Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

c) HORMONAL METHODS (70 minutes)
Introduction (5 minutes)
Explain that:
• There are several hormonal methods of contraception, using very small quantities
of artificial forms of hormones, similar to the natural hormones produced by
women’s ovaries.
• These methods act in two ways:
o Women using these methods do not ovulate (release an egg/ovum
prepared for fertilization)
o The hormones cause other small changes in women’s genital organs,
which prevent pregnancy from occurring, without any significant effect on
their health.
List the hormonal methods on the flipchart.
• Combined oral contraceptives (pills)
• Progestagen-only pills (mini-pills)
• Combined injectable contraceptives
• Progestagen-only injectable contraceptives
• Subdermal implants
• Vaginal ring
Underline the available methods in Romania and inform participants that you will refer
only to them.
1. Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) or pills (40 minutes)
[Note to the trainer: It is very important to know the participants’ level of knowledge
about hormonal methods, because there are many myths about these methods in the
community, and these myths influence women not to use these methods. Mediators have
an important role in dispelling rumors and myths in order to encourage women to use
modern contraceptive methods].
Ask participants:
‣ What do you know about the pill: good things? bad things? myths/rumors you
have heard about the pill?
Write their answers on the flipchart and discuss each.
Make a short presentation, using the trainer document Combined Oral Contraceptives
(COCs) as a basis.
[Note: A pre-prepared flipchart may be used to explain the method].
Refer to the Myths and Facts about Pill during your presentation, in order to dispel the
myths mentioned by participants.
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RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 4: FP Methods