Word parts
What it means
Anything used for contraceptionkon-truh-SEP-shunThe use of a method, device or drug to prevent pregnancy.contra- againstconception start of a pregnancyFull entry . Hormonal contraceptives (the pill, patch, ring, shot and implant) contain an estrogen with a progestin, or a progestin alone, and mainly stop ovulation. Devices include intrauterine devices (IUDs), condoms and diaphragms. The word is also an adjective, as in "contraceptive method".
For the nurse
Teach what to do about a missed pill, which drugs (such as some antiseizure drugs and rifampin) can make the pill less effective, and warning signs of a blood clot with estrogen methods: leg pain or swelling, chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache or vision changes.
At a glance
| Spanish | anticonceptivo |
|---|---|
| Also written | contraceptives |
Related terms
estrogen
A female sex hormone, made mainly by the ovaries, and the group of drugs that act like it.
contraception
The use of a method, device or drug to prevent pregnancy.
pregnancy
The time during which an embryo, then a fetus, develops inside the uterus, from conception to birth.