Emergency contraception: types, effect of pills, how safe are hormonal drugs. Postcoital contraception - emergency measures after unprotected sex

"Emergency" protection against fertilization of the egg is used to prevent pregnancy. Emergency contraception is a list of methods and means used after unprotected intimacy between a man and a woman. Medicinal and mechanical methods are noted among the methods. Medical emergency protection is effective for 72 hours after intercourse. Intrauterine devices are able to prevent fertilization for 120 hours. For all their effectiveness, the solutions cause damage to the woman's body, and their continuous use is contraindicated.

When is emergency contraception needed?

For any woman, an unplanned pregnancy is a serious stress. Intimacy is not always associated with long-term relationships, so in some cases it is better right away. The circumstances in which a woman may find herself “in a position” not planned can hardly be called ordinary, but it does happen. The following is a list of cases after which urgent contraception is required:

unprotected sexual intimacy;
rape;
improper use of regular contraceptives when ejaculation occurs during vaginal sex;
unsuccessful use of regular contraceptives.

The last item can apply to any of the following cases:

rupture of barrier contraceptives;
skipping the intake of contraceptive medications;
delayed introduction / displacement or premature removal of the hormonal contraceptive ring;
premature removal of a contraceptive transdermal patch;
incomplete dissolution of spermicidal agents;
premature removal / displacement / breakage / rupture of the contraceptive diaphragm / cap;
prolapse of a contraceptive intrauterine device;
interrupted intercourse.

Types of postcoital contraception

Modern medicine knows several methods of effective and at the same time safe emergency prevention of fertilization after unprotected sex. Every sexually mature girl should know the classification of emergency contraceptives. You need to have a general idea of each variety. In the following sections, we will look at the most reliable methods for getting rid of the possible consequences of unprotected sex.

Hormonal drugs

This category of emergency medical contraceptives is aimed at hormonal suppression of ovulation. Such drugs contain synthetic analogues of female sex hormones that provide protection against fertilization. There are two types of emergency hormonal contraception: oral (pills) and prolonged (injections / injections). Below is a list of the most effective drugs in this category:

Agest. A modern drug that demonstrates high efficiency, and at the same time does not harm the female body. It is taken no later than 72 hours after unprotected intercourse.
Fasile-Wan. Means that prevents the fertilization of the egg within 72 hours after sexual contact without contraception. There are no hard contraindications.
Postinor. A widely used remedy. The sooner a woman takes the pill, the higher the contraceptive effect will be. The maximum interval is 72 hours after unprotected intercourse. The composition of the drug contains a powerful dose of the hormone levonorgestrel, which provides a high probability of abortion, but at the same time causes significant damage to the ovaries. In 90%, the drug disrupts the menstrual cycle. The use of Postinor more than three times a year is strictly contraindicated.
Escapelle. Exclusive pills for unwanted pregnancy based on hormones. The desired effect is provided within four days after unprotected sex.
Ginepreston. The drug is indicated for use when urgent contraception is needed. Ginepreston tablet is drunk no later than three days after unprotected intercourse.

Intrauterine devices

The only non-drug method of emergency prevention of pregnancy is the installation of an intrauterine device. The mechanical device is inserted by a gynecologist within five days after unprotected sex and provides a contraceptive effect in 99% of cases. The disadvantage of this method is the lengthy preparation, which includes the passage of a medical examination (tests, ultrasound, etc.). Emergency insertion of an intrauterine device is contraindicated in women who have given birth, adolescents and victims of rape.

Alternative methods of contraception after an unprotected act

Traditional ways to prevent unintended pregnancy are not the only ones. There are also alternative methods of contraception for women. It is immediately worth noting that none of them is able to provide a guaranteed effect. If you don't want to jeopardize your future, use medication or an IUD. Grandmother's recipes are resorted to in cases of absolute necessity, when it is not possible to visit a doctor or purchase a contraceptive drug.

Write down for yourself more or less effective folk remedies so as not to be unarmed in an unforeseen situation:

Douching with a weak solution of lemon juice and water using an irrigator. Mix 200 ml of boiled water with the juice of one large lemon and rinse your vagina properly with an irrigator. At the end of the emergency contraception procedure, wash the mucous membranes with clean water so that the acid contained in the lemon juice does not disturb the microflora of the vagina.
Emergency douching with a solution of potassium permanganate. This procedure provides a contraceptive effect in 60% of cases, however, if the vagina is not properly processed, it can harm the internal genital organs, so be extremely careful. Make a solution in a ratio of 1:18 and do the douching procedure. Potassium permanganate is a strong oxidizing agent that can deprive active spermatozoa of their main function. After washing, clean the genitals using a gentle soap.

Slice of lemon. Dangerous, but at the same time, quite an effective method of contraception. After sexual intercourse, place a medium-sized peeled lemon slice into the vagina. The acid will do its job in seconds. Remove the pulp and wash the mucous membranes with warm water and soap to prevent disturbance of the microflora.
Laundry soap. Such contraceptives for women are extremely dangerous, but in some cases, when there is no way to avoid pregnancy in other ways, you have to take risks. Within 10 minutes of unprotected intercourse, insert a matchbox-sized piece of soap into your vagina. After 15-20 seconds, remove it and immediately rinse the mucous membranes with clean water. To avoid depressing consequences, try to get a moisturizer for the intimate area as soon as possible.
Aspirin. Another method of emergency termination of pregnancy with acid. Its efficiency is about 50-60%. Like lemon juice, acetylsalicylic acid reduces the activity of spermatozoa, as a result of which they do not reach their main goal - eggs. Do not try to use these contraceptive methods regularly, as this is fraught with consequences. Violation of the acid balance of the vagina can lead to serious diseases.

The listed "grandmother's" means of emergency contraception can provide the desired result if applied within 5-7 minutes after unprotected intercourse. Combining the described methods is not recommended, as this can cause even more serious complications. If you are forced to resort to one of them, visit a gynecologist as soon as possible and describe in detail everything that you have done for contraception.

Side effects and contraindications

When studying the topic of the postcoital method of protection against pregnancy, you must clearly understand the main thing: any, even the most effective methods of medical emergency contraception cannot be absolutely harmless. After using medications, the following side effects may occur:

failure of the menstrual cycle;
copious menstrual flow;
pain in the lower abdomen;
drowsy, lethargic state;

Birth control pills after an act of unprotected sex are contraindicated if the following diseases / conditions occur:

uterine bleeding;
age over 35 years;
headache attacks;
many years of smoking experience;
severe forms of liver disease.

Find out more ways, if it is unwanted.

If you have the intention to protect yourself from an unplanned pregnancy after unprotected sex, heed the advice from the video below. A qualified specialist will tell you how emergency contraceptives work, explain in detail the rules for their use. Your doctor will also list the names of the most effective and safest emergency contraceptives to help you choose the right one.

Despite all the existing diversity, there is still no contraceptive which would suit everyone and everyone. Some couples prefer a man to take care of the protection, others prefer a woman. Some are suitable, others do not accept any means other than interrupted sexual intercourse . Relatively recently, the list of popular methods was replenished postcoital contraception .

This technique got its name at the moment of application - after intercourse, that is, sexual intercourse. In fact, emergency contraception was first used in ancient times. Then, in the postcoital period, women took a variety of baths based on special solutions, plant-based substances were introduced into the vagina, douching . Modern medicine has gone much further, and women today have a whole range of possible ways to prevent pregnancy after intercourse.

Separately, there is the question of the humanity of these drugs. There are entire communities in the world that insist that postcoital contraception be equated with. But there is another point of view of physicians, according to which these drugs can reduce the spread artificial abortions , which can bring a woman much more potential harm.

On our own, we add that there are a number of cases in which such methods are indispensable. In general, they all boil down to the fact that another type of contraception did not work for one reason or another. We can talk about a torn condom, an incorrectly used cervical cap, forgetting to take birth control pills. In addition, emergency contraception is widely used in cases of rape .

Postcoital contraception - principle of action and effectiveness

All drugs in this group -. The principle of their work is based on the periodic release of doses of the hormone, which upsets the standard changes in the female body that pregnancy brings. The state in which the body finds itself after the use of drugs is called menstrual chaos .

You need to understand that such a technique can work only once, after a single sexual intercourse without protection. In no case can it serve as a means of regular protection against. On the one hand, the effectiveness of postcoital contraception, and on the other hand, the harm to the body may be incomparable compared to the use of other means.

The very effectiveness of postcoital contraception depends on the moment at which copulation occurred. For the menstrual cycle, it is 74-100% in the case of its application immediately after intercourse, and 70-93% in case of application in periovulatory and/or ovulatory period .

Use of postcoital contraception

There are several types of postcoital contraception. Separately, it should be highlighted, which is popularly called " spiral ". This is the only non-drug method.

The remaining four ways this application:

combined pills from conception;
progestin contraceptive (drug);
progesterone antagonists (drug);
antigonadotropic drugs (drugs, and).

Let's take a closer look at some of these methods. But first, we warn that the use of any of the mentioned methods should be carried out only under the supervision and at the discretion of a professional doctor. Moreover, control over the patient's condition should be carried out not only during the use of the drug, but also before and after it.

So, the use of oral contraceptives is based on a certain sequence and dosage of drugs. Can be used as drugs ovral , anovlar and others. As a rule, the first two tablets are taken within the first three days after intercourse without contraception. The next two tablets are taken 12 hours after the first two.

The number of tablets in this method depends on the drug and is determined by a specialist after examining the patient. If instead of the mentioned drugs there is, for example, or, then the number of tablets will be 4 with the same method of administration.

They need a faster response. Yes, the first pill. postinor should be taken already in the first hour after copulation. After another three hours, it is necessary to repeat the reception if sexual intercourse is repeated. And the third tablet is taken the next day if the intercourse was multiple. Postinor has a deterrent effect on spermatozoa capatization , changes the activity of the fallopian tubes to contraction, produces biochemical changes in the endometrium, making implantation less likely.

And last we'll look at progesterone antagonists . These drugs can terminate a pregnancy even a month and a half after intercourse. After taking a medication of group RU-486 (mentioned mifepristone , and others) increases contractility myometrium (that is, the muscular layer of the uterus).

At this time, the doctor's control is necessary both to ensure the safety of the patient's health and to guarantee the effectiveness of the drug. If after the first appointment the result was not achieved, a second appointment is scheduled.

Contraindications for postcoital contraception

Of course, any specialist will analyze the state of your body before choosing a specific drug, but you should also be aware of the existing contraindications for postcoital contraception .

Thus, the methods described in this article should be discontinued if the patient has kidney failure , on any of the components of the drug, in serious condition.

It makes no sense to use drugs even if the fact of pregnancy is not confirmed. The fact that sexual intercourse took place without contraceptives does not yet give a 100% guarantee that a woman will become pregnant. If the fact of conception is confirmed, but there is a suspicion that, the use of drugs should also be canceled, due to the fact that they are designed to affect just the muscular layer of the uterus.

None of the methods of contraception, with the possible exception of sterilization, is considered to be completely effective. In addition, there are cases of unprotected sex, which can lead to unwanted pregnancies. Therefore, methods of emergency contraception are a hot topic in gynecology. There is even an International Consortium on the application of such methods, whose recommendations are taken into account in our article.

Postcoital contraception can be used by any woman of childbearing age - from the onset of the first menstruation (menarche) to 1 year after the last menstruation (menopause).

Types of emergency contraception

To prevent an unplanned pregnancy on an urgent basis, several methods are used in different countries:

taking a combination of estrogens and gestagens (Yuzpe method);
the introduction of a copper-containing intrauterine device in a medical institution;
use of tablets containing progestogen;
the use of progesterone antagonists (mifepristone).

In Russia, the last two methods are most often used (for other types of contraception, you can read in). However, when asked which emergency contraception is better, scientists from the World Health Organization answer that it is an intrauterine contraceptive () installed within the next 5 days. It is most effective in preventing pregnancy. However, this method is expensive, not available to all women, and is not recommended for adolescents and nulliparous women.

As a result of numerous studies by scientists involved in evidence-based medicine, it was concluded that a new generation of emergency contraception is the use of drugs containing 10 mg of mifepristone.

The effect of oral medications

Emergency contraceptive pills have been studied for the past 30 years and have proven to be effective and fairly well tolerated by women. These medicines are used to prevent pregnancy during unprotected sex in the following cases:

there were no means of planned contraception;
there was a rupture or displacement of the condom ( one of the means), the vaginal cap, the diaphragm;
two or more appointments were missed in a row;
timely injection of long-acting contraceptives was not made;
interrupted sexual intercourse ended with ejaculation in the vagina or on the skin of the external genital organs;
the spermicidal tablet used in advance has not completely dissolved;
error in determining "safe" days for ;
rape.

In all these cases, you need to take the medication as soon as possible.

Two types of drugs are used:

drugs based on levonorgestrel (progestin);
a combination of ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen) and levonorgestrel (a progestin).

Monocomponent means can be taken once after sexual intercourse or in two doses with a break of 12 hours. Combined funds are taken twice. This allows you to reduce the single dose and reduce the likelihood of adverse events. You should take the drug as early as possible, because every hour of delay increases the likelihood of pregnancy. However, the effectiveness is still maintained for 120 hours after intercourse, and not 72 hours, as previously thought.

How pills for emergency contraception work:

prevent or delay ovulation;
prevent the fusion of sperm and egg;
make it difficult for a fertilized egg to enter the endometrium for further development (although this statement has not been proven, and there is evidence that it is not true).

The effectiveness of levonorgestrel reaches 90%, combined drugs are less effective. No emergency contraceptive drug is as effective as current permanent contraceptives.

The safety of hormonal drugs

Possible unwanted symptoms:

nausea and vomiting;
abdominal pain;
feeling of weakness;
headache and dizziness;
soreness of the mammary glands;
bleeding from the vagina (not wearing the character of menstruation);
change in the start date of the next menstruation (usually a week earlier or later than the expected date).

If menstruation after emergency contraception is delayed by more than a week, it is necessary to exclude the onset of pregnancy by buying a test in a pharmacy or by consulting a doctor. Bleeding after ingestion is harmless and will stop on its own. Its probability increases with repeated use of tablets during one cycle. However, if it occurs in combination with a missed period and abdominal pain, it is recommended to consult a doctor. This may be a sign of an ectopic () pregnancy. However, it has been proven that taking postcoital contraceptives does not increase the likelihood of such an event. Women who have had an ectopic pregnancy before may also take these drugs.

To reduce the risk of vomiting, the use of combined drugs should be minimized, since levonorgestrel very rarely causes such a side effect. If vomiting occurs within two hours after taking the medicine, you need to repeat the dose. In case of intense vomiting, antiemetic drugs (Metoclopramide, Cerucal) can be used.

If you have a headache or discomfort in the mammary glands, you should use the usual pain medication (paracetamol, and so on).

Emergency contraceptive pills have no contraindications, as they are considered safe. They are not prescribed for an existing pregnancy, because this makes no sense. However, if pregnancy has not yet been diagnosed, taking levonorgestrel is harmless to the developing fetus. Levonorgestrel preparations are not capable of terminating a pregnancy that has already begun, so their action is not similar to medical abortion. Normal pregnancy after emergency contraception can occur as early as the next cycle.

Serious adverse health outcomes for women have not yet been reported after prescribing levonorgestrel for postcoital contraception. Therefore, they are allowed to be used even without a doctor's examination, including in many countries of the world they are sold without a prescription.

The use of hormones in special cases

Emergency contraception during lactation is considered safe for both mother and child. However, some doctors advise feeding the baby first, then taking the drug, periodically expressing milk for the next 6 hours without using it to feed the baby, and only then resume feeding. It is better if this time is up to 36 hours. If less than 6 months have passed since the birth of the child, while breastfeeding and the woman does not have periods, then it is possible that she does not need to be protected, since she has not yet ovulated.
If more than 120 hours have passed since sexual intercourse, then the use of drugs for emergency contraception is possible, but its effectiveness has not been studied. In this case, urgent intrauterine contraception becomes preferable.
If during the last 120 hours there have been several unprotected contacts, then one pill will eliminate the possibility of pregnancy. However, it should be taken after the first such sexual intercourse.
Emergency postcoital contraception can be used as often as necessary, even during the same cycle. The harm from the frequent use of such drugs in large studies has not been proven, and in any case, the onset of an unwanted pregnancy is much more dangerous. However, it is much more effective and more convenient to take oral contraceptives regularly or use other elective methods.

The most commonly used emergency contraceptives

The most common drugs for postcoital protection

Postinor;
Escapelle;
Eskinor-F.

One tablet contains 750 micrograms or 1500 micrograms of the hormone levonorgestrel, depending on the dosage, you need to take one or two tablets.

Although these drugs are safe once taken, they should be used with caution in the following conditions:

severe liver disease with its insufficiency (liver cirrhosis, hepatitis);
Crohn's disease;
lactose intolerance;
age up to 16 years.

Combined estrogen-progestin drugs:

Microgynon;
Rigevidon;
Regulon and others.

These are monophasic contraceptives, usually used for planned contraception, but in emergency cases they can also be used for postcoital contraception. This method of emergency contraception is recognized as the most dangerous, since estrogens in the preparations have contraindications and quite a few side effects, which are aggravated by the high dosage of hormones: 4 tablets are prescribed twice with a break of 12 hours. The use of these drugs is especially undesirable in the following situations:

thrombosis of arteries and veins;
migraine;
vascular damage in diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, hypertension;
severe diseases of the liver and pancreas;
tumors of the reproductive organs;
the period after injuries, operations, immobilization.

The main danger is an increase in blood clotting and the threat of blockage of arteries or veins by the resulting blood clots.

Non-hormonal postcoital contraception

Emergency non-hormonal contraception is carried out using products containing mifepristone. This is a synthetic substance that blocks progesterone receptors in a woman's body. The mechanism of action of the drug includes:

suppression of ovulation;
a change in the inner lining of the uterus - the endometrium, which prevents the introduction of a fertilized egg;
if, nevertheless, the implantation of the egg has occurred, under the action of mifepristone, the contractility of the uterus increases, the fetal egg is rejected.

So, the main difference between mifepristone and levonorgestrel tablets for postcoital contraception is the ability to cause a “mini-abortion”, the death and release of an egg already implanted in the uterine wall. Indications for admission are the same as for hormonal drugs - unprotected intercourse.

Preparations containing mifepristone at a dose of 10 mg:

Agesta;
Ginepriston;
Genale.

Emergency contraception with Genale is possible if you are sure that the woman is not pregnant. In addition, mifepristone should be taken with great caution in such cases:

liver or kidney failure;
changes in the blood (anemia, clotting disorders);
adrenal insufficiency or prolonged use of prednisolone;
lactation, after taking the drug, you can not feed the baby with breast milk for 2 weeks;
pregnancy.

Means based on mifepristone can cause undesirable effects:

bleeding from the vagina, pain in the lower abdomen;
exacerbation of chronic adnexitis, endocervicitis,;
dyspeptic disorders and diarrhea;
dizziness, headache;
weakness, fever, skin rash and itching.

Mifepristone-based emergency contraceptives cannot be used every month. It is strongly recommended to start using means for planned contraception. If, despite taking the pill, pregnancy still occurs, it is recommended to interrupt it, as there is a risk of damage to the fetus.

Mifepristone is a more powerful, but also more dangerous, remedy for preventing unwanted pregnancies. It is recommended to take it only after consulting a doctor. The drug is dispensed by prescription.

Contraception without pills

Let's say right away that the effectiveness of the methods that will be discussed is low, and the application is inconvenient. However, women should be aware of such methods.

In the first minute after ejaculation, while the spermatozoa have not yet penetrated through the cervical canal into its cavity, douching can be done with clean water or with the addition of potassium permanganate, that is, potassium permanganate. Then you should immediately insert a suppository with a spermicidal effect into the vagina.

Of course, the effect of spermicides will be much better if they are used properly - 10-15 minutes before intercourse. Candles such as Pharmatex, Contraceptin T, Patentex oval and others are used.

Contraindications for local contraception:

inflammation of the mucous membrane of the external genital organs (, colpitis);
individual intolerance to the drug.

intrauterine contraception

Intrauterine device T Cu 380 A

It is recommended to use copper-containing coils that release this metal into the uterine cavity. Copper has a spermicidal effect, and the presence of a foreign body in the uterine cavity prevents the implantation of the egg, if fertilization does occur.

The most famous funds from this group:

T Cu-380A;
Multiload Cu-375.

The second model is preferable because its soft shoulders do not injure the uterus from the inside, which reduces the risk of spontaneous removal of the spiral.

The introduction of an intrauterine contraceptive is contraindicated in such cases:

an existing pregnancy that the woman did not know about;
tumors and inflammatory processes of the reproductive organs;
transferred ectopic pregnancy;
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome;
individual intolerance;
promiscuous sex life;
adolescence (up to 18 years);
anomalies in the development of the uterus, and other cases where the internal shape of the organ is changed.

So, the choice of funds for emergency contraception is quite large. Some of them are more effective, but have more restrictions on their use, others are safe, but often do not have the desired effect. In any case, postcoital contraception is preferable to terminating unwanted pregnancies.

After using any of the methods of emergency prevention of pregnancy, you must consult a doctor and choose an acceptable option for planned protection. Emergency contraception should not be used regularly, including because of its low effectiveness.

Women and men are used to planning their future. However, life doesn't always turn out the way you want it to. Recently, more and more patients are turning to a gynecologist for an abortion. To prevent unexpected conception, it is necessary to take a postcoital contraceptive. This is what will be discussed further. You will learn about what postcoital contraceptives for women are. Also find out the main indications and contraindications for their use. Preparations and reviews about them will be described below.

Postcoital contraceptives - what is it?

Many women with such a question turn to their gynecologist. What is a postcoital contraceptive? This is a means of emergency protection against unwanted pregnancy. It can be presented in the form of capsules, tablets or intrauterine devices.

Postcoital contraceptive has various actions. Some drugs are aimed at destroying spermatozoa and expelling them from the female body. Other drugs affect the already fertilized egg. Still others tend to influence the inner shell 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 and reproductive problems. That is why these medicines are used only in emergency cases. Doctors talk about the following indications:

if the condom is damaged;
during the use of drugs 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 may be an indication for the use of drugs.

What are the contraindications

A postcoital hormonal contraceptive cannot be used in an already established and confirmed pregnancy. 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 should not be used in case of inflammation and infection.

With extreme caution, you need to use pills for smoking women over the age of 40.

The most secure remedy

A postcoital contraceptive may look like a spiral. This is a small metal device that is placed in the cavity of the reproductive organ. The service life of the device is from two to seven years. This way you don't have to take it out and put it back in. How does this postcoital contraceptive 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 reproductive organ. However, here the fetal egg cannot be fixed. All due to the fact that the embryo rejects the helix. As a result, a woman does not become pregnant, and in case of fertilization, the egg leaves the uterine cavity along with menstrual blood.

The spiral is used by many women around the world. However, despite its safety, the device belongs to the means of emergency contraception, as it begins to work only after fertilization.

Thoughts on the postcoital contraceptive

How do women and doctors treat such medicines? For many of the fairer sex, these drugs are a salvation. Since they help prevent or terminate early pregnancy. As a result of such an action, the representatives of the weaker sex do not need to go for an abortion. After all, this procedure is very detrimental to health and reproductive functions.

Some opponents of abortion say that postcoital contraception should be banned along with surgical termination of pregnancy. They explain their opinion by the fact that the drug effect in some way is the same abortion.

Doctors explain that this method of exposure is milder than the usual termination of pregnancy. The consequences of it are not so deplorable and occur 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 that are related to emergency contraception.

"Postinor" or "Eskopel"

These drugs are analogues. They contain levanolgestrel in their composition. This substance affects 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 pills do not allow the fetal egg to attach to the wall of the uterus, which leads to a stop in the progression of pregnancy.

Reviews of these two tools are positive. Both drugs are effective. Recently, however, Eskopel has become very popular. All due to the fact that it contains twice as much levanolgestrel as the first drug.

Oral contraceptives

It may look like regular 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 scheme. Immediately after sexual intercourse, it is necessary to drink a dose increased several times. On average, you will need three to eight tablets. It all depends on the composition and content of certain hormones.

To date, there are a huge number of contraceptives that help protect against unwanted pregnancy. Some prefer to use a condom, others consider such protection unacceptable and prefer taking hormonal pills or interrupted sexual intercourse. More recently, methods of protection against unwanted pregnancy have been replenished with postcoital contraception.

This name comes from the time of application of the method - after sexual intercourse. If we talk about the very first use of this type of contraception, then you can look into ancient times. Even then, if the couple did not want to have a child, the woman immediately after sex took salt baths, did douching based on special means, etc. To date, a woman has a large number of ready-made drugs at her disposal, which can be taken after unprotected intercourse.

The question of the humanity of the use of these means is controversial. There are already many communities around the world that insist that postcoital contraception should be equated with abortion, which is banned in some countries. The point of view of medicine does not coincide with this opinion - modern doctors believe that such protection is less harmful than artificial termination of pregnancy. In addition, in some cases, the use of these drugs may be simply irreplaceable, for example, in case of rape.

Operating principle

All drugs related to this type of contraceptives are hormonal. The main principle of their work is the release of certain types of hormones that have a negative impact on changes in the female body that have occurred after pregnancy. This condition is called menstrual chaos.

How often can this method be used?

The opinion of doctors regarding the frequency of use of postcoital contraception is unanimous - a similar method of preventing pregnancy can be used only once. It is simply forbidden to use it constantly. The harm from such protection can be very significant compared with the use of other means.

In what situations is postcoital contraception necessary?

If absolutely rape;
if there was an unforeseen sexual intercourse without the use of other methods of protection against unwanted pregnancy;
if during interrupted intercourse mistakes were made that could lead to pregnancy;
if a condom breaks during sex;
other similar situations.

Method efficiency

How effective will postcoital contraception, depends on the time of its application and on the drug used. If you use this method of preventing pregnancy immediately after unprotected sexual intercourse, then "luck" is observed in 74-100% of cases, if after a day or two, then these values \u200b\u200bare slightly reduced - up to 70-93%.

Use and types of postcoital contraception

There are several types of this method of contraception:

combined contraceptives(anovlar, ovral, etc.). In the first three days after sex, two tablets are taken. Then 2 more 12 hours after the first two. The number of tablets with this method of contraception depends on which medicine will be used. For example, if you replace the previous drugs with miniziston or silest, then the number of tablets will already be 4 pieces at each dose;
progestin contraceptives (postinor). The reception of such funds should be carried out already in the first hour after intercourse. When repeating sexual intercourse, another tablet is taken after three hours. If sexual intercourse was multiple, then another repetition of taking the pill is necessary after 10-20 hours. The action of postinor is as follows: it changes the process of contraction of the fallopian tubes and reduces the activity of spermatozoa, due to which the chance of fertilization is reduced to zero. ), which is several times higher than the amount of hormones found in oral contraceptives. Therefore, their use can cause a strong blow to ovarian function, which can lead to menstrual irregularities;
progesterone antagonists (pencrofton, mifepristone). Taking these drugs is possible even after 3-4 weeks after unprotected sex. Their action is based on an increase in the contractility of the muscles of the uterus, which leads to a mini-miscarriage. When using this method, the patient must be under the strict supervision of a physician. If the desired result was not achieved after the first pill, then another one is prescribed;
intrauterine devices. Their introduction into the uterine cavity in the first days after unprotected intercourse can get rid of unwanted pregnancy. This should only be done by a doctor after a gynecological examination and taking a smear for analysis. Attention!!! After rape, the introduction of an intrauterine device is prohibited! The reason for this prohibition is simple - during intercourse, infection with a sexually transmitted disease could occur, and inserting a spiral will only facilitate the path of infection into the genital tract

Contraindications

The use of postcoital contraception is contraindicated in:

allergies to the components of drugs;
renal failure;
severe asthma;
the age of the woman is more than 35 years;
uterine bleeding outside of menstruation;
chronic liver diseases;
severe attacks of headache;
previous strokes and heart attacks;
greater risk of blood clots or clogged arteries;
suspected ectopic pregnancy.

Side effects

After taking emergency contraceptives, a woman may feel some discomfort for some time (from 1 to 3 days). For example:

pain in the abdomen and mammary glands;
nausea and vomiting;
pain in the head;
violation of the menstrual cycle.

Cons of emergency contraception

cannot be used on an ongoing basis, otherwise the woman's body will be severely harmed;
if, after taking these drugs, pregnancy nevertheless occurred, then there is a high risk that the child will have many pathologies, since at the most important moment, when all his organs were laid, he received a large dose of estrogens.

And most importantly - taking any drugs of this action should be carried out only on the recommendation of a doctor!