Oral contraceptive: description, instructions for use, features and reviews

Even the schoolchildren know about the necessity and importance of contraception in our time. After all, the same condoms protect not only from unwanted pregnancy, but also from possible venereal diseases. But in this article we will not talk about them.

Let's talk about such a concept as oral contraceptives: classification, side effects, contraindications to the use and the names of the most famous drugs in this area will be considered by us. In addition, we will determine the main advantages and disadvantages of these funds.

What are oral contraceptives?

It is a contraceptive in the form of tablets that contain female hormones in their composition.

The drug helps to avoid unwanted pregnancy by suppressing the process of ovulation. Its effectiveness is quite high, despite the fact that taking oral contraceptives does not give a 100% guarantee of protection.

Types of oral contraceptives

There are several classifications of contraceptive pills.

Depending on the active substance, they are divided into conventional progestagen and combined oral contraceptives, in which hormones of gestagen and estrogen are combined.

Based on the level of active substance content, the preparations are monophasic and multiphase. In the first case, the number of hormones does not change throughout the entire reception, and in the second, it can vary several times per cycle. In this case, multiphase tablets should be taken, strictly observing the order.

In addition, oral hormonal contraceptives may differ from each other in the amount of estrogen in them. As a rule, drugs with a small dosage of this substance are prescribed for young, healthy and nulliparous women. This is due to the fact that in most cases they do not need an additional hormonal adjustment. Women of adulthood, especially before the onset of menopause, it is preferable to take drugs with an increased amount of estrogen in them. This will help improve overall health and the state of women's health in general.

Choice of contraceptives

The question of which one to choose an oral contraceptive should be decided exclusively by a gynecologist.

In this case, you should not listen to reviews on the Internet or the advice of girlfriends taking hormone pills. The fact is that the choice of contraceptive oral medications is a strictly individual matter. During this process it is important to take into account all the nuances, from the state of a woman's health and ending with her way of life. In addition, do not hide from the doctor any information, whether it's bad habits, the presence of past abortions, malfunctions of the menstrual cycle and so on. Only in this way it will be possible to select the best oral contraceptives, which are ideal for a woman and make the risk of complications or side effects minimal.

Pay special attention!

Oral contraceptive in the form of hormonal tablets should be carefully prescribed and taken in the presence of the following diseases and body features:

• Prolonged immobility;
• Preparation for a surgical operation or rehabilitation period after it;
• The presence of bleeding from the genitals;
• Thrombosis, thromboembolism;
• high blood pressure;
• Problems with the vessels of the brain;
• Presence of malignant tumors.

Contraindications for use

Oral contraceptive is not a unique contraceptive that all women can use. There are a number of contraindications, in the presence of which it is worth not to take the drug in favor of another way to protect against unwanted pregnancy. Or choose the most safe variant of hormonal tablets with the doctor.

Relative contraindications include:

• Obesity of a high degree;
• Lactation period;
• epilepsy;
• Sickle-cell anemia;
• Presence of diabetes mellitus;
• Smoking (if the woman is over 35 years old);
• Presence of diseases of the genital tract (thrush, vaginosis and so on).

It is strictly forbidden to use hormonal drugs during pregnancy, liver failure, hemorrhagic stroke, as well as suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasms (liver adenoma, cancer of the body of the uterus or breast, and so on).

The most popular hormone pills and their use

How many manufacturers produce oral contraceptives? The list can be very long, therefore, as an example, we recall only a few of the tools that are currently most popular among women.

These include the following drugs: Novinet, Yarina, Zhanin, Marvelon, Jess, Diane-35, Logest, Regulon, Chloe, Lindineth-20, , "Clayra", "Median", "Silest."

Each of the tools is accompanied by an instruction that indicates the exact dose and frequency of taking the remedy. It is often necessary to use tablets daily for one piece. The exception is only the days of menstruation, during which hormonal drugs are contraindicated.

Side effects

Taking an oral contraceptive in the form of hormonal tablets, it is worth to be prepared for the possible occurrence of side effects. As practice shows, they occur quite often. Therefore, the doctor at the time of prescribing the drug must be sure to warn them about the woman. Especially in view of the fact that some of them can even bear a threat to life.

The most common side effects are manifested as an increase or loss of weight, the appearance of nausea, vomiting, intermenstrual bloody discharge. The latter can be observed for 3 months. If they last longer, it is worth turning to a gynecologist for a different drug.

Now let's talk about the serious side effects.

The results of the conducted studies showed that if a woman takes an oral contraceptive, the probability of pulmonary embolism arises (PAL) approximately 3-6 times, depending on the dose of the drug.

Changes in the level of blood pressure were also noticed. At the majority of women during reception of hormonal preparations its insignificant increase is observed. Therefore, in the presence of hypertension in combination with smoking and the use of oral contraceptives, the risk of cardiovascular diseases increases. After the drug is discontinued, amenorrhea may occur.

In addition, there are suggestions that an oral contraceptive may increase the risk of cervical cancer and dysplasia. Although this issue still causes controversy, as during the research did not take into account other disease-provoking factors, such as the early onset of sexual activity, a large number of partners, smoking and so on. But nevertheless during reception of hormonal preparations it is important to spend annual cytologic research of a smear from a vagina.

Advantages of hormonal tablets

All the advantages that an oral contraceptive possesses will be more convenient to consider in the form of a list.

1. Elimination of skin problems. To be more precise, preparations with estrogen are excellent assistants in the fight against acne. This is due to the fact that hormones reduce the secretion of sebum.
2. Treatment of polycystic ovaries. If the disease was detected early, there is a high probability of getting rid of it with the help of certain hormonal contraceptives.
3. Beneficial effect on the body during menopause. Hormonal drugs have a positive effect on the work of the cardiovascular, endocrine and nervous systems.

Effective means of contraception. Actually, this is the main purpose of hormonal oral contraceptives.

Disadvantages of birth control pills

Minuses of oral means are not so much, but still it does not make them less important.

It starts with the fact that hormonal contraceptives do not give a guarantee of 100% protection. Although in this regard, everything can depend on the woman herself, as she takes great responsibility. It is important to approach the reception of such drugs with maximum responsibility, since one missed tablet can endanger the safety of the whole cycle.

The second important point is the side effects. Even the right product can cause unpredictable and negative reactions of the body. As already mentioned above, they can manifest themselves in any form, beginning with individual intolerance and ending with the development of serious diseases.

Feedback on application

What do women who used contraceptive pills use to protect themselves? The reviews are completely different, which once again confirms the fact that this type of contraceptive should be selected exclusively individually.

There are those who note exceptionally positive points: improvement of state of health and appearance, as well as complete absence of any negative consequences.

Others complain of weight gain, persistent headaches and nausea during the use of drugs, or immediately after their withdrawal. Perhaps it's a wrong choice, or there are other reasons.