Progestin-only contraceptives - A type of hormonal oral contraceptives. As part of such tablets is the only component - progestin. Shorten contraceptives are called POCs.
They comprise a relatively low dose hormones - About 30 micrograms. Packaging such tablets contain 28 or 35 tablets.
Choosing a suitable method of protection for themselves against unwanted conception, a woman should always consult with a physician. It is especially important to get professional advice when it comes to hormonal preparations, as there are a number of contraindications to their use. Therefore, it is often women who are contraindicated for some reason the reception combined oral contraceptives Are selected on the advice of a doctor is POCs.
Progestin contraceptives contain only progestin Which is an analogue of the hormone progesterone . This hormone is produced in the ovaries. The tablets contain a very small dose of the hormone - 300-500 mg. FTC considered to be less reliable means of protection than the COC, as the combined oral products contain analogues Estrogen and progesterone at higher doses. But at the same time on the female body progestin drugs act much softer.
This shows progestin contraceptives?
With the above features of the variety of contraceptives are recommended for women who are contraindicated COCs.
So called minipill It is recommended in order to protect women who feed the baby breast milk, as its composition and taste of the drug has no effect.
Progestin pills also shows women who suffer from cardiovascular diseases in which there is a growing intravascular coagulation. COC use in this case is not allowed, since they enhance the intensity of blood clotting and increase the risk of blood clots in the vessels.
POCs doctors recommend to select those women who smoke and their age at the same time over 35 years. The fact that the COCs and simultaneous effect of nicotine on the body can enable the formation of clots in blood vessels.
Today a group of progestin-only oral contraceptives includes the following products: Ekslyuton . Kontinuin . Ovret . Mikronor . Charozetta . Primolyut Nord . Mikrolyut .
The mechanism of action
Preparations of this group act on a woman's body differently than COCs. They suppress ovulation. Therefore, while receiving FTC does not change a woman's monthly cycle, and menstruation occurs.
When receiving the mini-pill changes the quality of cervical mucus. Under the influence POCs its consistency becomes more dense. It is a barrier to sperm, which thus does not meet with the ovum. But if this obstacle is still not working, and fertilization by sperm, it has been running for a second protection mechanism pregnancy . Progestin activity contributes also change endometrium, so attachment of the embryo in such conditions is impossible. Also under the influence of mini-pill slows peristalsis of the fallopian tubes, which prevents the egg in the uterus.
If you compare the effectiveness of this method of protection from the COC, the progestin-only contraceptives have lower contraceptive effect - 95%. At the same time the effectiveness of COCs is 99%.
How to receive?
The peculiarity of this type of contraceptive is that their performance impact depends on strict adherence to the method of application. Taking such Tablets needed every day and, at the same time. The woman should take pills, despite the presence or absence of bleeding during the menstrual period. It is advisable to drink a pill between ot18 to 19 hours, for maximum effect appears after about 4-5 hours after eating the pills, and sexual contact, usually occur in the evening and at night. However, when sexual acts at other times the effect of protection is maintained.
During Lactation the use of POCs is justified. The fact that breastfeeding is suppressed ovulation, and there is the so-called lactation amenorrhea. But before the start of menses, can mature follicle and thus ovulation. Thus, a woman can get pregnant even before the onset of menstruation. In view of this it is recommended to use contraception during breast-feeding . Mini-pill suitable for this optimally. Yet after the lactation period and the resumption of the full monthly cycle of women is desirable to switch to COCs.
Admission minipill woman should begin the first day of the menstrual cycle. After the birth of a child receiving progestin contraceptives begins six weeks from the date of delivery. After the abortion mini-pill taken immediately.
Benefits
As an advantage of this method of contraception should be noted with respect to the high efficiency of its contraceptive effect, the absence of a part of the synthetic estrogen analogues, no negative influence on the process of lactation, rapid achievement of the effect due to the absence of sexual contact. Moreover, these pills do not cause discomfort in the form of female headaches and nausea, and does not become a cause of increasing the pressure in women who are prone to hypertension . When receiving POCs no risk manifestations thrombosis and other violations in the process of circulation. These drugs do not have a negative impact on the psychological state in contrast to the COC. In very rare cases, taking them can trigger depression. On the libido of women use these contraceptives are not affected.
In addition to these advantages when taking progestin preparations woman noted a decrease in pain during the menstrual period. Mini-pill may have some therapeutic effect when a woman has inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs. In contrast to the combined oral contraceptives such drugs can be used in preparation for surgery.
Taking the mini-pill, a woman can count on the fact that its ability to conceive after taking the pills will recover very quickly. After graduating from the use of tablets woman can become pregnant within a month after the last dose POCs.
Disadvantages
But in addition to these advantages, there are some significant disadvantages that women suffer when using progestin preparations. Very uncomfortable for some women is the need to comply with very precise mode of taking the pills. Consequently, the mini-pill is strictly not suitable for those who find it difficult to organize their time. The disadvantage is noted and lower efficiency compared with the efficiency of COCs.
While receiving the mini-pill, some women say they can gain weight. At the same time, there are cases of loss of body weight.
When using this method of contraception is completely absent adequate protection from contamination diseases that are transmitted sexually , and AIDS . The contraceptive effect may be reduced if POCs are accepted in parallel with the preparations that have anticonvulsant effects, as well as with an anti- TB .
Side effects
While receiving the progestin-only contraceptives in women sometimes changes the menstrual cycle that can be expressed in amenorrhea And an increase in bleeding. In most cases there is no need to cancel the drug. Approximately one month later, these side effects disappear on their own. Also, when taking a mini-pill increases the risk of ovarian cysts . Once the drug is canceled cyst disappears after a few months without treatment.
When receiving POCs in women may be exacerbated thrush If there is a predisposition to candidiasis . Patients diabetes sometimes using kotratseptivov this group manifested nausea, dizziness, weakness, that alone stopped about a month without discontinuation.
Sometimes it is possible to increase the amount allocated sebum, more rarely - the emergence of acne .
In the early days of receipt minipill woman can celebrate that the sensitivity of breast increased. Discontinuation of the drug is required, symptoms disappear on their own.
Sometimes it develops a strong sensitivity to ultraviolet light, which leads to the appearance of age spots. With this phenomenon in the first months of taking the pills, doctors recommend not to sunbathe or visit a solarium.
In addition to these side effects in women may swell feet, in rare cases - increased growth of body hair.
The drug is canceled only if the woman is having prolonged bleeding with copious. Also cancellation is suitable if the above-mentioned side effects do not stop for longer than 2-3 months.
Who should not use the progestin-only contraceptives?
No admission of progestin-only contraceptives in women who have been diagnosed of breast cancer . cirrhosis of the liver . liver tumors . You can not take in the mini-pill hepatitis in the active stage, bleeding from the genitals At lesions of the brain and the cardiovascular system At epilepsy . severe kidney disease . You can not simultaneously use drugs with anticonvulsant action.
To choose the right medication, as well as to determine the presence of contraindications, a woman should consult a gynecologist. Before the final choice of the drug should be required to undergo an ultrasound pelvic exam to rule out pregnancy. You also need a gynecological examination and analysis smears to eliminate cancer pathologies and determination of the microflora.
Features progestin contraceptives
Using the contraceptive progestin is recommended for women of childbearing age, as well as those who are in the period peremenopauzy. FTC also shown nursing mothers, who says regular sex life; women who have recently given birth, but refused to breast-feeding; women who had an abortion; Women who smoke; those who suffer from hypertension or a bleeding disorder.
When using the mini-pill, women need to do everything possible to avoid interruptions in the pill. A woman must build for itself a certain regimen of pills and a reminder of this action. If the tablet has not been adopted on time (more than three hours after the time at which it was necessary to take a pill), then for seven days, a woman should use an additional method of contraception. Similar actions are necessary if after taking the pill for two hours there was a vomiting or diarrhea.
When the manifestation of certain symptoms in women, used as a method of contraception minipill required treatment to the gynecologist. These symptoms are too heavy or prolonged periods (about two times higher than in the normal situation). In the absence of menstruation after a few regular cycles a woman requires examination by a gynecologist to rule out pregnancy. It is also important to exclude ectopic pregnancy If women are recurrent abdominal pain.
In violation of the regularity of reception mini-drank, as a result of which the woman becomes pregnant, you should stop taking the drug. Pregnancy interrupt is not required, as the tablets of this type contains a small dose of the hormone has no effect on the fetus negatively. Prenatal care in the normal mode.