What should you pay attention to when taking contraceptive drugs?

Contraception is a skill that many couples must master. Many men ask women to use contraceptive pills because of their own comfort level. In fact, there are many things to pay attention to when using contraceptive medication, because it is very likely to cause some consequences that are very harmful to women, such as causing hormone metabolism disorders in women's bodies. Therefore, you should pay attention to the consequences of using contraceptive drugs.

Contraceptive principles

1. Ovulation inhibition exerts a central inhibitory effect by interfering with the normal function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis: on the one hand, it inhibits the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus, reduces the secretion of FSH and LH by the pituitary gland, and affects the development of follicles; on the other hand, it inhibits the response of the pituitary gland to gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and there is no luteinizing hormone (LH) peak before ovulation, so ovulation does not occur.

2. Changing the properties of cervical mucus The progestin in combined oral contraceptives can counteract the effects of estrogen on cervical mucus. During the medication cycle, the amount of cervical mucus decreases and becomes highly viscous, which is not conducive to sperm penetration and affects fertilization.

3. The key to changing the morphology and function of the endometrium and embryo implantation lies in the precise synchronization of embryo development and the physiological changes of the endometrium. The progestin in contraceptives counteracts the effects of estrogen, inhibits endometrial proliferation, and causes the glands to remain in an incomplete stage of development, which is not conducive to the implantation of the fertilized egg.

4. The continuous effects of estrogen and progesterone in combined contraceptives affect the function of the fallopian tubes, causing abnormalities in the normal secretion and peristalsis of the fallopian tubes, abnormal speed of the fertilized egg in the fallopian tubes, and affected synchronization, thus interfering with the implantation of the fertilized egg.

1. Early pregnancy reaction

(1) Clinical manifestations: About 10% of women experience mild loss of appetite, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, and even vomiting, similar to early pregnancy reactions, in the early stages of medication.

(2) Treatment: Mild cases do not require treatment and patients can take medication regularly. Symptoms will subside or disappear on their own after 2 to 3 months. Severe cases can take 10 mg of vitamin B6 orally, 3 times a day, for 7 consecutive days. If the treatment is ineffective, the medication can be stopped, the preparation can be changed, or other contraceptive measures can be used.

2. Vaginal bleeding

(1) Clinical manifestations: A small number of women experience irregular, small amounts of vaginal bleeding between menstruation periods while taking the medication, which is called breakthrough bleeding. It is mostly caused by missed or late doses (irregular doses) of contraceptive pills. In addition, it may be related to factors such as damaged pill quality, incorrect medication methods, and individual physical differences.

(2) Treatment methods: ① For those with spotting, no special treatment is required; ② For those with slightly more bleeding, 1 to 2 tablets of ethinyl estradiol (0.005 mg to 0.01 mg) should be taken every night, together with contraceptives, until the 22nd day, then discontinue the medication; ③ If the amount of vaginal bleeding is the same as the amount of menstrual bleeding or the bleeding time is close to the menstrual period, it should be treated as a menstrual period, and the medication should be stopped. On the 5th day of bleeding, the medication should be started again as prescribed. In severe cases, you may also consider changing contraceptive pills.

3. oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea

(1) Clinical manifestations: 1% to 2% of women experience a significant decrease in menstrual volume or even amenorrhea after taking the medication.

(2) Treatment method: For most women with oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea, menstruation can return to normal after stopping medication. You can also take the following approach: ① Those with scanty menstruation can take 1 to 2 tablets of ethinyl estradiol (0.005mg to 0.01mg) every night, together with birth control pills, until the 22nd day, then stop taking the pills. ② If there is still no menstruation after stopping the medication and pregnancy is ruled out, the next cycle of contraceptive pills should be started on the 7th day after stopping the medication to avoid affecting the contraceptive effect. ③ If you have amenorrhea for two consecutive months, you should consider changing the type of contraceptive pills. If you still do not have menstruation after changing the medication or if you have amenorrhea for three consecutive months, you should stop taking the medication and observe, wait for menstruation to resume, seek medical attention in time, and find out the cause. Other contraceptive measures should be taken during the period of stopping contraceptive pills.

4. Skin pigmentation

(1) Clinical manifestations: A small number of women developed butterfly-shaped light brown pigmentation on their facial skin after taking the medicine.

(2) Treatment: No treatment is required. For most women, the pigmentation will disappear or lighten on its own after stopping the medication.

5. Weight gain

(1) Clinical manifestations: A small number of women gain weight after taking contraceptives containing first-generation or second-generation progestins for a long period of time. This is related to the weak androgenic activity of the progestin component in the contraceptive or the water and sodium retention caused by estrogen.

(2) Treatment: Although weight will increase, it will not cause obesity and will not affect health. Generally no treatment is required, and contraceptives containing third-generation progestins can be replaced.

6. Other symptoms

Occasionally, symptoms such as headache, breast tenderness, double vision, rash or changes in sexual desire may occur. Symptomatic treatment can be given and the drug can be discontinued in severe cases.

Unsafe factors

1. Improper storage of drugs, such as broken, dissolved, or deteriorated tablets.

2. Not taking the required dose.

3. Failure to take medication at the required time after intercourse.

4. Missed dose due to negligence.

5. High fever or illness leading to severe vomiting and diarrhea.

6. Rifampicin, phenacetin, clotrimazole, furantin, phenobarbital, chloramphenicol, and ampicillin were taken at the same time.

9. External medications will be absorbed by the fetus