Taken by mouth (oral contraceptives)
Inserted into the vagina (vaginal rings or barrier contraceptives)
Applied to the skin (patch)
Implanted under the skin
Injected into muscle

The hormones used to prevent conception include estrogen and progestins (drugs similar to the hormone progesterone ). Hormonal methods prevent pregnancy mainly by stopping the ovaries from releasing eggs or by keeping mucus in the cervix thick so that sperm cannot pass through the cervix into the uterus. Thus, hormonal methods prevent the egg from being fertilized.
All hormonal methods can have similar side effects and restrictions on use.