Hormones act on the body organs, affecting an array of functions. Water balance, metabolic rate, bone strength, growth and reproduction are but a few of the many functions influenced by the hormones of the human body.

Depo-Provera is the only injectable contraceptive approved for use in the United States, according to the Mayo Clinic. It contains a high dose of progestin, a synthetic form of progesterone. After receiving the shot, a woman should not become pregnant for up to three months.

Hormonal control of ovulation has been available to women since the early 1960s with the introduction of “the pill.” Initially, dosages of estrogen and progesterone were available only in pill form, but in 2011 they are offered as injections, patches and implants.

From a medical standpoint, it is not necessary for women using birth control pills to have a monthly period. The pills keep the lining of the uterus from cycling as it normally would. The lining stays thin, which prevents pregnancy and eliminates the need for monthly shedding of the this tissue.

Hormonal birth control suppress other hormones that are needed for female fertility. Both oral contraceptives and other forms of hormonal birth control use either a combination of synthetic estrogen and progesterone or progesterone alone.

Women have three main sex hormones--progesterone, estrogen and testosterone. Each of these hormones plays numerous roles in the body, and a healthy balance of the three is important for the body systems to function properly.

The Guttmacher Institute estimates that 5.5 percent of American women choose the IUD as their method of birth control. When choosing an IUD, you have the choice between the Mirena, a hormonal IUD, and the Paragard, a copper, non-hormonal IUD.

Many couples choose to delay or forgo having children. Some couples choose to use natural methods of family planning, such as the fertility awareness method or abstinence. Many others choose to use artificial methods of family planning.

While weight gain is listed as one of the common side effects on most types of birth control, this may be misleading. Birth control itself doesn't cause weight gain. It can, however, cause you to retain water, which can create the appearance of weight gain. The hormonal changes may also increase your appetite.

As most women can attest, getting a period during certain situations is very inconvenient. Whether it be due to a tropical vacation, special date or athletic event, many women wish they could skip getting their period for a month.

The Nortrel birth control pill is a combination of ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone, two hormones that prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs and changes the environment of the uterus to make it more difficult for sperm to reach the uterus.

Taking fish oil supplements may prove beneficial for many people. It effectively lowers high triglyceride levels and seems to help people maintain good heart health.