The impact hormonal contraception can have on overall hormonal balance is one of the biggest concerns many women have about starting a new form of contraception – and rightly so. Informing yourself about the different types and the hormones they contain is the best place to start.

“The level of hormones that accompany each method of contraception has become a major consideration when choosing a method,” Healey and Lane explain.

While there is a lack of research into the side effects of hormonal contraception, a number of symptoms have been reported, including headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and mood changes. The potential risk a form of contraception may pose depends on the level of hormones that it carries; each form of contraception is different.

“The mini pill, for example, has significantly fewer hormones than the combined pill, and a hormonal coil delivers even less,” the experts say.

“The hormonal coil does release a hormone called progesterone, but this hormone is localised and so is less likely to have the same impact as other hormonal contraceptive methods. This means that the hormonal coil or IUS (intrauterine system) primarily delivers hormones into the uterus while other methods of hormonal contraception are absorbed through the bloodstream.”

3 things to consider before starting a new form of contraception