Hormone Replacement Used for Birth Control

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) maintains estrogen at a specific level, so that fluctuations either do not occur or occur at lower or higher levels, depending on the reason for the HRT. The birth control pill is technically a type of HRT.
Both estrogen and progestin must be present, in certain levels, for pregnancy to occur, and both hormones must be suppressed or maintained at slightly lower levels for pregnancy to be prevented. The birth control pill works by maintaining both estrogen and progestrin (the two hormones that are needed for pregnancy to occur) levels so that pregnancy will not occur.

Types

• Medication used in HRT for pregnancy prevention is usually dispensed and introduced into the body as a pill, a skin patch, or a shot. Additionally, some intrauterine devices, which are inserted directly into the uterus, also contain a small amount of hormones, allowing for introduction into the body.

Effects

• Any time that hormones other than those found naturally in the body are introduced, the effects are the same---hormone levels will be raised, lowered or maintained at a specific level. The effects are different depending on the reason for the changing in hormone levels. If pregnancy prevention is the goal, then the hormone(s) will work to accomplish that.

Benefits

• When used for birth control, HRT prevents an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy, and can also assist in regulating periods, reducing the severity of menstrual cramps, and can even reduce the symptoms of PMS and PMDD.

Considerations

• HRT for birth control can cause a woman to experience a delay in getting pregnant once the HRT is stopped. A woman should not expect to get pregnant immediately upon stopping HRT.

Warning

• HRT for birth control carries risks. Birth control pills can cause blood clots in women over 35, especially if they smoke; HRT can increase a woman's risk of contracting breast cancer, especially if she already has a strong family history.

  Bioidentical hormones, which are plant-derived and identical to those made in a woman's body, are still being studied, and it is still not clear what side effects these may have or whether they can be used as a means of birth control. Women who are considering using bioidentical hormone therapy in this manner should be aware that it might not work.