Abstract
Hormonal contraception is the most frequently used contraceptive method. This article reflects some important trends in the development of hormonal contraception.
In part it refers to the question of regime change in the usage of combined hormonal contraception. Gradual reduction of hormones daily dose led to the development of contraceptives with very low dose of estrogen and estrogen-free hormonal contraception.
Another trend is the use of new types of progestins and recently also estrogens. The use of selective receptor modulators for androgens, estrogens and progesterone appears to be perspective.
Threecomponent hormonal contraception containing an androgen in addition to estrogen and progestin is been developed. The historically original oral application form of hormonal contraception has been expanded by a wide range of non-oral systems.
Hormonal contraception in the form of intramuscular injections was extended by intrauterine and vaginal hormonal reservoirs. Development of technologies allowing the precise percutaneous dosage of drugs has led to application of transdermal systems in the form of patches and perspectively also special sprays.
Advances in understanding of gene management of the fertilization process allow development of non-traditional methods of influencing fertility on genomic level.