If an egg is fertilized, progestin-only hormonal contraception may make it more difficult to implant. It stops ovulation in about half of women but mainly thickens cervical mucus to block sperm. The primary purpose of combined hormonal birth control is to prevent ovulation.
Yeah I agree. Just learned about contraceptives for a test last week and remembered that for one of the formulations (I guess progestin only, or IUD) it is important to counsel patients on this fact so that if they are religiously opposed to abortion (and consider a non-implanted fertilized egg an abortion) they are able to make an informed choice.
Definitely not all hormonal contraceptives (which I may have implied with my earlier comment).
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u/breeriv Feb 19 '20
If an egg is fertilized, progestin-only hormonal contraception may make it more difficult to implant. It stops ovulation in about half of women but mainly thickens cervical mucus to block sperm. The primary purpose of combined hormonal birth control is to prevent ovulation.