Progesterone, a type of female sex hormone which belong to a steroid hormone class known as progestogen, has a major role in the development of oral contraception. Progesterone is produced in ovaries, adrenal gland and in placenta when women get pregnant. In the menstrual cycle, ovary unceasingly alternates between two phases: the follicular phase, which is characterized by the presence of maturing follicles and the luteal phase, which is governed by the presence of corpus luteum. Ovulation occurs in between these phases. Corpus luteum, which is formed through luteinization of ruptured follicle after ovulation, secretes large amounts of progesterone and small amount of estrogen.
Progesterone acts at progesterone receptors (PR) which
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Levonorgestrel inhibits secretion of GnRH, LH and FSH through negative feedback to hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Levonorgestrel inhibits secretion of LH and FSH from anterior pituitary and these indirectly causes a delay in follicle development. Decreased level of LH also lead to delay or inhibition of LH surge, which then inhibits ovulation. According to Danielsson (2010), when LNG was administrated at two to three days before LH surge, the LH peak was inhibited or delayed. However, when LNG was provided one day before or on the day of LH surge, it failed to inhibit ovulation.
Levonorgestrel has a high level of efficacy to prevent pregnancy as an emergency contraceptive (EC). It is also relatively safe to use and well-tolerated. It is relatively cheaper than other oral contraceptive. In addition, for women over 16 years old, certain brand of Levonorgestrel can also be obtained without a prescription from pharmacies. However, Levonorgestrel only effective if taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. It is also only effective before LH level start to rise in follicular phase. Headache, abdominal pain, and etc. are very common in women who taken Levonorgestrel.
Ulipristal or Ulipristal acetate (UPA), the first selective progesterone receptor modulator (SPRM), possess both antagonistic and partial agonist properties. It is commonly used as an oral emergency contraceptive.
Ulipristal affects follicle maturation and
Estrogen and progesterone are involved because it aids in the stopping of a woman period. It allows the fluid in the virgina to become thick and the uterus lining so the fertilized egg cannot attach.
These changes are typically brought on by hormonal fluxes that control the different phases of the cycle in order to ovulate a mature oocyte. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days in length and progresses through four distinct phases, each with its own regulatory hormone. The phases and their associated days are as follows: menstruation, or the early follicular phase (days 1–4), late follicular phase (days 5–11), periovulation (days 12–15) and the luteal phase (days 16–28). 1 The major hormonal secretion sites are the hypothalamus, which secretes gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), the pituitary, which secretes follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), and the ovaries, which secrete estrogens and progesterone. Of the three types of estrogen involved in the menstrual cycle, estradiol, estrone and estriol, estradiol is considered the most potent and is known as E1.2 In lieu of discussing the many hormonal fluctuations of a typical menstrual cycle, a diagram has been included to display the oscillations of the hormones described
Although, estrogen is produced by other organs in the body, estrogen output is significantly decreased in premenopausal women, and progesterone becomes nearly absent.
First, a mother is less likely to seek prenatal care during an unintended pregnancy. Pre-pregnancy health problems may go untreated, the mother may experience pregnancy related health problems such ectopic pregnancy and other maternal health problems (Reducing unintended, 2005).Second, the mother and family may experience psychological problems such as depression and anxiety. An unintended pregnancy can also prove to be harmful for the infant as well. In the first year, an infant is at high risk for low birth weight, abuse and death (Reducing unintended, 2005). As mentioned, many unintended pregnancies are terminated through abortion without regard to life. It is important for women of childbearing age to be aware of alternatives that will prevent unintended pregnancy. Emergency Contraception (EC) also known as the morning after pill is an alternative method used when birth control methods have failed to prevent unintended pregnancy.There are many people who support the morning after pill and many who are against the emergency contraceptive. According to the blog “A Night for Emergency Contraception”, the morning after pill is a good way to stay safe and have fun. Emergency contraception is now easier to take, one no longer has to take one pill then wait twelve hours to take another. It is now available over the counter in a one step formula. People of religious faith on the other hand are not in favor of this type of contraceptive. It seems they
The model for male birth control has been based on previous female birth control models.“A study in Indonesia that employed both Depo-Provera, a progestin used as a contraceptive in women, and one form of testosterone resulted in a zero sperm count”(Alexander).The common long-term female birth control, Depo-Provera, it's now being used in trials as a form of male contraceptive. Depo-Provera is a combination of synthetic female hormones to create medroxyprogesterone acetate, or simulate progestin. This tried-and-true method along with an injection of testosterone leads to males resulting in zero sperm count. After 2 month of injections, progestin stops the production of sperm (Hutson). The Progesterone is a female synthetic steroid that is used to thicken the mucus in the uterus not allowing the sperm to travel to the egg. In men the effect, combined with testosterone, stops the productions of sperm. Side effects to this method are mood swings, depression, and mild pain at injection site. The hormones in the injections, override the current hormones that are producing sperm, and overload the system decreases then eventually stop the production of sperm. The effective rate is 98 percent, comparable to the Female version of contraceptives (Hudston).The rate of female birth control effectiveness is 99%. It is easier in the human physiology to keep one
Since the ECP is not an abortion pill, then how does it work? There are ten brands of emergency contraception pills, Ovral, Lo/Ovral, Levien, Nordette, Levora, Alesse, Tri-Levien, Triphasil, Trivora, and Ovrette. These brands contain different combinations of Norgestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol, and Levonorgestrel (Stewart 7). The emergency contraception pill is much like birth control pills that many women take on an everyday basis, but just contain a higher dosage of hormones then regular birth control pills (McKeown 1). The pills should be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse to ensure effectiveness. Treatment is divided into two doses. The
Drospirenone is considered a fourth generation oral contraceptive (Karakose, Cakal, Ertan, & Delibasi, 2013). Unlike previous generations, it contains an anti-mineralocorticoid effect (Karakose et al., 2013). Drospirenone has a chemical structure that is similar to spironolactone, a potassium sparing diuretic (Karakose et al., 2013). Drospirenone contains a strong anti-gonadotropic activity mechanism (Bhattacharya, Ghosh, & Noundi, 2011). Drospirenone decreases luteinizing hormone, and can potentially be a mechanism in reducing hyperandrogenic manifestations (Bhattacharya et al., 2011). A combined oral contraceptive (COC) that contains drospirenone decreases ovarian androgen production by hindering the secretion of luteinizing hormone (Karakose et al., 2013). The increase of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in the liver decreases serum free testosterone levels (Karakose et al., 2013). Androgen receptors are blocked and as a result, menstruation becomes regulated (Karakose et al., 2013).
These parts have a significant role to play in the female reproductive system. The vagina is an opening that is connected to the uterus and provides a pathway up to the female reproductive system. The uterus is present to surround a developing foetus and supports this foetus for the duration of pregnancy. The ovaries of a woman are extremely important as they produce the female reproductive cells known as ova. The ovaries produce two hormones known as oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen forms the lining of
Of particular interest are those chemicals, which mimic the female hormone of estrogen, which is
There are some oral contraceptives that contain the hormones progestogen and estrogen. The combined contraceptives are used to prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg. The oral contraceptive has to be taken once daily. There are also some emergency contraception’s that is taken only once, and is known as the morning after pill. The emergency contraception pill contains a high dose of artificial progestogen which is normally used to prevent ovulation or stop ovulation if it has already started. The morning after pill is used right after someone has had unprotected sex within 48 hours to avoid getting pregnant.
Unintended pregnancies occur in the United States because of lack of accessible prevention methods. To end unwanted pregnancies and abortions, a change needs to occur. Currently, an oral birth control is in deliberation by healthcare professionals to potentially switch availability for women to buy over-the-counter (OTC). Because no prescription would be necessary, this would make obtaining oral contraceptives easier. The drug would be progestin-only, a female hormone otherwise called progesterone, which is not available in the United States in an oral drug formulation. This birth control is objectively safer than common oral birth control pills that are typically estrogen-progestin combinations. Plan B, (levonorgestrel), an oral emergency contraceptive, was recently legalized to purchase OTC without any
It does not kill the baby, as the baby is never formed. Emergency contraception can be used in instances of a broken condom, sexual assault, or really anytime after unprotected sex. This is part of the issues surrounding its use. Many physicians do not think that it should be used in any situation, except that of true emergency. This is part of the reason that emergency contraception is not an over the counter drug. It is approved by the FDA, but all but three states in the US require a woman to see a physician before they can get a prescription for it. About one half of unwanted pregnancies are due to the failure of a contraceptive. Similarly, about one half of unwanted pregnancies end in abortion. (3).
The idea of Emergency Contraception is not a new to society, however it is still igniting many debates just as it did when it was first introduced to the United States. Emergency contraception continues to be a highly emotional and controversial issue, both for advocates who believe EC will lower the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions, and for opponents who believe that using EC amounts to an abortion. The controversy fueling this debate centers around one of the ways that emergency contraception works. Emergency contraception can prevent or delay ovulation, affect the movement of the egg or sperm: making them less likely to meet, it can also interfere with the fertilization process and prevent implantation of a fertilized egg.
These sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, rise dramatically especially in the first trimester in preparing for the fetus. Estrogen helps with the growing of the uterus, preserves the uterine lining, increases blood circulation, and
future career, that is to be an obstetrician, also known as an OB/GYN. Some of the topics that will be discussed in my paper are those pertaining to exactly what an obstetrician is and the requirements that are needed in order to become an obstetrition. These requirements will include the pyhsical and phsyschological personality traits of a potential obstetrician. The type of schooling that is nessecary, including the preperation that is available at Middlesex County College, and the average number of years that it takes in order to become an obstetrician. The demand for obstetricians will also be researched, along with the different promotional ranks that