Many are interested in the question: levonorgestrel - what kind of hormone is this? This is a synthetic progestogen that converts the endometrium, minimizes ovulation, preventing the fertilization of a prepared egg. In addition, with its help, mucous membrane receptors receive reduced sensitivity. In the article we will consider a drug containing the named hormone.
Pharmacology
The drug "Levonorgestrel" is an estrogen that prevents the activation of sperm due to an increase in the viscosity properties of mucus. The drug inside the uterus locally affects the fallopian tubes, endometrium, mucus consistency, as a result of which follicle-stimulating hormone reduces its activity.
When ingested, the named medicine is actively absorbed in the digestive tract, bio-indicators make up to 100%. In the blood, its components are concentrated as much as possible when taken 75 ml once after 60 - 130 minutes. The hormone in question interacts with plasma and binding globulin components by about 50%.
The metabolism is focused on the liver, with the formation of pharmacologically passive metabolism. The main isoenzyme of this hormone is CYP3A4. The elimination half-life can last up to 30 hours.
The properties
In response to the question "Levonorgestrel - what kind of hormone is this?" should be guided by the instructions for the drug of the same name and the recommendations of the treating doctor. The difference in the total value is about 1.0 ml / min./kg (from plasma). The hormone is eliminated mainly through the ureter, a small part is removed with feces.
With systemic therapy, the rate of getting into the uterus is no more than 20 mcg daily, and after five years it drops to 11. On average, the rate of release of the hormone varies in the region of 14 mcg / 24 hours for 50-60 months.
Intrauterine therapy is allowed for women with hormone replacement therapy in conjunction with estrogens that do not include a progestogen. Levonorgestrel is a hormone that invades the plasma 60 minutes after ingestion. The maximum concentration in it is fixed after 14 days of use.
Indications
The use of this drug is possible with intrauterine therapy, as well as in the following cases:
- Menorrhagia of idiopathic orientation.
- Long-term contraceptive protection.
- Prophylactic measures for replacement replacement with estrogen.
- Emergency postcoital contraception.
The hormone levonorgestrel, whose action has an extensive scope, should be used only after the recommendation of a doctor.
Application and dosage
The drug in question is activated by intrauterine injection - injected into the uterine cavity. Used within 4 days after intercourse in a volume of 0.75 to 1.5 mg. Specialists categorically do not recommend emergency contraception more often than once every six months.
To exclude menstrual irregularities, it is necessary to comply with the recommended dosage without repeated use. You can not use the drug in question orally as a way of constant contraception, since this provokes the appearance of side effects and reduces the effectiveness of the drug. In case of uterine blood formation after emergency contraception, the examination procedure by a gynecologist is strongly recommended, and if menopause is more than one week, you need to wait a moment to conceive.
Only after a consultation and informed decision by the gynecologist in extraordinary cases is it possible to use the drug for contraception in minors in case of emergency.
How is the hormone levonorgestrel used?
How does the use of the described hormone affect the body, and what to do to avoid side effects? This question is asked by many. Strict adherence to the recommendations of a specialist, compliance with the dosage and following the instructions are guarantees of the safe use of the drug.
Before using the IUD, it is necessary to undergo an examination by a gynecologist, including checking the mammary glands, pelvic organs, and making a cervical smear.
Re-inspection is carried out after 30-40 days after the installation of the spiral, then annually, and in the case of the presence of the relevant premises - more often. This intrauterine therapy is effective for 4 to 5 years. Its installation should be carried out exclusively by a doctor specializing in this field or having experience with the sorting of the drug in question.
The risks
In women taking drugs with gestagen, an increase in venous thrombosis at a critical time is not excluded. With such symptoms, urgent measures for diagnosis and treatment must be taken immediately.
After the removal of the IUD, fertility is resuscitated six months later in half of the women who applied, after 12 months, more than 96 percent. Contraceptive orientation is less effective for obese patients.
Contraindications
Asking the question "Levonorgestrel - what kind of hormone is this?" all contraindications should be studied. Among them:
- Over (hyper) sensitivity, thrombophlebitis.
- Thromboembolism, a change in arteries.
- Cerebrovascular disease , pregnancy.
- Regarding ingestion: jaundice (including a history), pathological complications of withdrawal of bile or liver, lactation.
- Puberty.
- In addition, for an IUD, infections of the genitourinary tract, relapses or active inflammation in the pelvis, excesses of postpartum endometritis, and acute liver diseases.
- Septic-abortive intervention in the last trimester, dysplasia of the uterine neck, pathology with similar bleeding of unknown origin, malignant formations.
- Arriving or congenital anomalies, deforming fibromyomas.
- Progestogenosis (a tumor, including breast cancer).
Limitations
A limiting factor is often relevant for therapeutic intervention inside the uterus, if the following symptoms or chronic diseases occur:
- severe headaches, common and local migraine with visual impairment, other symptoms, focused on the possibility of coronary artery disease;
- overt hypertension, jaundice, complex destructive processes in the circulatory system, including heart attacks and strokes;
- diabetes mellitus.
You should immediately consult about the elimination of the IUD in the formation or presence of any of these conditions.
Pregnancy and lactation
Despite the fact that levonorgestrel is a female hormone, its use is unacceptable during pregnancy. If it does occur, it is recommended that the system be eliminated due to the fact that any intrauterine contraception increases the risk of premature birth and miscarriage. Carrying out uterine sounding or elimination of the system sometimes leads to a miscarriage that occurred arbitrarily. A specialist consultation will be required on the feasibility of artificial termination of pregnancy if it is not possible to correctly extract the contraceptive.
If it is impossible to remove the intrauterine system and the insistent desire to maintain pregnancy, the patient should be aware of the possible consequences and risk to the baby due to premature birth. In such cases, careful monitoring of the course of pregnancy is absolutely necessary. The patient should be informed that she should immediately report all the symptoms that will help to suggest a complication of the process.
Lactation
When breastfeeding and using Levonorgestrel, approximately one tenth of the drug enters the baby's body. Breastfeeding inside for emergency contraception should be discontinued for 1.5 days.
For a therapeutic system installed intrauterine, as for any purely progestogen method of contraception, it is characteristic that the use of a month and a half after birth does not adversely affect the development and growth of the baby, therefore, the drug most likely does not pose a risk to the fetus at the recommended dosage .
Side symptoms
And returning to the question "Levonorgestrel" - what is it? ", Let's consider the possible side effects and contraindications of the drug. They can occur in different body systems and represent the following symptoms:
- From the side of the nervous system: fatigue, depression, headache, mood swings.
- Gastrointestinal tract. Vomiting, upset, cramping, bloating.
- Genitourinary organs. Bleeding, discharge, pain, candidiasis, the likelihood of malignant and benign tumors.
- Skin rashes, eczema, itching, hives, acne.
- Other: edema, joint pain, pressure surges, sepsis.
In rare cases, seizures of epilepsy, convulsions and fainting are possible.
Combination with other drugs
When studying Levonorgestrel (what kind of hormone it is), it is necessary to mention the possibility of its combination with other medicinal and organic preparations. In the case of the use of the substance in question with inducers of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, a decrease in efficiency is possible due to an increase in its metabolic processes.
The following medicines may lower the effect of Levonorgestrel:
- A group of barbiturates, "Tretinoin", "Carbamazepine", the composition of St. John's wort and its composition.
- The effectiveness of anticoagulants, hypoglycemic, anticonvulsant drugs is reduced.
- "Levonorgestrel" increases the capacity of glucocorticosteroids in the blood, and is also able to disorganize the metabolism.
- Due to the inhibition of the recirculation of sex steroids, which is due to the reorganization of the intestinal flora, an increase in menstrual bleeding may occur with the combined use of certain drugs.
One cannot but add, speaking about the use of Levonorgestrel, that this remedy causes an increase in side effects of other medicines, there is no antidote to it. In case of an overdose, symptomatic treatment is required .