To date, one of the most reliable and affordable means of protection against pregnancy for every girl is birth control pills. Oral contraceptives (OK) have a relatively low price, a minimum of contraindications and ease of use. In addition, their reliability is 99.7%, and for condoms this indicator is only 85%.
How to take birth control pills? How do they work? Which is better to choose? This and much more will now be discussed.
Action on the body
Before you talk about how to take birth control pills, you need to consider the principle by which they work.
So, for conception, a meeting of the egg with a sperm is necessary. After this happened, it penetrates the uterine cavity and is fixed there.
This process controls the pituitary gland of the brain, regulating the production of sex hormones by the ovaries, which include progesterone and estrogen. It is their balance that creates all the conditions necessary for the origin of conception.
Birth control pills, due to their composition, interfere with egg maturation, interfere with the penetration of sperm into the fallopian tubes, and also alter the endometrium of the uterine cavity. In total, OK contains two active components:
- Estrogens. They do not allow the egg to mature in the follicle, disrupt the structure of the endometrium, increase the peristalsis of the fallopian tubes, and also inhibit the production of their own hormones by the ovaries.
- Progesterone. It affects the increase in the density of mucus in the cervical canal, inhibiting the movement of sperm. Also, progesterone disrupts the release of statins and blocks the production of gonadoliberin. As a result, the ovulation process is inhibited.
In simpler terms, oral contraceptives create the maximum obstacle to the origin of conception.
How to choose?
What birth control pills are best taken, only an obstetrician-gynecologist can say. It will be necessary to conduct a series of studies that will help to identify the presence or absence of contraindications in the girl to receive OK. They include:
- History taking. The doctor will recognize the complaints, the time of the onset of the first menstruation and sexual life, as well as how often the girl has periods, what character they have and whether she has PMS. The presence / absence of pregnancies and abortions is also specified.
- General and gynecological examination.
- Blood donation for general, biochemical and hormonal analysis.
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs.
- Smears for oncocygology, specific infections and flora.
- Ultrasound of the mammary glands.
After studying the results, the doctor will offer several options for OK, from which the girl will be able to choose the one she liked the most.
General admission rules
If the doctor told the girl which birth control pills to take, then before the start of the course she should learn simple rules regarding their use:
- You need to drink them daily, at the same time. It is advisable to set an alarm if the girl is inherently forgetful.
- Was the tablet missed? It should be drunk as soon as possible. Even if you have to take the following with her, i.e. two at a time.
- Has diarrhea or vomiting occurred within 4 hours after taking the pill? Then you need to take another one. Not all substances could be absorbed.
- If the girl switches to OK after removing the vaginal ring or hormonal patch, then you need to take the first pill on the same day.
In favor of whatever oral contraceptive the girl makes a choice, the rules remain the same. Because everything is OK, they act on the same principle.
Ok with 21 tablets
As mentioned earlier, there are many oral contraceptives. And now it’s worth talking about how to take birth control pills, designed for 21 days. Such as "Yarina", "Regulon", "Lindinet 20", "Novinet", etc.
The listed drugs are available in a blister pack of 21 tablets. They need to start drinking on the first day, when menstruation begins. The contraceptive effect occurs after a few hours, and additional condom protection is not required. If the girl decided to start the reception on another day, then in the next 7 days they will have to use.
At the end of the pack, you need to take a break for 7 days. After about three days, menstruation should begin (more precisely, withdrawal bleeding). Protection is also not required at this time. But then, exactly after 7 days, you need to start the next pack.
Ok with 28 tablets
Now we will talk about a popular tool called "Jess." One package of this drug contains 28 tablets.
Of these, 24 active (pink) containing active substances, and 4 placebo (white). They are necessary in order not to forget about the start of taking the next pack. Having taken the last, 28th pill, the girl the next day should prepare a new one to start a new course.
Well, how to take birth control pills, Jess, clearly. Now we can talk about who this OK is suitable for.
This is a microdosed monophasic preparation containing ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone. It is suitable for both nulliparous girls and adult women. The instructions say that it can be used from adolescence until the onset of menopause.
Ok for women after 30
Many oral contraceptives are universal. But be that as it may, it is necessary to talk separately about which birth control pills are better to take after 30 years. A woman who has crossed this line must pay special attention to the issue of choosing OK, since for many, the hormonal background changes with age, and she can be no exception.
It is best to opt for mini-drank, which sparingly affect the body and have a very short list of side effects and contraindications. The following OKs belong to this category:
- Charozetta.
- "Continuin."
- Mikronor.
- "Exluton."
- Norethisterone.
- "Linestrenol".
- "Organometril".
- Primolut-Nor.
- Lactinet.
- "Ovret".
- Levonorgestrel.
The choice, as you can see, is impressive. And if a woman started taking birth control pills, but for some reason they did not fit her, then she can always switch to another drug. But only upon completion of the packaging started.
Ok for nulliparous
It is important to talk about which birth control pills are better for women who have decided not to have children, or those who are not ready for this yet. For them, microdosed combined oral contraceptives will be a good option. The drugs in this category include:
- Klaira.
- Mercilon.
- "Zoely."
- Novinet.
- Logest.
- Jess.
I would also like to talk about the drug "Klayra". The blister contains 28 tablets of five different types.
The first two, which have a dark yellow color, contain estradiol valerate. The next five, pink, consist of the same substance with the addition of dienogest. Then comes 17 tablets of light yellow color. They also contain estradiol valerate and dienogest, but in larger quantities. The next two dark red tablets are composed of estradiol valerate, and the last two, white, are a placebo.
However, the composition and the name of the tablets explains. Because they are combined, because they contain several substances at once, gradually affecting the body. And if OK, designed for 21 days, you can start drinking with any pill, then in this case, you must strictly adhere to the routine indicated on the blister.
Universal drugs
Earlier it was said about which birth control pills are better to take after 30 years and to those girls who did not give birth. Now you can list the names of universal drugs. That is, those who consume everything: from young girls to women who have come close to menopause. These include:
- "Yarina."
- "Midian."
- Three Merci.
- "Regulon."
- Lindinet 20
- Novinet.
- "Jeanine."
- "Diane 35".
All of these drugs contain 21 tablets. They have about the same composition. Prices are different. Yarina, for example, costs about 1,200 rubles. A "Regulon" - about 400-450 p.
Lactinet
This drug must be told separately. Indeed, in its composition, unlike many other means, desogestrel is included - the only active substance containing gestagen. It is very similar to progestogens - female sex hormones produced by the body.
"Lactinet" is an ideal option for nursing women, women over 45, many smokers, as well as those who are not suitable for combined OK.
But for girls who are in active reproductive age (i.e., up to 35), it is not recommended. Since its protective effect against pregnancy is slightly lower than that of the previously listed drugs. But otherwise it is an effective tool that has a minimal list of side effects and contraindications.
Could there be consequences?
Yes, if a girl decides without a medical consultation to buy the first drug she comes across and start taking it without knowing the instructions. Therefore, you need to be interested in whether you can take birth control pills at the obstetrician-gynecologist, and not at the girlfriend or pharmacist, as many decide to do.
The consequences may be:
- Headaches and migraines.
- Edema caused by fluid retained in the body.
- Bloating.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Hypersensitivity of the chest.
- Vaginal discharge of an unclear nature, uterine bleeding.
- Fatigue and irritation.
- Allergic reaction.
- Violation of smell, sight or hearing.
- Pain in the limbs.
- The appearance of a feeling of tightness in the chest.
- Cough.
- Rash.
- Pressure problems.
The list goes on. Hormonal background - the mechanism is very subtle. Therefore, in order to avoid problems and consequences, you need to responsibly approach the choice of OK.
Reviews
Well, in the end, you should pay attention to the comments left by the girls about various oral contraceptives.
Of course, reviews will not be able to answer the question of which birth control pills are better, since everything is very individual. But it’s quite possible to find out about how the drug manifests itself in reality.
Girls who want to get pregnant after canceling contraceptives are advised to take a closer look at Yarina Plus or Jess Plus. They include folic acid, which accumulates in the body during administration and further contributes to the full development of the fetus. Women say that after discontinuing this drug, there are no problems with conception.
If you believe the reviews left about the drugs above referred to universal, then they not only have a contraceptive effect. Their long-term use helps to get rid of skin problems (oiliness, acne, acne), normalize appetite, and also smooth out the symptoms of PMS. And menstruation becomes much less painful, long and heavy.
Reviews of mini-drank, in turn, say that the body gets used to these drugs as quickly as possible and without side effects. If in the case of other medicines in the first days after the start of administration there may be nausea, increased appetite and spotting, then they do not entail such consequences.
Should I take birth control pills? This is already every girl decides on her own. But if she has a regular partner and regular sex, then for her OK will be the most convenient and, most importantly, reliable option.