Emergency contraception: methods and means

Emergency contraception (drug names will be given later) is used to prevent unwanted pregnancy in cases where other methods of protection were not provided for this. There are various options that a woman chooses for herself.

Operating principle

best emergency contraception

Means that belong to this category must be used for a short period of time after the end of sexual intercourse. Before the beginning of intimacy, there is no need to use them, since the desired effect will not work. However, even after sexual intercourse, they should not be abused often, since it can cause considerable harm to women's health.

The basic principle of the action of emergency contraception is that the components included in the composition have a significant effect on the body, thereby preventing the egg from attaching to the uterus after fertilization, as a result, pregnancy simply does not occur.

The end result depends on the time when the woman took the drug. It can give the desired effect for 3 days. Further use of emergency contraception pills is not required, since pregnancy will come and everything will be pointless.

The effectiveness of these funds ranges from 70 to 98%. None of the manufacturers can give a 100% guarantee that pregnancy will not occur. In medical practice, there are cases when, after using the drug, the egg still attached to the uterus and pregnancy occurred. A negative effect on the fetus of the drug is not fixed. Deviations in development in children due to the fact that a woman used one of the methods of emergency contraception does not occur.

goal

It is thanks to this method that a woman of childbearing age can be helped to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies, and, as a result, the number of abortions. Of course, of the two evils, it is better to choose the lesser. And if in the future you have to go for a peculiar crime in the form of abortion, then it is better to avoid pregnancy by all possible means.

There are times when sexual intercourse occurs under duress, then various emergency contraception drugs are used as protection against unwanted fertilization and from psychological trauma that will be associated with this whole situation.

Therefore, it should be noted that the "fire" protection should be applied only in rare cases and after when conventional means become ineffective. Thanks to these methods of protection, a woman can be more confident that pregnancy still will not occur.

When used

doctor's appointment

Many girls of reproductive age can use emergency contraception at any time. It is better to resort to these methods infrequently, but there are cases when you can not do without them:

1. After voluntary sexual intercourse, in which the partners did not use other means of protection.

2. At times when standard contraceptive options fail partners:

  • condom sliding or tearing;
  • in case of incorrect use of the calendar method to prevent fertilization (it often happens that when calculating the partners incorrectly determine safe and dangerous days);
  • the man did not manage to interrupt the intercourse in time , after which the sperm ended up in the vagina;
  • skipping more than three days of using oral contraceptives.

3. In the case of involuntary sexual intercourse.

Any woman can use emergency contraception after sex. It is allowed to use these funds during breastfeeding (it is necessary to maintain an interval of 8 hours between intake and feeding). It should be noted that hormonal drugs that help prevent the onset of pregnancy are undesirable for young girls and adolescents, since they have not completely formed a hormonal background.

Hormonal drugs with levonorgestrel

Hormonal drugs with a progestogen

Emergency contraceptive pills, in which there is a very large dose of progestogen, are not taken equally. Some funds will need to be taken only once, while others - several. It directly depends on the drug that will be used, this scheme will certainly be described in the instructions for use. It often looks like this:

  • the first pill, in which a very large amount of the hormone is collected, is drunk within 3 days after the end of sexual intercourse, and the other is not needed at all;
  • one tablet is consumed for 3 days, and the second half a day after taking the first.

The main representative of this group is familiar to many women - it is "Postinor" (the international name of the drug sounds like "Levonorgestrel"). This fully synthetic agent perfectly prevents the onset of fertilization, as it causes considerable changes in the endometrium, therefore, as a result, implantation of an egg becomes impossible. The analogue of Postinor is Escapel.

Studies have shown that Postinor is effective in 85% of cases. On the first day of admission after intercourse, the effectiveness is 95%, if you use the product on the second day, then 85%, and on the third it is only 58%. Many doctors call this tool a "medicine of the past", as it causes very serious consequences.

Mifepristone

Antigestagenic substances in hormonal preparations

This group refers to the best emergency contraception methods. These medications are also hormonal. To prevent fertilization, just one tablet is enough. A woman must perform this procedure within three days after the end of the act of intercourse, which was not protected.

Quite a popular example of this category is "Ginepriston." It is considered the best, since this modern drug is safer than the previous one, but still side effects and contraindications are present. The remedy, depending on what phase of the menstrual cycle it was taken, actively inhibits ovulation or does not allow the fertilized egg to join the uterus. Other medicines containing mifepristone are Agesta, Zhenale.

Oral Combined Drugs

Oral Combined Drugs

An alternative method of emergency contraception is to take several tablets of combined oral contraceptives in a larger than usual dose.

Their use should be carried out according to the following scheme: take tablets within twelve hours from the moment of intercourse, so that the total amount of ethinyl estradiol is 200 ฮผg, and levonorgestrel is 1.5 mg.

The main representatives of this category are the drug "Silest" and its main analogues - "Minisiston" and "Rigevidon".

When breastfeeding, this category of emergency contraception is undesirable. Women simply can stop this procedure, as the lactation period will be reduced. And also the product can significantly degrade the quality and reduce the amount of milk.

Intrauterine contraceptive method - copper spiral

Copper spiral

To prevent unwanted fertilization, you can resort to another option, namely, to introduce an intrauterine device. In order to get this device, you need to see a doctor, and the procedure is required as soon as possible after the sexual intercourse has been completed. Often the period during which you can apply this tool is 5 days.

The intrauterine device is a small-sized device for the manufacture of which copper and plastic are used. It significantly reduces the life time of the egg, and also does not allow it to attach to the uterine membrane after the fertilization process. The efficiency of the spiral is 99%.

Myths

It should be noted that in society there are many ingrained myths about emergency contraception:

  1. At the end of unprotected intercourse, unnecessary pregnancy with folk remedies can be prevented. Of course, this is a myth. Any douching, physical activity or hot baths will not help in solving this problem, since sperm enter the uterus a few minutes after ejaculation. It should be noted that the minimum number of sperm can stand out at the time of sexual intercourse.
  2. After applying these funds at the next conception, the child may be born with developmental abnormalities. This, of course, is fiction. There are many drugs for emergency contraception, and none of them affects subsequent pregnancy, as well as the development of the fetus.
  3. Means cause changes in the figure, as well as an increase in mass, this is a myth, and a minimum weight gain can provoke long-term contraception methods.
  4. Components in this category are allowed to be accepted continuously. This is still not the case. These drugs are recommended to be used only occasionally, as they are not approved for use as a means of long-term protection.
  5. The effect of emergency contraception on menstruation is deplorable. This statement is not entirely true, since the funds do not completely break the cycle, but can only cause a slight delay.

It should be noted that the sooner a woman uses this drug after unprotected intercourse, the much higher the chance of not becoming pregnant. Experts argue that this methodology is an excellent backup option only if standard contraceptives have not worked.

Contraindications

Since anyone can purchase emergency contraception without a prescription, you need to know who should not use them, so you should first consult your doctor. The main contraindications may be:

  • age younger than 16 years;
  • pregnancy;
  • hypersensitivity, as well as an allergic reaction in a woman to the components that are in the composition of the drug;
  • severe liver failure.

Some drugs should be taken with caution if there are problems with the biliary tract, liver, Crohn's disease, chronic heart failure, lactation, and also hypertension.

Experts do not recommend the use of such emergency assistance very often. Means are categorically contraindicated for regular use. They are allowed to be consumed no more than 1-2 times a year.

Side effects

It also happens in women that they feel unwell after taking emergency contraception. What negative symptoms are described below:

  • nausea in 23โ€“50% of cases;
  • dizziness in 11-17%;
  • 6โ€“9% of girls experience vomiting;
  • general weakness is observed in 17โ€“29% of the fair sex.

Among the most common consequences of emergency contraception, uterine bleeding can also be noted. It can begin within a few days after taking the drug. For certain girls, on the contrary, a delay of 5โ€“7 days may occur.

The reaction of each organism is completely individual. And also there are allergic manifestations, soreness of the mammary glands and diarrhea.

Women who choose to use a copper-containing intrauterine device may also experience side effects. Basically, there are pains in the lower abdomen, exacerbations of inflammatory diseases of the uterus and blood discharge from the genital tract. It happens that the establishment of a spiral is accompanied by perforation of the genital organ.

Peopleโ€™s emergency funds do not exist, so you should not even look for them. Hot baths, lemon slices, as well as decoctions of bay leaves will not help get rid of an unwanted pregnancy.

Before you start using emergency contraception methods, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons. The funds can not be called completely safe. Before using them, it is recommended to determine the day of the menstrual cycle. For example, if sex was a few days after menstruation or a couple of days before its onset, then such drugs can not be used, since, most likely, ovulation simply did not occur. This process occurs around the middle of the cycle, but there are still exceptions.

disadvantages

emergency contraceptive pills
  1. The use of drugs of this category is safe only at the very beginning of the attachment of the egg. It is advisable to take the first dose, according to gynecologists, no later than eight hours after sexual intercourse, although the packaging indicates that there are three whole days for this.
  2. Not all drugs are completely safe for women's health, they have many contraindications, so their use is allowed no more than 2 times a year.

Advice

  1. First you need to choose the time of taking the drug so that it is convenient to drink the second dose, if necessary (for example, 21:00 and 9:00).
  2. To prevent such unpleasant sensations as vomiting and nausea, it is recommended to start taking the tablets in the evening immediately before bedtime, during meals, and drink them with milk.
  3. In the period that lasts until the next menstruation, it is necessary to use barrier methods of contraception.
  4. Do not forget that these options are intended for single use, and as a permanent contraception, it is recommended to choose a remedy after consulting with your doctor.
  5. If the expected menstruation is delayed for a week, you must definitely contact your doctor to exclude the onset of pregnancy.

Reviews

Almost every girl of childbearing age used emergency contraception at least once. It should be noted that this technique can help avoid an unwanted pregnancy, and therefore, eliminate a large number of abortions. Therefore, doctors say that these funds must be used in order to avoid unwanted operations. Experts say that, despite the need for such emergency methods, it must be remembered that the "superpill" can be used literally several times a year, or even less, since it creates a literally hormonal burst in the body.

Many women claim that these methods often helped prevent an unnecessary pregnancy, but quite often negative effects on the body were also noted.


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