Oral contraceptives are the most effective way of preventing pregnancy that can currently be offered to young women. This method is fully reversible and suitable for most women of childbearing age. Oral hormonal contraception involves the cyclical administration of combined hormone preparations. Used worldwide for more than 40 years, it has become one of the most popular methods of family planning. There are currently dozens of oral contraceptive preparations available.

There is now a worldwide trend to reduce the dose of hormones contained in these preparations. This is to eliminate side effects such as nausea, nipple pain, headaches and weight gain, because of which 27% of women discontinue hormonal contraception. Reducing the dose of contained hormones is also beneficial for the vascular status of the patient taking oral contraceptives. Studies have confirmed that lowering doses has no effect on efficacy, but is associated with less frequent side-effects, better tolerance and the retention of all the non-anti-conceptual beneficial effects of taking the pill.

Mechanisms of action of oral contraceptives

The contraceptive action of hormonal preparations is multidirectional. They affect the following processes related to fertilisation: movement of the ovum, they have an inhibitory effect on the regulatory systems of the female system, the essence of the action of oral contraceptives is the blocking of ovulation, the production of ovarian hormones is also reduced and the transformation of the endometrium leads to its reversible disappearance, additional contraceptive mechanisms are an increase in the density of cervical mucus, which impedes the penetration of sperm, an obstruction of the cilia with which the epithelium lining the walls of the fallopian tubes is equipped, and a decrease in the contractility of the fallopian tubes.