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Combined oral contraceptives
Mechanism of action
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Mechanism of action
Combined oral contraceptives contain oestrogen and progesterone. These two hormones act on the hypothalamo-pituitary axis to reduce production of luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, in order to suppress ovulation. Oestrogen and progesterone also combine to thicken cervical mucus, making it more difficult for fertilisation to occur, and to decrease endometrial hyperplasia, which lessens the chance of implantation.
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