How hormone pills work. How to take birth control pills? The best birth control pills

Modern contraceptives provide women with many opportunities that were previously unthinkable. Contraception, planning, choosing a convenient time to start menstruation, reducing discomfort, including pain during "these days" - all this has become available now. A variety of options allows most women to easily choose for themselves convenient way taking contraceptives. However, many still do not have enough information about contraception, and in addition, there are a large number of myths that both women and men believe. Several of these myths were debunked by gynecologists who commented on Business Insider.

Can't get pregnant while taking birth control

Of course, this is not so. None of the contraceptives gives an absolute guarantee that a woman will not become pregnant. Even sterilization has an efficiency below 100%, albeit over 99%.

Postcoital contraceptives work in 100% of cases

And it's not. Emergency contraception in the form of a pill taken the day after intercourse delays ovulation, and if there is no egg that could be fertilized, pregnancy does not occur. However, ovulation could have already occurred, and then such pills are useless. There are other means emergency contraception, for example, an intrauterine contraceptive made of copper, however, its effectiveness is less than 100%.

Hormonal contraceptives are toxic and unnatural

Yes, there are downsides to contraception, but in most cases the upsides outweigh the downsides. It is necessary to consult a doctor and not prescribe a remedy for yourself - then the likelihood that it will work will be much higher. With, for example, the condition of patients in many cases improves if they take hormonal contraceptives.

You need to take the tablets at the same time

Not always. It depends on the type of pills - if they contain only progesterone, then yes, indeed, they need to be taken on time. Otherwise, the effect of the pill after 26 hours is already fading away, and barrier contraception must be used to avoid unwanted conception. If the pills contain both progesterone and estrogen, the “window” becomes larger, and a few hours of difference do not play a role. However, doctors still recommend sticking to the same time for taking the pills so that the appropriate habit is formed.

The absence of menstruation caused by taking birth control is harmful

In some cases, women skip a week of placebo pills and go straight to the next pack of contraceptives, and sometimes they leave the hormonal ring for four weeks instead of three. Sometimes means mean complete absence. All this is safe. The women themselves may think that the blood in such cases stagnates inside, but this is not so - in fact, there is simply nothing to leave the body, the endometrial layer remains thin.

Intrauterine contraceptives are a mini-abortion

Wrong. Such drugs prevent the fertilization of the egg and prevent it from attaching in the uterus. It doesn’t come to an abortion - the sperm simply do not have time to meet the egg. A thick layer of mucus is formed, aggressive for sperm. Hormonal coils work a little differently, but general principle same.

Postcoital contraceptives lead to abortion

Also incorrect for the same reasons that were described earlier. The principle of operation of the postcoital contraceptive is to delay ovulation, which means that fertilization also does not occur.

Pills can affect fertility

The pills themselves do not affect fertility, but sometimes they are prescribed to women due to irregular periods or hormonal imbalances. When a woman stops taking hormonal contraceptives, the problems return, and the same problems that were before the pills may occur. In addition, fertility declines with age. In any case, the pills have nothing to do with it.

Intrauterine contraceptives affect fertility

Previously, coils and other contraceptives were made from materials that could cause inflammation in the uterus. Now technology has stepped forward, and these contraceptives are completely safe. In some cases, they may even have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Women who take oral contraceptives gain weight

If the pills are chosen correctly, they do not cause weight gain. Perhaps they appear for completely different reasons - for example, young girls often begin to protect themselves, and they begin to gain weight due to age factors or lifestyle changes.

Today, contraception with the use of hormones occupies a leading position in terms of effectiveness among all methods of protection against unwanted pregnancy. These drugs contain estrogens and progestins - synthetically created female sex hormones.

Medicines produced in tablet form, the main active ingredients which are hormones used to prevent pregnancy, are called combined oral contraceptives.

Classification

According to the amount of estrogen and progestin, contraceptives are:

Single-phase or monophasic - throughout menstrual cycle tablets containing the same amount of hormones are used daily. The main drugs of the group have the following names: Regulon, Diane-35, Novinet, Logest. Such drugs are more often used by young, nulliparous women up to 24–26 years of age.
Two-phase. Preparations with different content of these hormones. The representative of this group is the drug Anteovin.
Three-phase. Due to the variable amount of hormones, the drugs imitate their quantitative change in the female body. Among the representatives of this group can be distinguished: Triziston, Trikvilar, Tri-regol.

Throughout the menstrual cycle, there are natural fluctuations in the content of various hormones in a woman's body. Imitating them, three-phase contraceptives are the most physiological, monophasic drugs have this ability to the least extent. But this fact does not speak about the advantage of three-phase hormonal agents over others. All contraceptives are selected individually.

According to experts, monophasic tablets are more suitable for young girls in most cases. Women over 27 years of age are mainly prescribed three-phase contraceptives.

One package of single-phase drugs most often contains 21 tablets, much less often there will be 28. And three-phase drugs, on the contrary, always contain 28 tablets of three different colors.

According to the quantitative content of estrogen, calculated for daily intake, the drugs are divided into:

Highly dosed.
Low-dose.
Microdosed.

Operating principle

The progestogenic component of the drugs has the main effect of contraceptive pills.

The composition of any contraceptive includes exogenous estrogen. Its main goal is to make up for its deficiency that occurs when taking drugs. The predominant formation of estrogen in the body of a woman is carried out in the ovaries. Combined oral contraceptives block its synthesis by stopping the growth and maturation of follicles. The fundamental principle of estrogen action is to control the course of the menstrual cycle and the physiological reproduction of cells of the uterine mucosa, which is clinically manifested by the absence of intermenstrual bleeding.

The principle of action of contraceptive pills is the same, regardless of the quantitative value of hormones:

They stop the development and release of the egg from the follicle.
They impede the movement of spermatozoa due to the strong viscosity of cervical secretions.
They act on the mucous layer of the uterus, preventing the fixation of the embryo.
Slow down the movement of sperm through the fallopian tubes.

All these mechanisms of influence on the conception and further development of a fertilized egg elevate combined oral contraceptives to the rank of the most effective drugs for preventing pregnancy.

Help doctor

Miscellaneous groups medicines contain different doses of hormones, which determines their specific medicinal effects and side effects. Therefore, the personal selection of contraceptives is the task of a gynecologist.

You can not buy, use combined oral contraceptives on your own without a doctor's appointment and consultation!

To select a specific drug, the doctor prescribes the necessary list of examinations in order to assess risk factors and identify contraindications for taking different groups of contraceptives:

Examination by an obstetrician-gynecologist. A study on the cellular and microbial components of smears taken from the walls of the vagina and cervix. Examination for neoplastic and infectious diseases.
Instrumental examination of the pelvic organs using ultrasound (ultrasound). The examination is performed twice in the period after menstruation and before the next one within one cycle. When it is performed, the doctor monitors the growth and differentiation of cells of the mucous membrane of the uterine wall, the processes of growth of follicles and ovulation. In parallel, concomitant anatomical and functional pathology of the pelvic organs is excluded.
Examination of the mammary glands. It can be performed by a gynecologist and mammologist.
Examination of the mammary glands using ultrasound (ultrasound) to exclude tumor formations. According to the indications, the appointment of a mammogram.
According to indications, it is possible to prescribe laboratory tests to control the content of hormones in the blood.

Only after the studies have been carried out strictly individually, the doctor can choose a certain preparation of a combined oral contraceptive for a woman.

Scheme for the selection of drugs:

Questionnaire about past and chronic diseases. Collection of information about family diseases. Gynecological examination data. Using the universal eligibility criteria of the World Health Organization, the identification for a given woman of acceptability for different types of contraception.
The choice of a drug of a certain group of combined oral contraceptives based on their properties and desired therapeutic effects.
In terms of three to four months, monitoring the health of a woman with the determination of her general condition. Control of the action of hormonal contraceptives. Determination of drug tolerance.
In the event of side effects or individual intolerance to the components of drugs, replacement or cancellation of the contraceptive.
Registration of a woman during the period of use of combined oral contraceptives. Scheduled gynecological appointment once every six months.

Symptoms, the appearance of which should alert a woman:

Heaviness and intense pain in the legs.
Unbearable pain in the abdomen and chest.
The appearance of weakness and malaise for one month or more.
Hearing loss.
Speech and vision impairment.

If you experience these symptoms, seek medical advice immediately. They may be a manifestation of individual intolerance to the components of drugs or symptoms of the disease, the occurrence of which could be triggered by the use of combined oral contraceptives.

How to take birth control pills?

Oral contraceptives are available in packs of 21 and 28 tablets. Using arrows or indicating the days of the week on the blister, manufacturers determine the order in which they are taken. Birth control pills start working from the first week of taking them.

How to take birth control pills containing 21 capsules? To achieve the contraceptive effect of drugs, they must be used one tablet daily. You need to start taking birth control pills from the first day of your menstrual cycle. At the end of their reception, a pause is made for seven days. After it, a newly acquired pack of contraceptive is started. During this week there is a reaction similar to menstruation. During the break, the contraceptive effect of the drugs is preserved, so additional protection measures are not required.

It is imperative to start taking birth control pills containing 28 pills from the first day of the cycle, but they are used without a seven-day interval. After finishing one package, immediately proceed to a new one. A menstrual-like reaction occurs between the 21st and 28th day of the cycle.

At the end of the year of taking oral contraceptives, it is necessary to pause their use for three to four months to resume the hormone-producing function of the ovaries. During this period, in order to protect against unplanned pregnancy, it is necessary to use other contraceptive measures.

Remember that combined oral contraceptives are incompatible with a number of other groups of drugs.

They do not match:

Anticonvulsants.
Antibacterial drugs.
Medicines needed to treat lung diseases.

The combined use of these groups of drugs initiates the appearance of side effects and leads to a decrease in contraceptive properties. This is the time to look for extra precautions.

Each time doctors prescribe drugs for the treatment of extragenital pathologies, it is necessary to warn about taking combined oral contraceptives.

Studies have proven the absence of harmful effects on the course of pregnancy and the fetus when using drugs before conception. At the first assumption of the presence of pregnancy, it is necessary to interrupt the use of contraceptives. Episodic use of drugs in the early stages of pregnancy is not scary either. Also, their reception is not a reason for its interruption.

At the end of taking oral contraceptives, adequate work of the endocrine-reproductive system resumes in a short time. Short-term use of drugs leads to stimulation of the growth and maturation of eggs by increasing the sensitivity of the receptors of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian system. Within a year of not using oral contraceptives, more than 80% of women become pregnant. This fact corresponds to the level of fertility in the population.

Menstruation appears after stopping oral contraceptives within a period equal to the recovery time of the uterine mucosa. A small number of women develop amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) lasting up to six months. If this situation occurs, you should consult a doctor.

What to do if you miss an appointment?

In the case of a forgotten drunk one tablet, the host must take it immediately. The next dose of contraceptives should be taken at your normal time, even if you need to take two tablets a day. If the delay in taking the drug is less than 12 hours, there is no need to use other contraceptive measures. If the time is exceeded, it is possible to use another type of contraception in the period before the next menstruation.

How to take birth control pills if two pills are missed? It is necessary to immediately take them as soon as they remembered this. The next day you need to take the next two tablets. Against the background of excessive intake of hormones, the blood may develop spotting. The contraceptive effect of drugs is reduced, which requires the use of other methods of contraception.

If you skip more pills, you should think about giving up this method of contraception. This is the time when they begin to select and use other methods of contraception.

Tablets. If there are 21, then you should drink 1 tablet per day (for 21 days), and then take a break for 7 days. On the 8th day, the pills from the new blister begin. If there are 28 tablets in the blister, then there is no need to take a 7-day break from taking COCs. Tablets are taken all 28 days in a row, without any breaks.

The effect of birth control pills

The highest reliability among all methods of protection against unwanted pregnancy, they have precisely birth control pills(COC - combined oral contraceptives). These are drugs that consist of synthetic analogues of female sex hormones ( progesterone And estrogen). A specially selected combination of hormones can change hormonal background women and slow down ovulation. Also, hormonal pills have an anti-implantation effect. They are known to change the lining of the uterus, and as a result, the egg cannot attach to it. In addition, birth control pills change the biochemical composition of the mucus that is produced by the cervix. Mucus becomes more viscous and dense. As a result, sperm motility also deteriorates.

Can I take COCs without consulting a doctor?

Many girls wonder if it is possible to start taking birth control pills without first consulting a gynecologist. The answer is obvious: it is extremely undesirable to do this, because it can lead to very serious consequences. Currently on the pharmaceutical market over 50 different types birth control pills. And this is no coincidence, because completely different birth control pills are suitable for different women and girls. It is considered very wrong to decide to start taking birth control pills on the advice of a friend and on recommendations from the Internet. Also, you should not advise certain birth control pills to your friends. After all, pills may just be perfect for you, but they can cause severe side effects in another girl.

If a woman starts taking oral contraceptives without consulting a doctor, then they contraceptive effect may be incomplete. Various side effects may also appear: uterine bleeding, mid-cycle discharge, swelling, hair loss, blood clots.

Blood test for hormones before taking birth control pills

Many are interested in the question, is it necessary to do a blood test for hormones before starting to drink birth control pills? Basically, it is not considered a requirement. A gynecologist can prescribe certain birth control pills without doing any tests. This will not indicate that he is incompetent. But a blood test may be needed when a girl has some kind of hormonal disorders, as well as related menstrual disorders.

Rules for taking birth control pills

What is the right way to take birth control pills? First of all, you need to figure out how many pills are in one blister of your contraceptives. They may be 21 or 28 pieces. If there are 21 tablets in one blister, then you should drink 1 tablet per day (preferably at the same time) for 21 days. Then for 7 days you do not need to take these pills, take a break (at this time, menstruation should begin). On day 8, you need to take the 1st tablet from the next blister. If there are 28 tablets in the blister, then there is no need to take a 7-day break in taking COCs. You just need to drink 1 tablet a day, and when one blister is over, immediately start taking the pills from the next blister.

It is recommended to start taking COCs on the first day of menstruation. In this case, you will not need to use additional contraception, because the contraceptive effect will immediately come. But it happens, for certain reasons, it is not possible to start taking COCs on the first day of menstruation. In principle, it is allowed to start taking pills from the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th day of menstruation. But you need to remember that in this case you will have to use additional contraceptives for another week. If you start taking oral contraceptives later than the sixth day from the beginning of your period, then the effect of the pills in this month will be very low. There will be a high chance of pregnancy.

Usually, when taking oral contraceptives, a girl maintains a regular menstrual cycle. But, unlike normal menstruation, it is more painless and more scarce. In order for birth control pills to work correctly, you do not need to break the regimen and never skip taking the next pill. Tablets must be taken everyday and preferably at the same time(best done before bed). If you suddenly have any complaints when taking oral contraceptives, then they should always be discussed with your gynecologist. If there is no menstrual-like reaction, you should still continue taking birth control pills according to your usual schedule. In this case, of course, it is better to go to the hospital to exclude pregnancy. If pregnancy is confirmed, COCs should be discontinued immediately.

It is very important to coordinate with your doctor the use of any other drugs at the same time as COCs. While taking hormonal contraceptives, it is also not recommended to smoke or it is recommended to at least significantly reduce the number of cigarettes smoked. You should immediately consult a doctor if you experience severe side effects: localized headache, acute visual impairment, chest pain, jaundice, shortness of breath, with a strong increase in blood pressure.

When taking birth control pills, it should be remembered that pregnancy can occur during the first menstrual cycle after the COC is completed. It is also important to know that if you forgot to take another pill from the blister, then certain actions should be taken. So, if less than 12 hours have passed, then you need to take this missed pill and continue taking the contraceptive according to the previous scheme until the end of the cycle. If more than 12 hours have passed, then you also need to take the missed pill and continue to adhere to the previous regimen of taking the drug. But, in this case, during the week it will not be superfluous to be additionally protected with the help.

Do I need to take breaks in taking oral contraceptives

Many women and girls who take birth control pills become very worried about whether hormones will have a bad effect on their body. Therefore, when there is any opportunity not to drink these pills, women stop taking them for 1-2 months. Thus, they try to give the body a break from hormones. But, it has been proven that such breaks do not allow the body to rest at all. This is always extra stress for the endocrine glands and ovaries. Basically, such spontaneous breaks become the causes of menstrual cycle failures, lead to poor health, delayed menstruation, and hair loss. Also, during such long breaks, the contraceptive effect is reduced to almost zero. At this time, a woman can easily become pregnant.

Thus, if there is still a need for contraception (a woman is sexually active, but not yet in pregnancy plans), then you can take birth control pills for up to 5 years in a row, without interruption. When these 5 years of taking oral contraceptives have passed, it will be necessary to consult a gynecologist. If he does not find reasons to cancel COCs, then it will be possible to take them further.

We are found:

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Birth control pills are one of the most effective means contraception, really reliable and affordable, known for many decades. These are hormonal preparations that contain progestins or progestins along with estrogens. These are all analogues of female hormones. Progestins suppress ovulation, without which it is impossible to get pregnant.

How do they work?

In order for a woman to become pregnant, she needs a mature egg. In the first half of the menstrual cycle, under the influence of hormones, the egg matures and passes from the ovaries into the fallopian tube. After that - in theory - the female germ cell should meet with the sperm and go to the uterus to attach to the wall of the organ there. This requires progesterone - a hormone that prepares the uterus. If conception does not happen, progesterone levels fall and bleeding begins, from which a new cycle starts.

All this time, the level of estrogen and progesterone fluctuates as it should for conceiving a child.

Contraceptive pills create their own hormonal background in the body.

At the same time, they suppress ovulation, that is, there is simply nothing to fertilize.

Pills have other properties that resist conception. For example, they make the mucus in the cervix thick so that sperm cannot reach the egg, and thin the inner layer of the uterus so that the egg cannot attach to it.

What are birth control pills?

There are two types of tablets:

Progestin with estrogens, or combined. If there is a lot of estrogens, they can suppress ovulation. But at such doses, they have a lot of side effects, so they are not used by themselves for contraception, but are added to pills to simulate a full cycle.
Progestin, which are called mini-pills. They are prescribed when conventional pills cannot be used: if a woman is breastfeeding, sick, or she has blood clots in her vessels.

They say that such contraceptives have many side effects. It's true?

Indeed, birth control pills have an impressive list of contraindications and side effects. It is enough to open the instructions for any such drug and see for yourself.

There are four generations of oral contraceptives. The newer the drug, the less hormones there are, and hence the side effects.

Unfortunately, many gynecologists like to prescribe old drugs: such pills are cheaper and “tested by time”. Therefore, just in case, find out from the doctor which generation the medicine he prescribes belongs to, and whether a milder remedy can be found.

Feel free to ask why the gynecologist thinks that these pills are right for you, why they are better than their counterparts.

And what are the dangers of taking contraceptives?

The most severe side effects that occur with oral contraceptives:

Thrombosis. There are many studies that show that the risk of developing thrombosis while taking pills increases. Combined Oral Contraceptives and venous thrombosis.
Cardiovascular diseases.
Glaucoma.

This rare events that met when oral contraceptives first appeared and they had a lot of hormones. More often there is nausea, dizziness, mood changes, breakthrough bleeding. Usually the symptoms go away after a couple of months, but you need to tell the doctor about them and, if there is no dynamics, change the drug.

Does birth control pills cause weight gain?

No one can say for sure what will happen to your weight. Miscellaneous studies give different information, but show that in general, women who take hormonal contraceptives gain some weight.

The average weight gain when taking a mini-pill is no more than 2 kg per year. However, these data are not based on the most accurate studies. Progestin-only contraceptives: effects on weight.

Different types of hormonal contraceptives have approximately the same effect on weight.

Do they cause cancer?

Some studies show that oral contraceptives, especially if used for a long time, on the contrary, reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Women who take birth control pills for more than five years have a 50% lower risk of developing this type of cancer than women who have never taken the pill. Can Ovarian Cancer Be Prevented?.

But the risk of detecting breast or cervical cancer, as well as neoplasms in the liver, increases, albeit slightly Oral Contraceptives and Cancer Risk. In some cases (if you take the pills for a long time), such dynamics are not traced at all.

Birth control pills are so scary. Can they be used at all?

Can. They were designed just to be used. Of course, if there are no contraindications.

As already mentioned, modern drugs are becoming safer, they are being tested more and more carefully.

What about contraindications?

Each drug has its own list, but there are general contraindications:

Smoking and over 35 years of age (if you don't smoke, age doesn't count).
Tendency to form blood clots.
estrogen dependent tumors.
Bleeding from the uterus, the causes of which have not been clarified.
Migraine.
Diabetes with complications from the heart and blood vessels.

The main thing is not to smoke if you decide to take oral contraceptives. Smoking in itself does not lead to good, and in combination with hormonal contraceptives increases the risk of side effects.

What tests do I need to take to get a prescription?

As a rule, none. Hormonal contraceptives were invented for this purpose, so that they were available, and tons of tests reduce this very availability.

At the consultation, the doctor mainly focuses on what the woman herself tells about her lifestyle, health problems, and the drugs she constantly takes. Based on this, he decides which progestin component is more suitable, and prescribes it.

To check whether pills are contraindicated for a woman or not, you really need to pass a series of tests.

My friend was taking pills. Can I have them too?

In no case.

Only a doctor can prescribe pills after consultation. Suddenly you have contraindications that your girlfriend does not have, and you are at risk? What if her friend’s doctor prescribed her an old-generation drug, or did her friend even buy the medicine on the advice of a neighbor?

You will risk your health, not your friend. Do not do like this.

Do oral contraceptives allow the ovaries to rest?

The ovaries do not know how to rest and go on vacation, they work most of a woman's life until menopause occurs.

Hormonal contraceptives do not arrange a vacation for the organs, but create an artificial hormonal background and suppress ovulation.

This has nothing to do with rejuvenation, longevity and other wonderful properties that are often attributed to hormones.

Are they needed to straighten the cycle?

Hormonal contraceptives create their own, special cycle. The main thing does not occur in it - ovulation of a mature egg. Menstruation in this case does not come because the egg is not fertilized, but because there is a break in taking the pills.

Such an artificial cycle is really even, easier to tolerate, so oral contraceptives are prescribed to cope with painful periods.

After stopping the drugs, your native cycle will return. What it will be depends on many factors.

Will birth control pills help prepare for pregnancy?

These are contraceptives. They are needed to prevent pregnancy. They do not prepare for pregnancy.

Although some drugs add folic acid in case you decide to stop the pills, get pregnant immediately and provide this vitamin to your unborn child.

Will it help with acne?

They can help. Hormonal drugs have such an effect, they help to cope with. But you should always remember that this effect is an additional, side effect, not the main one. In addition, sometimes something goes wrong and acne, on the contrary, appears or becomes more noticeable.

How to take, so as not to harm yourself?

It's simple: take only as directed by your doctor and strictly according to the instructions.

Such a delicate topic as taking oral contraceptives should definitely be discussed with a gynecologist. But if you have questions, and there is absolutely no one to ask, then we will try to answer them.

There are many rumors and myths around hormonal contraception that are so terrible that they quickly begin to be discussed by girls and women in a narrow friendly circle. But their validity remains doubtful, since they are invented by the same women who do not have knowledge in gynecology. So that you no longer have doubts, let's dispel these fears and concerns.

Indications for use

Oral contraceptives were invented in the 1950s, and 10 years later, after numerous studies, they were approved for use by women. These were the first pills that became an alternative to other contraceptives, but soon women began to experience other side effects.

Today contraceptives not only protect against pregnancy, but also cure some gynecological and dermatological diseases.

Indications for receiving OK include:

restoration of hormonal levels after childbirth or abortion;
normalization of the menstrual cycle;
women suffering from anemia;
endometriosis;
fibrocystic mastopathy;
with painful periods;
with PMS;
ovarian cyst;
acne;
alopecia.

Depending on the composition, hormonal contraceptives can lower testosterone in the blood, as a result of which acne and acne disappear, hair loss stops, and the figure becomes more feminine.

What are oral contraceptives

All birth control pills are divided into 3 groups, each of which is suitable for its age and health status. They are divided into microdosed (20-25 micrograms of estradiol), low-dose (30-35 micrograms of estradiol) and high-dosed (40-50 micrograms of estradiol).

Types of OK and their purpose:

Microdosed. Suitable for young girls, women who have not yet given birth, and persons over 35 years old.
Low-dose. They are prescribed to women who have given birth, as well as to girls in whom microdosed OK caused bleeding.
Highly dosed. They are prescribed for serious hormonal disorders and only in extreme cases.

Estradiol or its derivatives is the active ingredient in each type of birth control pill. And the therapeutic effect of the drug depends on what the auxiliary hormone will be. Drospirenone, dienogest, chlormadinone acetate, cyproterone acetate and levomefolate have antiandrogenic properties, that is, they suppress the production of male hormones.

Side effects

Since birth control pills are a drug, they not only have the desired effect, but also cause some side effects. In most cases, they appear extremely rarely, but women with a sensitive body should be careful.

Side effects OK:

feeling of nausea and dizziness;
frequent mood swings, the appearance of capriciousness and irritability;
decreased sexual desire;
migraine;
prostration;
swelling and pain in the chest;
bloody issues.

Usually, these symptoms appear in the first three months of taking OK, and after the body gets used to the new state, they disappear. In the event that for a long time you experience discomfort, you do not get a daub, your head often hurts and feels dizzy, then OK does not suit you and you will have to change them.

Contraindications

Also, hormonal contraceptives have a number of contraindications, without taking into account which, you will only aggravate your health. Be sure to tell your doctor your medical history and the problems that are bothering you at the moment, so that he adequately assesses the situation and prescribes the correct OK.

Contraindications for admission:

the presence of malignant tumors;
disruption of the liver and kidneys;
vascular diseases;
pregnancy;
hypertension;
frequent headaches;
bleeding with an unknown cause;
thrombosis;
the period before and one month after the operation;
prolonged immobility;
period of breastfeeding.

If you decide to take birth control pills, then, in order to avoid complications, get rid of the habit of smoking, as there is a risk of vegetative-vascular dystonia. It is also worth consulting with your doctor if you have excess weight or diabetes.

How to choose the right oral contraceptives

Many girls, when choosing OK, are guided by two principles: price and reviews of girlfriends. This is fundamentally the wrong decision. Since all organisms are different and do not have the same level of certain hormones. In order to choose the right drug, it is necessary to take tests and reveal the general picture of the state of the body and the hormonal background. Based on this, the doctor will prescribe the best option.

It is also worth considering your wishes and complaints. Acne, hair growing in unwanted places, baldness on the head and other cosmetic problems can be solved with birth control pills, if they are chosen correctly. Many hormonal drugs are prescribed in extreme cases of these problems.

But the tests and an experienced doctor will not give you a guarantee that the body will accept the interference in its hormonal background. If you observe a strong manifestation of side effects, then it is better to change the drug. For example, with incessant bleeding, the level of estradiol should be increased. Constant headaches and high blood pressure, on the contrary, indicate that the remedy is too “strong” for you.

Today, all birth control pills are available in convenient packages, on which a calendar is printed and the days of the week are indicated. Therefore, it is difficult to confuse anything. On the first day of your period, you start with a pill that says start, and then work your way around until you've taken all 21 pills. Drink them at the same time, it is best to set yourself a reminder on your phone so as not to miss the next dose. This is followed by a seven-day break.

Some manufacturers for the convenience of women, along with active pills, also release a placebo. There are 7 of them in a pack and they are designed to be taken during a break. That is, when the package contains not 21, but 28 tablets, then the next pack should be started at the end of the previous one, without making a week pass.

On the second and third day of the cycle, you can also start taking pills, but they will not give a quick effect, and for some time you will have to take additional protection. Some time before menstruation, you can not start taking, you must definitely wait for their arrival. This can only be done if you have already drunk at least 2 packs of OK.

Menstruation during the period of taking hormonal contraceptives comes on the same day, that is, the cycle is exactly 28 days. If you have been drinking them for a long enough time, you can push back the critical days. When you don't want them to start, just don't take a break. But it shouldn't be abused.

When is the effect of OK

If you started drinking pills on the first day of menstruation, then you can stop using additional methods of contraception the very next day. In the event that this happened later, you need to wait another week.

Many girls, especially those who are not yet familiar with this method of protection against unwanted pregnancy, are afraid that it will not be effective. To date, this is the most reliable way, which gives a guarantee in 99 percent of cases, but only on the condition that you have taken the pills correctly.

What happens if you forget to take a pill

Some girls are inattentive and forget to take another dose of hormones, but remember this only after a few hours. If this happens, then follow the instructions that come with the tablets. In the case when more than 12 hours have passed, you need to urgently drink a contraceptive and use additional methods to protect yourself for a week.

If this time has not yet expired, then the pill should be taken as soon as possible, but you should not worry about reducing the effectiveness of the drug. Diarrhea or vomiting a few hours after swallowing a tablet can affect the effectiveness of OK, so it is better to take the next pill out of turn.

Is it true that birth control pills make you fat?

The myth that hormonal contraception leads to rapid weight gain is based on real facts. The first released tablets contained a high dose of estradiol and could cause this side effect. They also led to accelerated body hair growth and other unpleasant manifestations.

Modern drugs contain hormones ten times less than it was half a century ago, so they cannot affect the metabolic processes in the body and are absolutely safe for your figure.

Separately, it is worth talking about such an OK property as getting rid of acne. Today, many doctors consider hormonal contraceptives effective way dealing with them, especially in adolescence, when appearance is very important. This method is safe if you choose the right drug. These should be microdosed OK with an antiandrogenic effect.

Do not be afraid if the problem only worsens in the first month of taking it, as the body gets used to the intervention of synthetic hormones. This side effect should soon pass, and the skin will clear up, become smooth and beautiful.

Does hormonal contraception cause infertility?

Many believe that if you interfere with the work of the body, then it will fail and will not be able to independently perform its functions. But, in the case of birth control pills, this will not happen.

While we are taking them, the ovaries "rest", and after the end of the course, they fully restore their functions in 1-2 months. During this period, they become very active, which, on the contrary, contributes to rapid conception.

Is it possible to stop drinking OK

If something does not suit you or you have found an alternative to this method, you can stop drinking the drug after the end of 21 active tablets. In the middle of the pack, this is categorically not recommended and is possible only under strict indications.

When you do not drink the full course, then there is a hormonal failure, which is a strong stress for the body. You will not only worsen your health, but provoke some diseases.

The decision to start accepting OK is a responsible step. Therefore, remember that hormonal drugs cannot be prescribed to yourself on your own, but only after consulting a gynecologist. Also pay attention to contraindications, in order to avoid health problems. If there are no obstacles to starting the reception, then you can safely try this safe and reliable method of contraception.