What if Hormonal Contraceptives Backfire and Ovulation Occurs Anyway?

Question: What if Hormonal Contraceptives Backfire and Ovulation Occurs Anyway?

Answer: Even if ovulation and fertilization occur, there are three other ways hormonal contraceptives prevent pregnancy.

Two of these additional ways occur pre-fertilization:

• Changes occur in the cervical mucous
• Decreased ability of Fallopian Tubes to move the egg toward the sperm

The final extra degree of protection happens Post-fertilization and has to do with the uterine lining.

• Estrogen generally initiates the thickening of the lining of the uterus in the first part of a female's cycle
• Progesterone then triggers the lining to mature
• Since either one or both of these hormones are being continuously supplied, the lining does not have the opportunity thicken enough to nurture a fertilized egg

This means that should an egg become fertilized, the effects of the hormones make the lining of the uterus less receptive to implantation.

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