Unfortunately, not everyone manages to get pregnant and give birth to a healthy baby on the first try. Sometimes it takes years. Those who want to have children just for the purpose of passing tests and undergoing the necessary examinations are lined up in huge lines at women's clinics and gynecological rooms. Sometimes the problem can be hidden in a banal hormonal imbalance.
It is known that women are prone to certain biocycles. And once a month on about 13-14 days of the cycle in the ovaries, the egg ripens and emerges. It is during this period of time that a woman can become pregnant. The whole process is controlled by the hormone progesterone. In cases where this hormone is not enough, malfunctions in the cycle are possible, and as a result - infertility. When planning a pregnancy, the drug "Dufaston" can become a real savior.
How does the medicine work?
The drug "Dufaston" is a synthetic analogue of the natural hormone progesterone, which is so necessary for the conception and bearing of a child. The drug does not affect ovulation and blood coagulation, in addition, it can be taken after pregnancy, so this drug is so in demand among doctors. When planning pregnancy, Dufaston increases the endometrium, thereby contributing to better fetal fixation. On the other hand, infertility is not the only indicator for the use of these pills. Many women have noticed a significant improvement in their health during the treatment of infertility.
In what cases is Duphaston prescribed?
If the doctor prescribes Duphaston to the patient during pregnancy planning, then there are direct indications. For example, the inability to conceive a child can be triggered by luteal insufficiency or hormonal dysfunction, which can lead to a threat of interruption or habitual miscarriages. In addition, judging by medical reviews, when planning a pregnancy, Duphaston is effective if the patient has the following diseases:
- irregular cycle, irregular menstruation;
- severe PMS (poor mood, insomnia, nervous tension);
- uterine bleeding;
- amenorrhea.
When planning pregnancy, Duphaston is prescribed for at least 3 months, if conception has come during this time, then the drug cannot be immediately canceled. Usually, the duration of the administration lasts up to 20 weeks, after which the dosage is gradually reduced. Naturally, all actions must be strictly coordinated with the attending physician.
How the drug affects the cycle
As a rule, if a woman is healthy, menstruation occurs strictly every month. Sometimes there may be slight deviations, but such delays are more often physiological in nature and do not pose a threat to health. It is quite another thing when menstruation is not more than 6 months. In this case, we are already talking about amenorrhea, which can be caused by ovarian dysfunction.
When the ovaries do not produce enough progesterone, this negatively affects the health of the woman as a whole. Secondary amenorrhea is a direct indicator for taking Duphaston when planning pregnancy. A lack of progesterone in the blood can provoke the following problems:
- body temperature differences;
- decreased mood, tearfulness;
- tendency to depression;
- obesity;
- migraine headaches;
- passivity, apathy;
- itching, burning, dryness in the vagina;
- swelling.
Typically, the above symptoms appear a week before the alleged menstruation. Judging by the reviews, “Duphaston” when planning pregnancy effectively restores hormonal balance, due to which all indirect symptoms are eliminated.
Contraindications and side effects
Duphaston is a hormonal drug, and accordingly, the abuse of such drugs can seriously harm. After some time, the woman’s body begins to get used to artificial hormones and ceases to produce its own. That is why such drugs as “Utrozhestan”, “Proginova” and “Duphaston”, when planning pregnancy, in no case can be abruptly canceled.
In the instructions that came with the tablets, there are only three cases in which it is not recommended to drink the medicine:
- Rotor Syndrome is a kind of liver disease caused by heredity.
- Progesterone-related malignancies.
- Individual intolerance.
Before taking "Duphaston" when planning pregnancy, every woman must familiarize herself with the side effects of the drug. This does not mean that such symptoms will necessarily appear, but you need to be prepared for everything. So, in rare cases, you may experience:
- skin rashes, itching, or other allergic reaction;
- headaches, sometimes very severe;
- jaundice or a change in liver function;
- anemia;
- nausea;
- drowsiness.
Duphaston when planning pregnancy: application scheme
The main rule that all patients need to remember: do not self-medicate! Because drinking “Duphaston” when planning without a doctor’s supervision is dangerous because you can achieve the opposite result. This drug may affect the body as a contraceptive.
Depending on the specific problem, the doctor will prescribe an individual pill regimen, which should be followed very strictly. Here are examples of appointments in accordance with the pathology:
- Disturbed cycle, PMS - 10 mg in the morning and evening from the 11th day of the cycle and 25 days.
- If the menstruation is very weak, dysmenorrhea is observed - the drug is prescribed from 4 to 25 days of the cycle. The dosage is 10 mg twice a day.
- The use of Duphaston when planning pregnancy in the presence of endometriosis is from 5 to 25 days from the beginning of the last menstruation, 10 mg twice a day.
- Amenorrhea - from 10 to 25 days of the cycle. Perhaps the doctor will prescribe additional estrogens.
In cases where conception does not occur only because of a lack of progesterone, the regimen for taking Dufaston during pregnancy planning is as follows: starting from day 14 of the cycle - 10 mg once a day. The course of treatment is 6 cycles. If conception has occurred during this time, in no case should the drug be canceled and they continue to drink for at least another 3 months.
How to behave after pregnancy
We found out how to drink Duphaston when planning a pregnancy, but what if the first signs of conception appear? First you need to stay calm and confirm the presence of pregnancy. The best way to do this is to take hormone tests, in particular to check progesterone and hCG.
Remember that Duphaston does not threaten the fetus, on the contrary, in some cases it is specifically prescribed for a pregnant woman. If a woman drank Duphaston before, then after conception, in no case should you abruptly throw the drug. Refusal of a medicine can provoke undesirable consequences.
If the pregnancy is proceeding well, the doctor may allow the dosage to be reduced by half and only after a while to completely eliminate it. In cases when there is a tone of the uterus or spotting, the doctor will recommend resuming the use of Duphaston.
Interaction with other drugs
Most often, Dufaston is prescribed in combination therapy with other drugs. Dydrogesterone is compatible with many modern drugs, in cases where a joint administration with estrogen is planned, contraindications of the latter should be taken into account. Consider the most popular drugs prescribed by doctors when planning pregnancy:
Divigel. At the same time, these two drugs are prescribed with a lack of progesterone and estrogen. They are perfectly compatible and with a correctly selected dosage regimen have an excellent effect on the hormonal background. It should be remembered that in this case heavy periods are possible.
"Femoston." The drug is prescribed at the beginning of the cycle, and "Dufaston" in this case is necessary to stimulate the second half of the cycle.
Metipred. The medicine is prescribed for patients with excessive testosterone in the blood. This male hormone prevents the exit of the egg and conception. Therefore, the drug is prescribed in combination with Dufaston
Price, release form, conditions of dispensing from pharmacies
The drug is produced in the form of 10 mg tablets, coated with a white shell, biconvex with a risk on one side. Blisters of 14 or 20 pieces are placed in a cardboard pack. The number of tablets in a pack is 20, 28, 84, 112 units.
The price for a pack of 20 tablets varies from 400 to 800 rubles. The average cost in Russia is 600 rubles. The drug is dispensed without a doctor’s prescription.
Analogs of Duphaston
The role of the above drug in the treatment of female problems is undeniable. But in the pharmaceutical market you can find analogues of any drugs. The most popular analogue of Dufaston is the drug Utrozhestan.
These tablets are almost identical in composition and action. The difference between Utrozhestan and Dufaston is that plant-derived progesterone is used in the first preparation. In addition, Utrozhestan can be used simultaneously in the form of candles and in the form of tablets.
Reviews about the drug
Reviews about the use of Duphaston in planning pregnancy are somewhat controversial. Most of the women surveyed noted improvement, recovery of the cycle and the onset of pregnancy. A negative factor was the price of the drug, which must be consumed for a very long time. Some patients complained of increased menstrual bleeding and other side effects.
In general, the drug is trustworthy and is actively prescribed by the attending physicians. If any negative aspects of the drug appear, the patient should tell the doctor about this, and perhaps he will replace Dufaston with Utrozhestan, which can be used as suppositories. Thus, the risk of side effects, such as nausea, drowsiness, is significantly reduced.
Summarize
If there were some diseases in women some 30 years ago, doctors would call a married couple completely barren and put an end to this. Now doctors can confidently say that the problem is not so significant and is completely solvable with the help of hormonal therapy. The main thing, before drinking "Duphaston" when planning pregnancy, is to consult with your doctor. It is very important.
The drug Duphaston, when planning pregnancy, the price of which is not so important, leads among analogues and shows excellent results in the seemingly most disappointing forecasts. Progesterone deficiency has now ceased to scare the weaker sex, because now there is a right solution to the problem.