Hormonal contraception is a type of birth control that uses hormones to prevent pregnancy. It works by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary, thickening the cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering the uterus, and thinning the lining of the uterus to prevent a fertilized egg from implanting. Hormonal contraception can be taken in the form of a pill, patch, injection, implant, or intrauterine device (IUD).