Combination estrogen-progestin oral contraceptives

Abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, increased appetite, ankle swelling, nausea, bleeding between periods (breakthrough bleeding), mood swings, and blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis)

Rarely an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease

Oral contraceptives may be useful for women who wish to delay childbearing. They may be taken 3 weeks a month (cyclically) or every day (continuously), usually for 3–4 months. Then, they are stopped for 4 days and started again.

Progestins

An intrauterine device

Irregular menstrual bleeding and stopping of periods (after the IUD has been in place for a while)

Bleeding between periods, mood swings, depression, weight gain, and vaginal dryness

Progestins are drugs that resemble the hormone progesterone. They can be given by mouth or by injection into a muscle.

Irregular menstrual bleeding, mood swings, depression, and constipation

This drug is taken by mouth at bedtime. It is commonly used in birth control pills.

GnRH agonists*

Hot flashes, changes in vulvar, vaginal, and urinary tract tissue similar to those in menopause, a decrease in bone density, mood swings, headache, muscle aches and stiff joints, acne, and a reduced sex drive

GnRH antagonist

Hot flashes, changes in vulvar, vaginal, and urinary tract tissue similar to those in menopause, a decrease in bone density, mood swings, headaches, stiff joints, muscle aches, and a reduced sex drive

Androgen

Weight gain, acne, lowering of the voice, increased body hair, hot flashes, changes in vulvar, vaginal, and urinary tract tissue similar to those in menopause, ankle swelling, muscle cramps, bleeding between periods, decreased breast size, mood swings, liver malfunction, carpal tunnel syndrome, and adverse effects on cholesterol levels in the blood

testosterone, inhibits the activity of estrogen and progesterone