Ethinyl estradiol is a synthetic derivative of the natural estrogen estradiol. It is one of two estrogens currently used in oral contraceptive pills. The other, mestranol, is converted to ethinyl estradiol before it is biologically active. Ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone are used together as an oral contraceptive agent. Estrogens diffuse into their target cells and interact with a protein receptor. Target cells include the female reproductive tract, the mammary gland, the hypothalamus, and the pituitary. Estrogens increase the hepatic synthesis of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), thyroid-binding globulin (TBG), and other serum proteins and suppress follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary. This cascade is initiated by initially binding to the estrogen receptors. The combination of an estrogen with a progestin suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary system, decreasing the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Used for treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with the menopause, female hypogonadism, prostatic carcinoma-palliative therapy of advanced disease, breast cancer, as an oral contraceptive, and as emergency contraceptive.

Clogestone Acetate (AY-11440) is a steroidal progestin that was synthesized in 1964 and was investigated as a progestin-only contraceptive but was never marketed.

Nisterime is a dihydrotestosterone derivative. Nisterime acetate (ORF-9326) was shown to inhibit implantation in several species. It is also interrupts the postimplantation stage of gestation.

Tanaproget (WAY-166989) is a nonsteroidal progesterone receptor agonist. It has been in Phase-II clinical trials as an oral contraceptive. The compound demonstrated a positive preclinical pharmacological profile in the treatment of endometriosis. The level of progesterone receptors in breast tumours can be used to guide the selection of endocrine therapies for breast cancer patients. Radiolabeled analogues of tanaproget have diagnostic potential as PET imaging agents for breast cancer.

Gossypol is a substance that is found in the cotton plant. It is removed from the seeds and used for medicine. Gossypol is effective as a nonhormonal male contraceptive; however, it has been documented to have irreversible effects on male fertility. Gossypol is reported to exhibit antioxidant, anticancer, antivirus, antiparasitic, and antimicrobial properties and lower plasma cholesterol. Nausea, emesis, anorexia, diarrhea, altered taste sensation, small intestine obstruction, and fatigue have been recorded in clinical trials as adverse reactions. Large amounts of gossypol can decrease potassium levels in the body. Low potassium levels can increase the side effects of digoxin.

Adjudin (known as AF-2364) was developed as a male contraceptive drug, which induces reversible germ cell loss from the seminiferous epithelium by disrupting cell adhesion function between Sertoli and germ cells, in particular, elongating/elongate/round spermatids and spermatocytes but not spermatogonia. This drug was in phase II clinical trial for human. In addition was discovered, that adjudin could trigger mitochondrial dysfunction in cancer cells, apparently affecting the mitochondrial mass, inducing the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and reducing cellular ATP levels and thus could be a potential drug for cancer therapy.

Progesterone is reduced at the C-3 and C-20 groups, hydroxylated to polar derivatives at C-6 and C-10, and conjugated almost entirely with glucuronide in human and rabbit liver by UDP glucuonyltransferase. The main metabolite is 5β-Pregnane-3α,20α-diol glucuronide. Glucuronic acid is attached via a glycosidic bond to the substance, and the resulting glucuronide, which has a much higher water solubility than the original substance, is eventually excreted by the kidneys. The assessment of 5β-Pregnane-3α,20α-diol glucuronide may be applied to detecting ovulation, assessing the function of corpus luteum, and monitoring early pregnancy.

Dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide (DHPA; brand name Topasel), also known as algestone acetophenide, is a steroidal progestin that is used as a contraceptive in combination with estradiol enanthate. Unlike many other 17α-hydroxyprogesterone derivatives, dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide was reported to possess no glucocorticoid activity.

Dimethisterone (brand name Secrosteron) is an orally active progestational agent. It was developed by the British pharmaceutical company British Drug Houses and was first reported in the literature in 1959 with introduction for medical use as Secrosteron. Relative to ethisterone, it is 12 times as potent orally as a progestogen in animals (Clauberg test). It has an oral LD50 in mice of 7.65 g/kg, no apparent anabolic, androgenic properties and no significant effect on sodium, potassium or water excretion in saline loaded rats. Dimethisterone was introduced in the United States as an oral contraceptive for birth control in combination with ethinylestradiol under the brand name Oracon (25 mg dimethisterone, 100 ug ethinylestradiol) and was produced by Mead Johnson & Company (Evansville, Indiana) in 1974. This preparation was eventually found to be associated with a substantially increased risk of endometrial cancer in women, and is now no longer marketed.

Chlormadinone acetate (CMA) is a derivative of naturally secreted progesterone that shows high affinity and activity at the progesterone receptor. It has an anti-estrogenic effect and, in contrast to natural progesterone, shows moderate anti-androgenic properties. CMA acts by blocking androgen receptors in target organs and by reducing the activity of skin 5alpha-reductase. It suppresses gonadotropin secretion and thereby reduces ovarian and adrenal androgen production. CMA shows high contraceptive efficacy by inhibiting ovulation due to its ability to suppress or disrupt endogenous gonadotropin secretion and, by this, inhibits follicular growth and maturation. In addition, it suppresses endometrial thickness and increases the viscosity of cervical mucus. Chlormadinone acetate was withdrawn from the market in the USA, but it is still being used in Europe under the name Belara.