches or mood swings, and a decrease in libido.¹⁰

Links to cancer

Some research has shown that women who have taken hormonal birth controls could possible be less likely to develop certain cancers, such as endometrial, cervical, and ovarian.¹¹ This is likely due to the fact that the hormonal birth controls stop the monthly cycle of injury and repair to the endometrial tissue. This consistent injury to the uterine tissues is thought to be a factor in developing certain cancers, so if it is stopped for a period of time, the tissue will be less damaged than that of someone who has never taken birth control.

On the contrary, it was shown that women who has previously or were currently taking a hormonal birth control had an increased risk in developing breast cancer. This risk decreased as the individuals stopped the birth control, but no data was found linked to the duration of time one was taking a contraceptive. ¹²

Research

Progestogens that have been studied for potential use as POICs but were never marketed as such include the progesterone derivatives algestone acetophenide (dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide) (100 mg/month), chlormadinone acetate (250 mg/3 months), hydroxyprogesterone caproate (250–500 mg/month), gestonorone caproate (2.5–200 mg/1–2 months), and oxogestone phenpropionate (50–75 mg/month), and the testosterone derivatives lynestrenol phenylpropionate (25–75 mg/month), levonorgestrel butanoate, levonorgestrel cyclobutylcarboxylate, and levonorgestrel cyclopropylcarboxylate.¹³¹⁴ Some of these have been introduced for use in combined injectable contraceptives instead.¹⁵¹⁶¹⁷

See also

• Combined oral contraceptive pill
• Progestogen-only pill

References

1. P. F. A. van Look; Kristian Heggenhougen; Stella R. Quah (January 2011). Sexual and Reproductive Health: A Public Health Perspective. Academic Press. pp. 82–. ISBN 978-0-12-385009-6. 978-0-12-385009-6 ↩

2. Nagrath Arun; Malhotra Narendra; Seth Shikha (15 December 2012). Progress in Obstetrics and Gynecology--3. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers Pvt. Ltd. pp. 416–. ISBN 978-93-5090-575-3. 978-93-5090-575-3 ↩

3. P. F. A. van Look; Kristian Heggenhougen; Stella R. Quah (January 2011). Sexual and Reproductive Health: A Public Health Perspective. Academic Press. pp. 82–. ISBN 978-0-12-385009-6. 978-0-12-385009-6 ↩

4. Nagrath Arun; Malhotra Narendra; Seth Shikha (15 December 2012). Progress in Obstetrics and Gynecology--3. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers Pvt. Ltd. pp. 416–. ISBN 978-93-5090-575-3. 978-93-5090-575-3 ↩

5. Mary Lee; Archana Desai (2007). Gibaldi's Drug Delivery Systems in Pharmaceutical Care. ASHP. pp. 328–. ISBN 978-1-58528-136-7. 978-1-58528-136-7 ↩

6. Nagrath Arun; Malhotra Narendra; Seth Shikha (15 December 2012). Progress in Obstetrics and Gynecology--3. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers Pvt. Ltd. pp. 416–. ISBN 978-93-5090-575-3. 978-93-5090-575-3 ↩

7. Chaudhuri (1 January 2007). Practice Of Fertility Control: A Comprehensive Manual (7Th ed.). Elsevier India. pp. 154–. ISBN 978-81-312-1150-2. 978-81-312-1150-2 ↩

8. Nagrath Arun; Malhotra Narendra; Seth Shikha (15 December 2012). Progress in Obstetrics and Gynecology--3. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers Pvt. Ltd. pp. 416–. ISBN 978-93-5090-575-3. 978-93-5090-575-3 ↩

9. Hospital, The Royal Women's. "Depo Provera". The Royal Women's Hospital. Retrieved 2024-04-17. https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/contraception/depo-provera ↩

10. Hospital, The Royal Women's. "Depo Provera". The Royal Women's Hospital. Retrieved 2024-04-17. https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/contraception/depo-provera ↩

11. "Oral Contraceptives (Birth Control Pills) and Cancer Risk". www.cancer.gov. March 1, 2018. Retrieved 2024-04-17. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/oral-contraceptives-fact-sheet ↩

12. "Oral Contraceptives (Birth Control Pills) and Cancer Risk". www.cancer.gov. March 1, 2018. Retrieved 2024-04-17. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/oral-contraceptives-fact-sheet ↩

13. Mokhtar K. Toppozada (1983). "Monthly Injectable Contraceptives". In Alfredo Goldsmith; Mokhtar Toppozada (eds.). Long-Acting Contraception. pp. 93–103. OCLC 35018604. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=14664537528797672080 ↩

14. Dr. S. S. Kadam (July 2007). PRINCIPLES OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY Vol. - II. Pragati Books Pvt. Ltd. pp. 381–. ISBN 978-81-85790-03-9. 978-81-85790-03-9 ↩

15. Mokhtar K. Toppozada (1983). "Monthly Injectable Contraceptives". In Alfredo Goldsmith; Mokhtar Toppozada (eds.). Long-Acting Contraception. pp. 93–103. OCLC 35018604. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=14664537528797672080 ↩

16. Benagiano, G., & Merialdi, M. (2011). Carl Djerassi and the World Health Organisation special programme of research in human reproduction. Journal für Reproduktionsmedizin und Endokrinologie-Journal of Reproductive Medicine and Endocrinology, 8(1), 10-13. http://www.kup.at/kup/pdf/10163.pdf http://www.kup.at/kup/pdf/10163.pdf ↩

17. Toppozada M (June 1977). "The clinical use of monthly injectable contraceptive preparations". Obstet Gynecol Surv. 32 (6): 335–47. doi:10.1097/00006254-197706000-00001. PMID 865726. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩