Contraceptive Selection for the Endocrine Patient: What an Endocrinologist Should Know

Although endocrinologists specialize in the management of hormones, they often lack sufficient training in the appropriate use of the diverse array of available contraceptive options. All medical providers should possess a fundamental understanding of contraceptive methods for pregnancy prevention, but endocrinologists should have a deeper understanding of birth control possibilities due to the useful role of hormone-containing contraception in managing endocrine and metabolic disorders. This manuscript outlines the history of contraception and then evaluates both existing and emerging birth control options for women and men. Delving further, this review also explores the impact of individual sex steroids-estrogens, progestins, and androgens-used in hormonal contraceptive methods. In addition to their role as contraceptives, the influence of these exogenous hormones on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis warrants careful consideration. These effects extend beyond pregnancy prevention and can be instrumental in regularizing menses, sex steroid replacement, and androgen suppression. Finally, this review provides tailored suggestions for contraceptive usage in patients with endocrine disorders, ensuring comprehensive care and informed decision-making in clinical practice.