Women and men are used to planning their future. However, life does not always work out the way you want it to. More and more recently, patients turn to a gynecologist for an abortion. To prevent the unexpected conception, it is necessary to take a postcoital contraceptive. This is what will be discussed later. You will learn about what postcoital contraceptives are for women. Also find out the main indications and contraindications for their use. Drugs and reviews will be described below.
What are postcoital contraceptives?
Many women with this question turn to their gynecologist. What is a postcoital contraceptive? This is an emergency protection against unwanted pregnancy. It can be presented in the form of capsules, tablets or intrauterine devices.
Postcoital contraceptive has different actions. Some drugs are aimed at destroying sperm and expelling them from the female body. Other remedies work on an already fertilized egg. Still others tend to affect the inner lining of the genital organ or the hormonal background of a woman.
When to use postcoital contraceptives
Doctors strongly discourage women from using these products regularly. Their continued use can lead to serious health problems and reproductive function. That is why these drugs are used only in emergency cases. Doctors say the following evidence:
- if the condom is damaged;
- during the use of medicines that reduce the effect of contraceptives;
- in the first month after using hormonal contraceptives and so on.
These groups of drugs are used in unforeseen situations, for example, after rape. Also, the state of health of a woman in one way or another can be an indication for the use of drugs.
What are the contraindications?
Postcoital hormonal contraceptive cannot be used in pregnancy that has already begun and is confirmed. In this case, he will simply be powerless.
Serious diseases of the blood, blood vessels and heart are also a direct contraindication to the use of emergency contraception in the form of tablets. Intrauterine devices can not be used in case of inflammation and infection.
With extreme caution, tablets should be used for smoking women and after the age of 40 years.
The safest remedy
Postcoital contraceptive may take the form of a spiral. This is a small metal device that fits into the cavity of the genital organ. The service life of the device is from two to seven years. In this case, you do not have to remove it and reinsert it. How does this postcoital contraception work?
Reviews of doctors say that the spiral does not prevent sperm from entering the uterus. Also, the device does not have the ability to block ovulation. His work is as follows. After perfect fertilization, a set of dividing cells is sent to the cavity of the genital organ. However, here the ovum cannot be fixed. All because the embryo rejects the spiral. As a result, the woman does not become pregnant, and in the event of fertilization, the egg leaves the uterine cavity along with the menstrual blood.
The spiral is used by many women around the world. However, despite its safety, the device refers to an emergency contraceptive, since it begins to work only after fertilization.
Opinions on postcoital contraception
How do women and doctors relate to such medicines? For many women, these drugs are salvation. Since they help prevent or terminate a pregnancy at an early stage. As a result of such an action, the fairer sex does not need to have an abortion. After all, this procedure is very detrimental to health and reproductive functions.
Some opponents of abortion say that postcoital contraception should be prohibited along with surgical termination of pregnancy. They explain their opinion by the fact that medication in some way is the same abortion.
Doctors explain that this method of exposure is more gentle than conventional termination of pregnancy. The consequences of it are not so deplorable and arise in very rare cases. However, with the regular use of such drugs (with the exception of the spiral), women begin to have serious health problems. Consider some drugs related to emergency contraception.
Postinor or Eskopel
These drugs are analogues. They contain levanol gestrel in their composition. This substance acts on the fertilized cell, destroying it. The production of the hormone of the second phase is also blocked. This contributes to the fact that the endometrium undergoes reverse development. Thus, the tablets do not allow the fetal egg to attach to the wall of the uterus, which leads to a halt in the progression of pregnancy.
Reviews of these two remedies are positive. Both one and the other drug is effective. Recently, however, Eskopel has gained great popularity. All due to the fact that it contains twice as much levanolgestrel as in the first medication.
Oral contraceptives
May take the form of conventional birth control pills, postcoital contraception. "Regulon", "Janine" and other drugs are included in this group. However, to achieve the desired effect, you will have to follow a certain pattern. Immediately after sexual intercourse, it is necessary to drink a dose of the drug, increased several times. On average, you will need three to eight tablets. It all depends on the composition and content of certain hormones.
Reviews about this method are very doubtful. Many women note its effectiveness. However, doctors say they were just lucky. The effectiveness of this method is equal to 50-80 percent. This suggests that pregnancy can still persist. However, due to hormonal failure, giving birth to a healthy baby this time will not work.
Mifepristone Remedies
This section includes postcoital contraceptives Zhenale. Also in this group are Mifegin, Mifepristone and others. All have an abortive effect. You can take them not only immediately after sexual contact, but also much later. Such tablets damage the membranes and block progesterone. As a result, the myometrium becomes more susceptible to oxytocin and begins to contract.
Reviews of doctors say that this drug can be used up to 42 days of absence of menstruation. However, alone he is not always able to cope. Often, at the same time, doctors prescribe compounds that enhance the contractility of the uterus. The combination of such drugs is quite effective and almost always has absolute success.
Latest tools
Ellaone is a postcoital contraceptive that has not been fully reviewed. This foreign medicine is an analogue of the Russian Mifepristone. A contraceptive effect was obtained in most cases. However, doctors report a large number of side effects.
Also, patients report a high cost of the drug. So, one package will cost you about 3,500 rubles. Much more affordable for women are the above tools.
Folk methods
Postcoital methods of contraception also include folk recipes. In ancient times, women used hot or cold baths to protect against conception. Douching is also very popular.
Currently, the fairer sex uses methods such as heavy physical exertion, the introduction of tampons with a variety of medicinal solutions into the vagina, the use of acetic acid, and so on. All of these methods have no effect. Women only ruin their health, but cannot prevent conception.
If you need emergency contraception, then you should not engage in self-selection of drugs. Contact your gynecologist in the first few hours after sexual intercourse and find out what postcoital contraceptives are. Drugs and reviews about them are described, presented to your attention. Health to you!