Today, there are many ways to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. A wide selection allows you to choose the most suitable contraceptives for each woman. In irregular relationships, it is also important to take care of protection. How to decide on the method of contraception and what to look for when choosing? Let's try to understand this issue in more detail.
Why do we need contraception?
Every woman sooner or later thinks about how to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. At the same time, it is completely optional to exclude love joys from life, which, by the way, negatively affects the psycho-emotional state. Modern medicine currently offers a large number of different methods of contraception.
The use of contraceptives helps preserve women's health and reproductive function. A gynecologist should be involved in the selection of the best method, since the patient’s age, medical history and regularity of sexual activity are taken into account.
What contraceptives are there?
To protect against unwanted pregnancy, there are many types of contraception, each of which is suitable in a particular situation. They are usually divided into traditional and modern. The first include interrupted sexual intercourse, barrier methods (condoms, diaphragm), spermicides, non-hormonal drugs and a biological (calendar) method of protection.
Modern types of egg fertilization prevention are most popular, as they provide almost a 100% guarantee. These include hormonal birth control pills, IUDs (intrauterine devices), injections, and vaginal rings. Each method has its own indications, side effects and contraindications. Therefore, without consulting a specialist, it is hardly possible to choose effective contraceptives.
Hormonal methods of contraception
The most common and reliable are contraceptives based on female hormones (synthetic analogues) - estrogen and progesterone. Some may be single-component and contain only progesterone, in which case they are called mini-drank. They are the most sparing for the body. Combined birth control pills may contain different doses of the main active ingredient.
The action of hormonal agents to protect against unwanted pregnancy is to block egg maturation and the onset of ovulation. Mini-drinks only affect the mucous membrane of the uterus, making it more loose, and the secretion secreted becomes viscous. This prevents the sperm from fertilizing the egg. Pregnancy planning can begin as early as 2-3 months after the end of birth control pills, when reproductive function is fully restored.
The benefits of hormones
The previous generation of hormone pills had a number of side effects, which led many women to abandon their use. The latest contraceptives are well tolerated by the body and are practically devoid of unpleasant consequences of use. They are produced in the form of tablets, plasters, injections, vaginal rings and hormonal implants.
Oral contraceptives containing one type of hormone (mini-drank) are allowed to be taken during lactation. The components of the drug do not affect the baby's body. To normalize the menstrual cycle after a miscarriage or medical abortion, women are recommended to take combined drugs. They allow not only further preventing the fertilization of the egg, but also protect themselves from inflammatory diseases.
The benefits of hormones include the elimination of skin problems. Sex hormones are known to affect the production of sebum. If a violation occurs, male hormones begin to be produced in greater quantities than female hormones, and, as a result, acne appears on the skin.
Quite often, hormonal contraceptives for women are prescribed to treat polycystic ovaries and eliminate severe pain during menstruation. It is scientifically proven that such drugs have a preventive effect and significantly reduce the risk of developing oncology of the mammary glands, uterus, ovaries, and also prevent mastopathy, endometriosis and fibromyoma.
Contraindications
You should carefully study the list of contraindications for taking hormonal drugs to prevent pregnancy. The main factors prohibiting the use of oral contraceptives are:
- Cardiovascular diseases (coronary disease, hypertension, stroke, heart attack), venous pathology.
- Kidney disease.
- Oncology.
- The last stages of obesity.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Benign neoplasms.
- Sexually transmitted diseases.
- Vaginal bleeding during the menstrual period of unknown etiology.
- Pregnancy.
- Diabetes.
Each drug has its own list of contraindications, and therefore you should seek the help of a specialist who will help you choose the right hormonal contraceptives. With irregular relationships, such drugs can also be discarded. Non-hormonal contraceptives are the most suitable method of protection against unwanted pregnancy if sexual contact occurs less than 1 time per week.
The mechanism of action of non-hormonal contraceptives
Non-hormonal methods are very relevant during lactation, with irregular sexual relations, or if hormonal drugs are prohibited. The action of such funds is based on the destruction or damage of sperm. Non-hormonal contraceptives reviews are very diverse. For some women this is the best and safest way to plan a family, while for others it is completely untrustworthy.
Non-hormonal preparations contain special substances - spermicides, which contribute to damage to the sperm membrane, which provokes their death. The active component can be nonoxynol, benzalkonium chloride. Substances form a thin film on the mucous surface of the vagina, performing a protective function, as well as contributing to the thickening of mucous secretions. Non-hormonal birth control drugs are injected directly into the vagina, where they begin to act after 10-15 minutes. That is why they are referred to as barrier methods of contraception.
Are non-hormonal remedies effective?
Non-hormonal contraceptives cope with the task in only 80% of cases. For women who have an active sex life, this method is not reliable. Local protection is suitable for irregular contacts, the inability to use oral contraceptives and an intrauterine hormone, some diseases of the female genital organs, endocrine pathologies, during lactation.
The main advantage of non-hormonal remedies is absolute safety for health and the absence of serious side effects (in rare cases, itching is possible). A woman may not worry that she did not take the pill, as is the case with hormonal drugs, because the drugs are used immediately before sexual contact.
Disadvantages of non-hormonal drugs
The disadvantages of birth control non-hormonal drugs include:
- Introduction before coitus - it is necessary to precisely control the process and administer the drug no later than 10 minutes before contact.
- It is forbidden to take a shower immediately: soap neutralizes the acidic environment in the vagina created by the product. In the annotation to the drugs, you can find information that hygiene procedures are allowed only 2-3 hours after unprotected contact.
- The short-term effect of the drug - the protection created by the agent lasts for 3-4 hours, that is, it is recommended to introduce a new tablet before the next contact, because the first one will not provide reliable protection.
- The appearance of itching - some women note that after the introduction of the drug into the vagina, itching appears (an allergic reaction).
- Intolerance to the components that make up the drug - in this case, do not use a contraceptive.
Types of non-hormonal contraceptives
Non-hormonal contraceptives have recently become increasingly popular due to their safety. They are classified by the form of release (tablets, suppositories, creams, tampons, vaginal balls, aerosols) and the main active ingredient. Despite some differences, the main effect of the drugs will be the same. A wide selection of drugs allows a woman to choose the most suitable and convenient contraception to use. It is recommended that you first familiarize yourself with the annotation, which will indicate the method of administration of the drug and the duration of the effect.
Non-hormonal birth control pills
Girls and women who have contraindications to the use of hormonal contraceptives and who do not want to affect the hormonal background can use local birth control pills or suppositories. These are the most convenient spermicide-based remedies in use.
Non-hormonal birth control pills with irregular relationships is an ideal option for women to protect against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Quite often, they are used by girls who are afraid of side effects of oral contraceptives or, due to their health condition, cannot use other methods. Vaginal tablets can be selected independently or with the help of a gynecologist. Manufacturers recommend combining some of them with other protection methods, such as a diaphragm.
The following non-hormonal contraceptives (for women) are most effective:
- Benatex
- Farmateks;
- Patentex Oval;
- "Traceptin";
- "Conceptrol".
Some of the listed funds are based on the substance nonoxynol, which can somewhat prolong love pleasures by reducing sensitivity, others - benzalkonium chloride. The effectiveness and mechanism of action of the drugs do not differ. Preference should be given to a remedy for the components of which the woman will not have an allergic reaction in the form of burning and itching.
Farmateks
Currently, Pharmatex is the most popular non-hormonal method of contraception. Benzalkonium chloride, a medicinal antiseptic with antifungal and contraceptive effects, acts as an active component. At the local level, the drug destroys sperm and enhances the secretion of viscous secretions, like other non-hormonal contraceptives.
With irregular relationships, Pharmatex candles will be the most convenient option for protection. Also, the drug is available in the form of a cream, vaginal tablets and capsules, tampons. Suppositories are effective for 4 hours, tablets - no more than 3. The manufacturer recommends that at each subsequent sexual intercourse a new suppository (pill, capsule) be introduced.
According to studies, Farmateks can protect against gonococcus, chlamydia, Trichomonas, and the second type of herpes virus. In this case, the tool does not adversely affect the microflora of the vagina and does not change the normal level of acidity.
Patentex Oval
When safe contraception is needed, non-hormonal and yet effective contraceptives are selected. With irregular relationships, many women use a drug based on nonoxynol - Patentex Oval. Its effectiveness is from 80 to 90%. The drug is released in the form of vaginal foaming suppositories, which must be administered before sexual intercourse. In addition to protection against unwanted pregnancy, suppositories provide an antifungal and antiviral effect, that is, they protect a woman from many diseases transmitted through unprotected sexual contact.
Birth control after contact
The method of emergency contraception is resorted to if sexual contact was completely unprotected. In order to surely protect yourself from an unwanted pregnancy, it is recommended to take a contraceptive. After the act, no more than three days should pass.
One-time contraception is based on blocking the release of a mature egg from the ovary and preventing attachment to the uterine wall in the event of fertilization. Doctors advise resorting to this method only in the most extreme situations. Popular remedies from this category include Postinor, Escapel, Zhenale.