Hormonal contraception works primarily by preventing ovulation, but it may also thicken the cervical mucus inhibiting sperm penetration.[3][4][5] Hormonal contraceptives also have effects on the endometrium,[6][7] that theoretically could affect implantation.[8][9][10][11]
Medical uses
CICs are administered by intramuscular injection into the deltoid, gluteus maximus, or anterior thigh.[1] They are ideally administered every 28 to 30 days, though they have been demonstrated to be effective up to 33 days.[1]
Because CICs are administered parenterally, they bypass the first-pass effect in the liver and intestines that occurs with oral administration of estrogens.[24] However, is estimated that about 20% of an administered dose does still eventually pass through the liver.[24] Hence, these preparations are not completely liver-neutral.[24] Nonetheless, they have dramatically reduced hepatic effects relative to oral ethinylestradiol.[28] In addition, parenteral estradiol in general has about 4- or 5-fold reduced potency in the liver than oral estradiol.[28]
CICs have antigonadotropic effects via their estrogenic and progestogenic activity and inhibit fertility and suppress sex hormone levels. A single intramuscular injection of estradiol valerate/norethisterone enanthate (5 mg/50 mg) (Mesigyna) has been found to strongly suppress testosterone levels in men.[33] Testosterone levels decreased from a baseline of ~503 ng/dL to a trough of ~30 ng/dL (a 94% decrease) which occurred at day 7 post-injection.[33]
Estradiol levels with combined injectable contraceptives[16]
The half-progestin-dose formulation of estradiol valerate/norethisterone enantate (5 mg / 25 mg) is also known as HRP-103 and the half-progestin-dose formulation of estradiol cypionate/medroxyprogesterone acetate (5 mg / 12.5 mg) is also known as HRP-113.[63]
The following are CICs that have never been marketed:
^K. A. Petrie, A. H. Torgal, C. L. Westhoff, Matched-pairs analysis of ovarian suppressionduring oral vs. vaginal hormonal contraceptive use, „Contraception” 2011, t. 84, p. e2-3
^R. L. Birtch, O. A. Olatunbosum, R. A. Pierson, Ovarian follicular dynamics during conventional vs continuous oral contraceptive use, „Contraception” 2006, t. 73, p. 235. p. 239.
^K. Bugge, K. S. Richter, J. Bromer, et al., Pregnancy rates following in vitro fertilization are reduced with a thin endometrium, but are unrelated to endometrial thickness above 10 millimeters,„Fertility and Sterility” 2004, t. 82, p. S199.
^T. Fiumino, A. Kuwata, A. Teranischi et al., Significance of endometrium thickness to evaluate endometrial receptivity for embryos in natural cycle, „Fertility and Sterility” 2008, t. 90,p. S159.
^K. S. Richter, K. R. Bugge, J. G. Bromer, Relationship between endometrial thickness and embryo implantation, based on 1. 294 cycles of in vitro fertilization with transfer of two blastocyst-stage embryos, „Fertility and Sterility” 2007, t. 87, p. 53.
^Rivera R, Yacobson I, Grimes D (1999). "The mechanism of action of hormonal contraceptives and intrauterine contraceptive devices". Am J Obstet Gynecol. 181 (5 Pt 1): 1263–9. doi:10.1016/S0002-9378(99)70120-1. PMID10561657.
^ abcSweetman, Sean C., ed. (2009). "Sex hormones and their modulators". Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference (36th ed.). London: Pharmaceutical Press. p. 2082. ISBN978-0-85369-840-1.
^von Schoultz, Bo; Carlström, Kjell; Collste, Lars; Eriksson, Ambjörn; Henriksson, Peter; Pousette, Åke; Stege, Reinhard (1989). "Estrogen therapy and liver function—metabolic effects of oral and parenteral administration". The Prostate. 14 (4): 389–395. doi:10.1002/pros.2990140410. ISSN0270-4137. PMID2664738. S2CID21510744.
^Michael Oettel; Ekkehard Schillinger (6 December 2012). Estrogens and Antiestrogens II: Pharmacology and Clinical Application of Estrogens and Antiestrogen. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 235–237, 261, 271. ISBN978-3-642-60107-1. Natural estrogens considered here include: [...] Esters of 17β-estradiol, such as estradiol valerate, estradiol benzoate and estradiol cypionate. Esterification aims at either better absorption after oral administration or a sustained release from the depot after intramuscular administration. During absorption, the esters are cleaved by endogenous esterases and the pharmacologically active 17β-estradiol is released; therefore, the esters are considered as natural estrogens.
^Henzl MR, Edwards JA (10 November 1999). "Pharmacology of Progestins: 17α-Hydroxyprogesterone Derivatives and Progestins of the First and Second Generation". In Sitruk-Ware R, Mishell DR (eds.). Progestins and Antiprogestins in Clinical Practice. Taylor & Francis. pp. 101–132. ISBN978-0-8247-8291-7.
^Becker H, Düsterberg B, Klosterhalfen H (1980). "[Bioavailability of cyproterone acetate after oral and intramuscular application in men (author's transl)]" [Bioavailability of Cyproterone Acetate after Oral and Intramuscular Application in Men]. Urologia Internationalis. 35 (6): 381–385. doi:10.1159/000280353. PMID6452729.
^Moltz L, Haase F, Schwartz U, Hammerstein J (May 1983). "[Treatment of virilized women with intramuscular administration of cyproterone acetate]" [Efficacy of Intra muscularly Applied Cyproterone Acetate in Hyperandrogenism]. Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde. 43 (5): 281–287. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1036893. PMID6223851.
^Chu YH, Li Q, Zhao ZF (April 1986). "Pharmacokinetics of megestrol acetate in women receiving IM injection of estradiol-megestrol long-acting injectable contraceptive". The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. The results showed that after injection the concentration of plasma MA increased rapidly. The meantime of peak plasma MA level was 3rd day, there was a linear relationship between log of plasma MA concentration and time (day) after administration in all subjects, elimination phase half-life t1/2β = 14.35 ± 9.1 days.
^Hispano americano. Tiempo. May 1969. p. 46. Entre los anovulatorios más usados están los siguientes: Prolestrín, Sequens, Anovlar, Sequentex, Orlex, Ginovlar, Enginón, Perlutal, Depo-proveda, Aconcén, Ovral, Retex, Lorophyn y otros menos solicitados.
^Botella-Llusia, J. (1970). Les ovaires au cours de l'administration des sterpides anticonceptionnels. [The ovaries during administration of contraceptive steroids.] In: Netter, A. L'Inhibition de l'ovulation; Colloque de la Societe Nationale pour l'Etude de la Sterilite et de la Fecondite. (Inhibition of ovulation: Proceedings of the National Society for the Study of Sterility and Fertility.) Paris, Masson, 1970. p. 141-156
^de Souza, J. C.; Coutinho, Elsimar M. (1972). "Control of fertility by monthly injections of a mixture of norgestrel and a long-acting estrogen". Contraception. 5 (5): 395–399. doi:10.1016/0010-7824(72)90031-5. ISSN0010-7824. PMID4650657.
^Garza-Flores J, Fatinikun T, Hernandez L, Ramos I, Cardenas M, Menjivar M (July 1991). "A pilot study on the assessment of a progesterone/estradiol sustained release as once-a-month-injectable contraceptive". Contraception. 44 (1): 45–59. doi:10.1016/0010-7824(91)90105-O. PMID1893701.