Contraceptive medicines

Contraceptive medicines contain female hormones that are taken by women to prevent pregnancy from occurring. Hormonal contraception is available as tablets, patches, long-acting injections, implants and intra-uterine devices. Oestrogen-based hormones such as ethinylestradiol work to prevent ovulation whilst progestogens such as norethisterone affect the womb to make fertilisation and implantation of an egg less likely.