It is no secret that any woman who took oral contraceptives for even a short time forgot to take a pill at least once. Undoubtedly, this fact always reduces the effectiveness of the contraceptive, and also has a very deplorable effect on the state of the gastrointestinal tract. Today, this problem is easily solved by hormonal patches, which quite effectively combine the convenience of a patch and the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. They relate to long-acting drugs and provide a uniform supply of hormones throughout the day. Hormonal, like keratolytic patches, are glued to the dry skin of the abdomen or buttocks, sometimes on the outer surface of the shoulder or on the upper body, where they will be in minimal contact with the adjacent clothing.
The principle of action of hormonal plasters
The birth control patch, like the patch for headaches, contains an active active substance that gradually enters the body through the skin. The patch releases a daily dose of hormones that act on the principle of birth control pills into the bloodstream. Their main purpose is to stop ovulation.
Advantages of hormonal plasters
The main advantages of the hormone patch are the following aspects:
- It is easy to use.
- You do not need to think about him before or after sexual intercourse.
- You do not need to think about it daily (the patch is glued once a week).
- Unlike tablets, the state of the gastrointestinal tract is completely unimportant for the absorption of the patch.
- The patch allows you to adjust the menstrual cycle, making it less painful and plentiful.
- The patch greatly facilitates the course of PMS.
- The patch reduces the risk of developing cancer of the ovaries, uterus and colon.
- The patch reduces the risk of developing fibroadenomas and cysts in the mammary glands and in the ovaries.
Side effects
Sometimes hormonal patches can cause side effects from the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system: migraines, dizziness, paresthesia, hypesthesia, tremors, convulsions, emotional lability, drowsiness, anxiety, and depression. The sensory organs can also react in the most undesirable way to hormonal contraceptives with conjunctivitis, visual impairment. On the part of the cardiovascular system, palpitations, edema, and expansion of veins are possible. The digestive system can respond to the hormone by gastritis, gastroenteritis, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, flatulence, diarrhea, or constipation. Violations can also appear in the reproductive system - vaginitis, enlargement of the mammary glands, dysfunction of the ovaries, menstrual irregularities, fibroadenomas of the mammary glands, and infections of the genitourinary tract. On the part of the skin, hormonal contraceptive can cause itching, urticaria, acne, skin rash.
Hormonal patches. Contraindications
The main contraindication for the use of hormonal patches is venous thrombosis, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, severe arterial hypertension, acute cerebrovascular accident, retinal arterial thrombosis, as well as hypersensitivity to the drug. Often the reason for contraindication to the use of hormonal plasters is diabetes and severe arterial hypertension. Hormone-dependent tumors, including neoplasms of the endometrium and mammary gland, liver adenocarcinoma, endometrial hyperplasia are also considered a contraindication for the use of the drug.
Hormonal patches are not recommended for use in the following conditions:
- retinopathy, microangeopathy;
- migraine with aura;
- age under 18 years;
- uterine bleeding of any etiology;
- pregnancy, lactation;
- early postpartum period;
- postmenopause.
In no case is it recommended to use hormonal patches in the area of the mammary glands, as well as on irritated or hyperemic areas of the skin. With caution, patches should be used for smoking women over 35 years of age, as well as for women who are in a state of prolonged immobilization, with obesity and severe thrombophlebitis.
Given the above facts, every woman can now quite consciously draw the appropriate conclusions regarding hormonal patches: for or against.