Which of the following is an example of a combined estrogen-progestin contraception method?

• A. Nexplanon
• B. Progestin-only pills
• C. Oral contraceptives
• D. DMPA shot

Answer: (C)

Combined estrogen-progestin contraception includes products that contain both an estrogen and a progestin. The most familiar example is oral contraceptives, which pair a synthetic estrogen (like ethinyl estradiol) with a progestin. This combination effectively suppresses ovulation by acting on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, and it also thickens cervical mucus and thins the endometrium, making fertilization and implantation less likely. The other options provide only progestin—Nexplanon is a progestin-releasing implant, progestin-only pills contain progestin alone, and the DMPA shot is an injectable progestin. Since they lack estrogen, they’re not combined estrogen-progestin methods.