All about hormonal contraceptives

Unwanted pregnancy is an urgent problem for women. Modern methods of contraception not only help women to avoid unforeseen situations, but also to approach the issue of pregnancy planning consciously and responsibly. Fortunately, science does not stand still, offering women new, safer methods of contraception.
It is worth noting that contraception is much safer for a woman’s health than an abortion. In Russia, contraceptive methods are not as widely publicized as in America and Europe. According to statistics, only 25% of married women resort to contraceptives, and even fewer use hormonal contraceptives. It is hormonal contraception that scares women, because there are many myths around this method of protection. Let’s understand what GK is, whether this method of contraception is dangerous and how to use it correctly.
Hormonal contraceptives – what is it?
In the first speech about the artificially synthesized female hormones – estrogen and progesterone, came in 1929, thanks to the study of the Austrian physician Haberland. And later, in 1960, the American doctor Pincus created the first hormonal contraceptive in the world, Eiden. This discovery turned the world around, because it allowed women to choose the time for conceiving a child. The composition of the HA includes synthesized female sex hormones, which slow down the processes of ovulation in a woman’s body. It has been proven that out of 100 women using this type of contraception, only one had an unwanted pregnancy.
Around the hormonal method of contraception goes a huge number of unfounded myths that cause concern and fear in women. Fortunately, modern drugs are safe to use and do not lead to any major changes in the body of a woman. Few people know, but the CC helps women not only in the matter of unplanned pregnancy, but also have a number of positive properties:
– cycle normalization;
– reduce pain during menstruation;
– contribute to less blood loss;
– reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy;
– make it easier to endure critical days;
– reduce the risk of developing diseases of the appendages and the uterus.
Currently available drugs can be taken without interruption, but you need to choose for yourself exactly the means that will be ideally suited. When taking hormonal contraceptives there is a risk of contraindications, so you must consult a doctor.
The purpose of a drug comes from the individual characteristics of each specific woman. The first thing the doctor points out is the age of the woman. Also on the appointment affect the lactation period, bad habits, the presence of certain diseases.
Types of hormonal contraceptives
There is a huge variety of HAs that suit different women. GC is divided into oral and parenteral. In the first case, the drug is taken through the mouth, and in the second, the route of administration may be different, not passing through the intestine. It is also possible to introduce a hormonal ring or helix directly into the vagina. The latter method is increasingly gaining popularity, since it is very convenient to use.
Oral contraceptives are pills designed for daily use. Standard packaging is a 21 tablet, after taking the entire package, you need to take a break a week. Experts always recommend taking a break, because without it the probability of getting pregnant increases. There are also more modern packaging, the standard of which is 28 tablets. When taking such contraceptives do not require a break, because the last pills do not contain hormones, but they contain vitamins and minerals that are necessary for women’s health.
Combined oral contraceptives – drugs containing analogues of female sex hormones. The use of these contraceptives leads to the fact that due to external influence of hormones, ovulation does not occur. Thus, these drugs temporarily block the birth of the egg.
A hormonal ring is a design that is inserted into the vagina. Due to the content of hormones in the ring, ovulation stops. Such a ring is placed in the first days of the menstrual cycle on day 21, after which a new one is taken out and placed. This ring does not bring any inconvenience and discomfort, and you can install it yourself.
A hormonal patch is a device that sticks to the body (shoulder blades, abdomen, thighs, buttocks). The package contains three patches, each patch is designed for a week. After taking all three patches, a break is taken a week. The advantage is that the patch does not cause any discomfort, it does not interfere, it does not need to be removed during the shower. It is important that each new patch is glued to a new place.