So, let’s dive into the fascinating world of hormonal contraception! Back in the day, scientists discovered that ovarian extract could prevent ovulation. But it wasn’t until they synthesized estrogens and progestogens in the lab that hormonal birth control became a reality.

Now, when it comes to contraceptive hormones, there are two main types: estrogens and progestogens. They can be used alone or together, each with its own unique properties. The popular estrogens include ethinyl estradiol and mestranol. Interestingly, mestranol needs a little liver processing before it can do its job of binding to estrogen receptors.

When you pop an estrogen pill, it gets absorbed pretty quickly in your gut, reaching peak concentration in about an hour. Then, it heads to the liver for some chemical tweaking before being excreted through bile into the digestive tract. But here’s the kicker: your gut bacteria can mess with these hormones, affecting their effectiveness. So, if you’re on antibiotics, throwing up, or experiencing diarrhea, it’s a good idea to chat with your doctor about alternative contraception methods.

Now, onto progestogens, the other hormone in the contraceptive mix. The most common ones are derivatives of 19-nortestosterone. Like progesterone, they do all sorts of things like thinning the endometrium, stopping ovulation, and thickening cervical mucus. But don’t worry, they won’t mess with your libido or give you any masculine traits.

Progestogens also take a trip through the liver after being absorbed in the intestine. But unlike estrogens, they don’t get affected by your gut bacteria. Even if they’re reabsorbed, they’re already inactive, so no harm done.

So, how do these hormones actually work? Well, they team up to tackle your ovaries, endometrium, and cervical canal. Combined pills even take on your brain, decreasing certain hormone levels to prevent ovulation. No egg released means no chance of pregnancy.

But that’s not all. Progestogens thicken your cervical mucus, making it a tough obstacle for sperm. And they also thin out your endometrium, making it less hospitable for any fertilized eggs that manage to sneak through. Overall, hormonal contraception has a success rate of 99.6% to 99.9%, but skipping doses or individual metabolism differences can affect its effectiveness.

In a nutshell, hormonal birth control is a marvel of modern medicine, giving women the power to plan their futures with confidence.