When planning a family, it is important to choose an effective and convenient method of protecting a woman from an unwanted pregnancy. The most common method is contraceptive hormonal methods. A correctly selected product both prevents pregnancy, and additionally helps to establish certain body functions.
In this area, one of the latest developments is COCs - combined oral contraceptives. These include Logest, a third-generation drug. Like other COCs, this tool combines two main components. The drug is monophasic, that is, all tablets are identical in it according to the ratio of active substances in them. Reviews about Logest are mixed.
Product release form and composition
The action of progestogens is enhanced in the presence of estrogen. That is why both hormones are combined in Logest. Current contraceptives focus on reducing harm to the female body, which is achieved thanks to extremely reduced doses of the active components in modern medicines. The content of estrogen in the composition of "Logest" is minimized, therefore, this COC is a low-dose contraceptive. The drug is available in the form of tablets. Each of them contains the following synthesized active ingredients: 20 μg of ethinyl estradiol and 75 μg of gestodene.
In the previous generation of oral contraceptives, one of the problems was the low bioavailability of the hormones that were contained there, and this was offset by their high dosages in the drugs.
What are the advantages of Logest?
Modern COCs make it possible to use minimum doses without danger to the reliability of protection, since they are quickly and maximally absorbed in the intestine.
It is enough to take one tablet a day, every 24 hours, and pregnancy protection is guaranteed. Each pack of contraceptives contains 63 or 21 tablets (or dragees). This amount is enough for three or one course. Each of them is equal to the menstrual cycle: an average of 28 days. That is, the contraceptive is taken 21 days and a week off. Then the course is repeated.
Logest tablets are made using auxiliary components: lactose monohydrate, sucrose, magnesium stearate, corn starch, povidone and talc, as well as other binders that are found in most drugs.
Indications for use
In order for Logest tablets to be prescribed by a specialist, confirmation of the necessity of using this contraceptive is required. The main condition is the preference for oral protection in comparison with other methods.
Before taking, you need to make sure that the hormonal components of this drug can be absorbed correctly and are involved in the regulation of the reproductive cycle.
According to the instructions to Logest, in the absence of intestinal absorption of drugs and contraindications for use, the drug is suitable for any healthy young woman as a reliable and effective means of protection. Some features of this tool can allow for reproductive and hormonal disruptions. "Logest" is prescribed for dysmenorrhea and other irregularities in the cycle of menstruation. This drug is especially effective when it is necessary to eliminate soreness and profusion of critical days.
Its main task - providing contraception - this tool fully justifies. Not a single case is known that during the passage of contraception with the help of this drug, someone becomes pregnant. In this case, pregnancy after the end of the use of Logest tablets occurs rather quickly.
It is effective to use the aforementioned drug to protect against pregnancy after an abortion or childbirth. The limitation is breastfeeding.
Dosage and administration
The main guide when using the contraceptive "Logest" - instructions for its use. It determines the exact dosage of the drug and the conditions for their administration. The rules to be followed in this case are described in an accessible and simple manner in the instructions.
Take "Logest" should be every day, one tablet at the same time. If you delay the reception in time, there may be undesirable consequences. Thus, each pack containing 21 tablets is drunk for three weeks.
After that, there may be two options. One of them is to take a break, indicated in the instructions, and not to take a contraceptive. The second - immediately after the end of the tablets, immediately proceed to the next. Thus, the time frame for bleeding to replace menstruation shifts. You can delay the arrival time of false critical days as much as the woman wishes.
Regardless of the specific brand, the interval between the use of hormonal contraceptives should not be more than a week.
After abortion
After an abortion, the characteristics of the drug are determined by the duration of the pregnancy that was interrupted. If it is small, then the start of administration is prescribed immediately after surgery. With a long period or after childbirth, it is necessary to observe a monthly break between the operation and the use of the first tablet.
Any new course of using COCs must be started from the first day of the current menstruation. In all situations where tablets were missed before a new course, especially if true or false bleeding did not occur, you need to make sure that there is no pregnancy.
What to do when skipping?
If the Logest tablet was missed for more than twelve hours, you need to drink the drug at the same minute. In the recommendations, as a rule, an extraordinary reception is established, regardless of the fact that their total number during the day will be equal to two tablets. The half-life of gestodene is about ten hours, reaching the level that is necessary is observed only by the seventh day of use. Therefore, to prevent the risk of pregnancy, it is necessary to maintain a high level of hormone concentration.
At the beginning of hormonal contraception in the first week of the drug should use additional methods of protection - barrier contraception.
COC need to be washed down with water - 50-150 milliliters.
Contraindications "Logest"
Due to the special effect on the woman’s body, all hormonal drugs carry the likelihood of complications if she has any diseases. That is why, before prescribing oral contraceptives to a patient, a specialist should thoroughly and comprehensively examine her.
The contraceptive Logest cannot be used by girls who have not yet had critical days.
The second category of patients with contraindications to the use of this COC is women who have menopause. For women of this age, the drug is not prescribed.
Logest should be abandoned both for diseases that are presently present and for those with a history. These include:
- kidney and liver diseases, since the withdrawal of hormones and metabolism is carried out using these organs;
- pathologies of the cardiovascular system, including angina pectoris and ischemia;
- diabetes;
- bleeding of unknown origin and suspicion of pregnancy;
- migraine;
- deep vein thrombosis;
- individual intolerance to the composition;
- the presence of thromboembolism and arterial thrombosis;
- defects in intestinal absorption, including due to colitis, peptic ulcer disease, etc .;
- malignant tumors and blood clots;
- previous operations and injuries;
- neurotic diseases.
Logest is not prescribed for obese and smokers.
If relatives have the diseases listed above, including an anamnesis, the purpose of the drug is not indicated.
Alcohol compatibility
The instructions do not mention the compatibility of alcohol and Logest. Presumably, alcohol in small doses does not cause incompatibility with the drug.
"Logest" is not prescribed when using many medicines, among which: "Analgin"; carbamazepines; "Rifampicin"; tetracyclines and ampicillins; "Griseofulvin"; barbiturate medications, blood clotting drugs and sugar.
Taking the latter needs a dose adjustment for COCs.
Unwanted effects
If the patient chooses the hormonal method of preservation with the drug, the possible side effects of Logest are not news to her. The peculiarity of the influence of synthetic hormones does not avoid the negative effects. That is why before using such funds it is advisable to be thoroughly examined. Among the possible diseases that should be excluded are the following: thrombosis; herpes; heart and vascular disease; disorders of the brain; liver or kidney disease.
According to reviews, Logest can also cause side effects such as hearing loss or loss, the formation of gallstones, skin diseases, and chloasma. In relation to the increased likelihood of breast cancer, there is no definitive information. However, there is evidence that such a dangerous pathology may be associated with the use of COCs.
Women say that, resorting to the Logest drug, they gain or lose weight from time to time, headaches, unexpected bleeding, and the appearance of android-type hair on the face also occur. Such situations are single, so most patients are satisfied with this contraceptive.
Drug overdose
In each package, the tablets are dosed the same way, and therefore an overdose can appear very rarely and by mistake. Possible consequences: vomiting, mild discharge, nausea, breakthrough bleeding and diarrhea.
The dosage regimen does not affect excess dosage.
Analogues of a drug
Hormonal synthetic drugs, including gestodene, which is part of the drug we are describing, are derivatives of representatives of the subgroup gonan, 19-nortestosterone. In addition to it, this includes desogestrel, levonorgestrel and other hormones.
That is why, if it is necessary to replace the Logest drug, analogues must be selected from among the drugs in which the listed substances are.
The closest analogues that contain gestodene are Lindinet-20 and Charozetta.
COCs, which have levonorgestrel in their composition, are known to many: Ovestin, Rigevidon, Postinor, and Mirena.
Preparations with desogestrel are Regulon, Marvelon and Novinet.
The choice of one or another analogue of "Logest" depends on medical advice and tolerance by a woman's body. If it detects side effects, it is necessary to switch to another drug, since a change in manufacturer may be beneficial.
Below are reviews about Logest.
Reviews on this drug
All hormonal contraceptives are characterized both positively and negatively. That is why the reviews of specialists are far from unambiguous. When choosing a COC, you should pay attention to the potential risks associated with interfering with the female hormonal system, and the benefits that can be obtained through the use of this drug.
You can be sure of only one thing: the use of such a contraceptive will not be dangerous if the woman is at the appropriate age, she does not have bad habits and diseases. However, the final conclusion will be made immediately after using the drug.
A number of doctors say in reviews of Logest about side effects, while others praise its effectiveness. Its reception definitely does not cause complaints in its contraceptive effect - it is always at its best.