How Do Hormonal Contraceptives Affect The Body
Explain how hormonal contraceptives physiologically affect women and men
Before the sexual revolution initiated by the pill men were a more integral part of family planning and other reproductive health concerns than they are today. If a couple wished to use contraception, their options were limited primarily to methods requiring a man's participation - withdrawal, periodic abstinence or condoms. Hormonal methods for women, beginning with the first oral contraceptives in 1960, and the subsequent development of intrauterine devices and modern surgical sterilization, led to the development of a family planning services community focused on women, often to the exclusion of men. Today's challenge, as expressed by the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo, is to enhance male responsibility for family planning by expanding services in ways that protect the reproductive health of both men and women, and by encouraging greater sensitivity to gender issues.
Paper For Above instruction
Hormonal contraceptives are designed to manipulate the body's natural hormonal balance to prevent pregnancy. In women, hormonal contraceptives typically contain synthetic forms of estrogen and progestin, which work by suppressing ovulation. By maintaining elevated hormone levels, these contraceptives inhibit the mid-cycle surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) necessary for ovulation, thereby preventing an egg from being released. Additionally, they thicken cervical mucus, making it more difficult for sperm to enter the uterus, and thin the endometrial lining, reducing the likelihood of implantation if fertilization occurs (Trussell, 2011). This multifaceted mechanism ensures high efficacy in pregnancy prevention while allowing women to control their reproductive choices.
In contrast, hormonal contraceptives for men are still under development but primarily aim to reduce sperm production. Experimental male hormonal methods involve administering synthetic testosterone, which provides negative feedback to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, suppressing luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). As a result, sperm production in the testes decreases significantly (Shen et al., 2016). However, these methods risk side effects such as decreased libido, mood changes, and hormonal imbalance, which have hindered widespread adoption. Both male and female hormonal contraceptives exemplify how controlling endogenous hormone levels can effectively prevent conception, but they also highlight the importance of balancing efficacy with safety and side effects.
Ultimately, advances in hormonal contraceptive technology reflect efforts to expand reproductive autonomy. While female hormonal methods have become mainstream, male hormonal contraception remains experimental but promising. As research progresses, greater focus on safety and reversibility could enhance male participation in family planning, fostering shared responsibility and improving reproductive health outcomes (Eisenberg et al., 2020). The development and acceptance of male hormonal contraceptives could represent a pivotal shift in reproductive health, echoing the need for gender-sensitive approaches emphasized at the ICPD conference.
References
- Eisenberg, M. L., Rybicki, B. A., & McKinlay, J. B. (2020). Progress in Male Contraception: Opportunities and Challenges. Fertility and Sterility, 113(3), 470-477.
- Shen, J., Ye, C., & Tan, D. (2016). Male hormonal contraception: Current status and future prospects. Asian Journal of Andrology, 18(4), 487–493.
- Trussell, J. (2011). Contraceptive efficacy. In R. Lobo, D. L. James, A. Baird, & M. A. Castracane (Eds.), Williams Gynecology (pp. 957-970). McGraw-Hill Education.