Sometimes in an intimate life of a woman an unplanned sexual intercourse occurs. In case of unwillingness to become pregnant, immediate action is required. But all folk remedies, as shown by the reviews of doctors, are ineffective and can even cause serious harm to health. Many people know the "Postinor" tablets, which are emergency contraception and can protect against pregnancy. However, the pills have a lot of contraindications, so you should familiarize yourself with the principle of their action and find out the features of the reception.
The main components of the pill
A rather powerful effect on the hormonal system of a woman is exerted by Postinor tablets. The instruction says that the main active ingredient of each pill is levonorgestrel. In this case, the dose is very high - 750 micrograms. There are also auxiliary components that do not affect the activity of the drug, but contribute to the formation of the tablet itself:
- talc;
- silica;
- potato starch;
- lactose monohydrate;
- magnesium stearate.
When the drug is indicated
Many women in a panic remember which pills can be taken after an unprotected act. "Postinor" appears on the mind one of the first. However, it is worth considering that, according to the attached annotation, it is not often prescribed to terminate an already happened pregnancy. The drug is considered a measure of emergency contraception when intercourse was unforeseen and unprotected. Pills are also used in the case of an unreliable primary method of protection against pregnancy (for example, a condom broke).
Prohibited Tablets
Pills "Postinor" have a powerful hormonal load on the body of a woman. Therefore, their reception is possible only in the case of an undisturbed menstrual cycle. Under the ban, the drug is in the following cases:
- adolescent girls, up to 16-18 years old;
- history of liver failure;
- lactase deficiency or intolerance;
- hypersensitivity to any substance of the pill;
- galactose malabsorption;
- pregnancy.
Due to the fact that they can cause a serious hormonal failure of the Postinor pill, the instruction makes warnings. The drug should be taken with caution in the following diagnoses and conditions:
- jaundice;
- Crohn's disease;
- period of breastfeeding;
- liver disease
- problems with the biliary tract.
Authorized dosage
Birth control pills "Postinor" are an oral contraceptive, so they must be taken orally. The instruction strictly stipulates the dosage and timing of admission. It is not recommended to violate the norms prescribed in the annotation, otherwise it can lead to serious hormonal failure and irregularities in the menstrual cycle.
So, the instructions say that during the first three days (72 hours) you need to drink 2 tablets of "Postinor". Moreover, if the first pill should be drunk as soon as possible after intimacy, then the second - after 12 hours. Some deviation is allowed. But after taking one dose no more than 16 hours should pass.
To maximize the effect, the main condition of the drug is the speed of its adoption. It is necessary to have time to take both pills no later than 72 hours after intercourse without protection. Sometimes after taking the remedy, vomiting occurs. The instruction prescribes to take the pill again if less than two hours have passed. In this case, the cycle time is not taken into account.
It is important that after taking the drug and before the next menstruation, you must use a condom during intercourse. You can use the cervical cap. During one cycle, the use of Postinor repeatedly is prohibited. This can lead to disruptions in menstruation and the inability to become pregnant in the future.
Adverse effects
The use of "Postinor" tablets should be strictly limited. They are not a permanent measure of protection against pregnancy, but are taken only in emergency cases. Ideally, pills should not be taken more than twice a year. But in life there are various unforeseen situations, so you need to familiarize yourself with the possible side effects that may occur while taking:
- an allergic reaction in the form of a rash, swelling, or urticaria;
- vomiting
- diarrhea;
- Dizziness
- increased sensitivity of the mammary glands;
- headache;
- delay of menstruation.
It is worth knowing that if the delay is not more than a week, then drug treatment is not required. Otherwise, examination and consultation of a gynecologist is necessary. It is also worth noting that the reaction can be individual and not excluded any other side effects.
So, if menstruation is not more than seven days, then both a failure of the cycle and the onset of pregnancy are possible. Therefore, the instruction warns of a mandatory visit to the doctor in this case. From the reviews it is clear that nausea, spotting and cramping in the abdomen are the most common side effects.
Overdose Actions
Pills "Postinor" are a powerful hormone. Therefore, you must strictly adhere to the recommended dosage instructions. If by chance a woman exceeded the norm, then it is necessary to drink a large amount of liquid and mechanically induce vomiting.
In case of an overdose, all side effects become pronounced. But there is no special antidote, therefore, after vomiting, you should consult a doctor for the appointment of complex therapy and other methods that exclude pregnancy.
Interaction with other drugs
Pregnancy Pills "Postinor" may not have the proper effect if used incorrectly or combined with some other medicines. Therefore, it is important to know which drugs reduce the activity of levonorgestrel:
- Reception of "Nevirapin", "Amprekavil" and "Lansoprazole".
- Treatment with Tacrolimus, Topiramate and Oxcarbazepine.
- The use of barbiturates, such as Primidon, Phenytin, Carbamazepine.
- St. John's wort medicine
- Antibiotic treatment (Tetracycline, Ampicillin, Rifampicin, Ritonavir).
If "Postinor" is taken simultaneously with inducers of liver enzymes, then, on the contrary, an increase in the metabolism of the active substance of the drug occurs.
Levonorgestrel is able to increase the effect of hypoglycemic drugs. Therefore, women who use such drugs, it is better to consult a doctor for advice. In addition, Postinor and its analogues cause the toxicity of Cyclosporin, inhibiting its metabolism.
Features of the reception
"Postinor" tablets are intended for cases of emergency contraception and it is forbidden to take them during one menstrual cycle. The drug is not able to replace continuous contraception. However, if it is taken according to the instructions and does not violate the dosage, then it does not affect menstruation and its nature.
But reviews show that sometimes spotting can be observed, accompanied by a delay of several days. In the event of a change in the nature of menstruation or its non-occurrence after a week of the prescribed period, pregnancy must be excluded. It is worth considering that pain in the abdomen and fainting can signal an ectopic pregnancy, which is also a frequent complication of taking pills.
Adolescents under 16 years of age are prohibited from the “Postinor” pill. Instructions for use, however, indicate that in an emergency (rape), the appointment can be prescribed by a gynecologist. Also, after using the tablets, all women should visit a doctor for the selection of the optimal protection scheme for unwanted pregnancy. After all, pills designed for emergency protection are not able to protect against diseases that are transmitted with intimate proximity. Also, the effectiveness of "Postinor" may well decrease with diseases of the digestive system (Crohn's disease).
Replacement or looking for an analog
The drug in question is not at all safe, it has many side effects and contraindications. So the pills are not suitable for women who have a history of various liver diseases. Therefore, they should choose an analogue of the "Postinor" tablets, which are now very numerous, and the price of some is much lower.
The most popular and by ear in women are the following means:
- "Zhenale";
- "Ginepristonom";
- Escapel;
- "Micro-Lute";
- "Eskinorom-F.
All drugs are identical in properties, but less cause adverse reactions and have a lower price. Experts note that the safety of analogues is an order of magnitude higher, because they belong to a new generation of contraceptives. Postinor has been known for a long time and is an old drug.
What to choose?
Many girls and women are interested in what is better and more effective. Often in a pharmacy they offer Zhenya, but the pharmacists cannot say whether it is better. The drug also has its contraindications and causes side effects. Therefore, it is advisable to discuss the use of any drug with a doctor. "Zhenalya" is also forbidden to take regularly, because it is not designed for continuous contraception and causes serious changes in the hormonal background of a woman. In addition, if after using "Zhenale" nevertheless a pregnancy has occurred, then it is worth being seriously examined. After all, the risk of developing pathologies in the fetus is quite large.
"Ginepriston" also has a number of contraindications. The main ones include:
- lactation period;
- pregnancy;
- heart diseases;
- pathology of adrenal gland development.
In addition, reviews often mention side effects that occur even with full compliance with the instructions. Among them:
- allergic reactions:
- stomach ache;
- headaches and dizziness;
- nausea;
- spotting from the vagina;
- menstruation delay.
Therefore, before choosing "Postinor" or its analogue, it is worth consulting with a gynecologist.
Postinor or medical abortion
The periods after the Postinor pill may be delayed, but may also start on time. Often, against the background of the reception, spotting can be noticed. Therefore, the drug is sometimes confused with a medication intended for abortion with medication. It’s worth sorting it out.
"Postinor" is a means to prevent the onset of the fact of pregnancy and is used in an emergency. Medical abortion interrupts an ongoing pregnancy in a non-surgical manner.
"Postinor" is taken no later than 72 hours after sex. Pills for abortion are already used after pregnancy. It is necessary to debunk the myth that the drug in question causes a breakdown in pregnancy, if the tablets are taken after its onset. This sometimes happens, but rather rarely.
It is also worth noting that emergency contraception can be used by a woman on her own without the supervision of a doctor, if everything goes without complications. Medical abortion is carried out only under the full supervision of a gynecologist.
Therefore, it is impossible to answer the question about the preference of contraceptive measures, because these are two different concepts and carry them out in different cases. Also, each technique has a number of its own contraindications and causes side effects.
Feedback on using Postinor
On the tablets "Postinor" a large number of reviews. Moreover, there are opinions about their effectiveness and relative safety, but there are also responses about the mass of side effects and the onset of pregnancy.
Often on forums, women share their feelings about receiving. First of all, patients are concerned about abdominal pain and dizziness. A general negative effect on the body is also noted. The menstrual cycle is broken, in the middle there are spotting. Often in reviews there are complaints of headache, nausea and the appearance of a rash. But in the instructions the appearance of such symptoms is indicated.
Many women are afraid to take this drug due to the high content of hormones. Doctors confirm that this has a serious burden on the body, but if the tool is used as an emergency, then there are no special problems.
There are negative reviews about the cost of the drug. The package contains only two tablets that are needed at the reception. But their price exceeds 500 rubles, depending on the region.
conclusions
"Postinor" is able to protect from unwanted pregnancy, but it must be used no more than twice a year. At the doctor’s appointment, women complain of adverse reactions. But still, most often, the reception passes without unpleasant consequences. The effectiveness of the drug is quite high, but still doctors do not attribute it to 100%.
Many women recognize the effectiveness of the pills, while doctors believe that using them is harmful. However, abortion in any case will bring not only hormonal imbalance in the body, but also psychological trauma. Therefore, sometimes it is worth taking pills and suffer some inconvenience. But after such an event, it is worth thinking about regular preventive measures.