Hormonal contraceptives are those that use progestogens (or progestogen + estrogen) to work: oral pills, injectables, implants, and the hormone-releasing IUDs Progestasert and LNG-20. Non-hormonal methods do not use hormones — these are barriers (condoms, diaphragms), copper-releasing IUDs (CuT, Cu7, Multiload 375), the non-medicated IUD (Lippes loop), natural methods, and sterilisation. Memory hook: "PILL, PROGESTASERT, LNG-20 have hormones; COPPER cools sperms without hormones." Note the trap — Saheli is a pill but is NON-STEROIDAL (non-hormonal).
Sort every contraceptive by mechanism: only pills, injectables, implants, Progestasert and LNG-20 use hormones. Copper IUDs and Saheli are common non-hormonal traps.
Your doubts, answered
Are copper-releasing IUDs (CuT, Cu7, Multiload 375) hormonal?
No. Copper IUDs are NON-hormonal. They release copper ions (Cu++) that suppress sperm motility and the fertilising capacity of sperms — no hormone is involved. Only Progestasert and LNG-20 among IUDs release hormones.
Is Saheli a hormonal pill?
No — this is the most common NEET trap. Saheli is an oral pill, but it is a NON-STEROIDAL 'once a week' pill (centchroman) developed by CDRI. Being non-steroidal means it is non-hormonal, unlike the regular estrogen-progestogen oral pills.
Which IUDs release hormones?
Only two: Progestasert and LNG-20. Both release progestogen. They add a hormonal action (making the uterus unsuitable for implantation and the cervix hostile to sperms) on top of the usual IUD effect. Lippes loop is non-medicated; CuT, Cu7, Multiload 375 are copper-releasing.
Do condoms, diaphragms and other barriers use hormones?
No. Barrier methods (condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, vaults) work only physically — they stop sperm from meeting the ovum. There is no hormone in any barrier method.
Which oral pills DO contain hormones?
The regular oral contraceptive pills contain progestogens or progestogen-estrogen combinations. These are taken daily for 21 days and mainly inhibit ovulation and implantation and change cervical mucus. These ARE hormonal — only Saheli is the non-steroidal exception.
Are injectables and implants hormonal?
Yes. Injectables and implants use progestogens (alone or with estrogen). Their mode of action is like the pills but they act for longer periods, so they are counted as hormonal methods.
⚠️ The NEET trap ✗ All IUDs and all pills are hormonal, so copper-T and Saheli involve hormones. ✓ Copper-releasing IUDs work through copper ions (non-hormonal) and Saheli is a non-steroidal, non-hormonal pill. Only Progestasert, LNG-20, regular oral pills, injectables and implants involve hormones. 🧠 NEET loves pairing a copper IUD or Saheli with hormonal devices in match-the-column. Sort by MECHANISM, not by 'pill' or 'IUD' label.
Real NEET questions
NEET 2019
Select the hormone-releasing Intra-Uterine Devices.
A · Vaults, LNG-20
B · Multiload 375, Progestasert
C · Progestasert, LNG-20 ✓
D · Lippes Loop, Multiload 375
Solution: IUDs are grouped as non-medicated (Lippes loop), copper releasing (CuT, Cu7, Multiload 375) and hormone releasing (Progestasert, LNG-20). Only option (C) lists BOTH hormone-releasing devices. Vaults are barriers; Multiload 375 and Lippes loop are not hormonal.
NEET 2021
Which one of the following is an example of Hormone releasing IUD?
A · Cu 7
B · Multiload 375
C · CuT
D · LNG 20 ✓
Solution: The hormone releasing IUDs are Progestasert and LNG-20. Cu7, CuT and Multiload 375 are copper releasing (non-hormonal) IUDs, so LNG-20 is the only hormonal option.
NEET 2023 Phase 2
Match List-I with List-II: (A) Non-medicated IUDs (B) Copper releasing IUDs (C) Hormone releasing IUDs (D) Vaults ; List-II (i) Multiload 375 (ii) Rubber barrier (iii) Lippes loop (iv) LNG-20
Saheli (centchroman) is a non-steroidal compound. It blocks estrogen receptors in the uterus rather than supplying hormones, so it is classed as non-hormonal.
Is emergency contraception hormonal?
Yes — emergency (post-coital) contraception commonly uses progestogens or progestogen-estrogen combinations, so it is a hormonal method.
How do hormone-releasing IUDs differ from copper IUDs?
Hormone-releasing IUDs (Progestasert, LNG-20) release progestogen to make the uterus unsuitable for implantation and the cervix hostile to sperms. Copper IUDs release copper ions that reduce sperm motility and fertilising capacity — no hormone.
