Hormonal Contraception: What are we prescribing?-Hormones: What are we prescribing? Webinar

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In a webinar, Dr. Mitch Cronin, Director of the Complex Family Planning Fellowship at UC Davis, shared insights into hormonal contraceptives, focusing on differences between estrogens and progestogens. Dr. Cronin emphasized the importance of understanding the science behind contraceptive hormones to optimize clinical decision-making and address side effects. He clarified common misconceptions, particularly regarding androgenicity, highlighting that even low-dose hormonal contraceptives significantly influence sex hormone-binding globulin and testosterone levels in diverse ways, challenging the longstanding focus solely on androgenicity. Dr. Cronin also explained the complexities of synthetic hormones, shedding light on the misleading marketing practices and stressing the critical role of liver and kidney effects in evaluating hormonal impact. Furthermore, he outlined strategies for managing common estrogen-related side effects like nausea and fluid retention, suggesting approaches such as altering estrogen dosage or switching hormonal families. With the introduction of estetrol-based contraceptives, Dr. Cronin highlighted emerging research indicating potential lower VTE risk compared to traditional ethinyl estradiol-based products. He concluded with advice on handling unscheduled bleeding issues, reiterating the need for tailored contraceptive strategies based on individual patient circumstances.

Keywords

hormonal contraceptives

estrogens

progestogens

androgenicity

sex hormone-binding globulin

synthetic hormones

estetrol-based contraceptives

side effects management

clinical decision-making