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Awareness of oral contraceptives has improved so much that advertisements are even appearing on TV. Oral contraceptives are mainly taken for contraception, but they are also increasingly being taken for cycle control before an important day.
It is easy to access oral contraceptives, so it is easy to take them, but oral contraceptives have side effects and must be avoided, so you must be aware of them before taking them.
With the help of Professor Song Jeong-min of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Gangdong Kyunghee University Hospital, we have summarized the correct method of taking oral contraceptives and precautions.
Contraceptive effect by creating an environment where hormones prevent pregnancy… Use for therapeutic purposes
Oral contraceptives are literally oral contraceptives that contain the pregnancy-related hormones estrogen and progestin. It has a contraceptive effect by continuously administering hormones to maintain a certain concentration and creating an environment in which pregnancy is not possible. The estrogen component is the same as ethinyl estradiol, and is classified into 1st to 4th generation depending on the type of progestin, hormone content, and complex function.
Professor Song Jeong-min explained, “University hospitals sometimes prescribe oral contraceptives for health management and treatment purposes. They are effective in improving symptoms of female diseases by suppressing the secretion of gonadotropins and keeping the endometrium thin.” In particular, it is used to treat ▲endometriosis, ▲abnormal uterine bleeding, ▲dysmenorrhea, ▲polycystic ovary syndrome, etc. or to manage uterine health.
Find a generation-specific contraceptive that suits your condition… Abuse should be avoided
The first generation oral contraceptives are now discontinued due to serious cardiovascular side effects, and the second to fourth generations are currently sold. The 2nd and 3rd generations are over-the-counter drugs and can be purchased at pharmacies, while the 4th generation are prescription drugs and require a doctor’s prescription. The second generation contains levonorgestrel as a progestin, and the third generation uses desogestrel or gestodene. In the 4th generation, dresspyrenone, cyphtenone acetate, and dienogest are used. In addition, there are oral contraceptives that contain only progestin and no estrogen. Since the side effects and efficacy of contraceptive pills differ depending on the generation, if you are thinking of taking it for the first time, it is recommended that you consult with a specialist and receive a recommendation for the pill that is right for you.
The second generation has a low risk of venous thromboembolism, but side effects such as acne, weight gain, hirsutism, and depression may occur due to androgen action. Although third-generation oral contraceptives have reduced androgen-related side effects, which were problems with the second generation, they have a higher risk of venous thromboembolism and can cause headaches, breast pain, and high blood pressure. Accordingly, Professor Song advised, “If you receive a prescription after receiving treatment at a hospital and use it, you can see the desired effect while managing it without these side effects, so there is no need to be too reluctant, and on the contrary, it is not good to abuse it.”
Smokers over 35 years old should not take oral contraceptives.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stipulates by law that smoking women over 35 years of age should not take oral contraceptives. Estrogen, a common ingredient in birth control pills, makes the blood sticky and easily causes blood clots. If you smoke, your risk of cardiovascular disease due to oral contraceptives may increase. This risk increases with age and amount of smoking (more than 15 cigarettes per day), and is especially noticeable in women over 35 years of age. In addition, patients with liver diseases such as breast cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, cirrhosis, and hepatitis should refrain from taking oral contraceptives. Also, do not take it if you have a stroke or cardiovascular disease or a family history of it.
Check the exact dosage and withdrawal period such as 21+7, 24+4, etc. before taking the drug.
When using oral contraceptives for contraceptive purposes, you must check the duration of use and withdrawal period. Oral contraceptives can be taken on 21 days out of 28, taking 7 days off, or taking an active tablet for 24 days and then taking a placebo tablet for 4 days. If you want simple cycle control, take one pill a day at least a week before your period is due, continuously until the desired date. If you want cycle control and contraceptive effect, take one pill a day from the first day of your period, one month before the period you want to control your cycle, until the desired date. If you take it from the first day of your period, the contraceptive effect will be visible throughout the entire period, including the period of withdrawal from taking the medicine, starting right after the time of taking it. If you start taking it later than the first day of your period, you must use a separate method of contraception for the first 7 days after taking it.
Even if you forget, you can maintain the effect if you take it within 12 hours.
If you forget to take a dose and it has not been more than 12 hours, take one tablet as soon as you remember and continue taking it as usual to maintain its effectiveness. If it has been more than 12 hours, the response will vary depending on the time taken.
In the first week, take 1 tablet or, in some cases, 2 tablets as soon as you remember, and then take them at the designated time. However, you must use a separate method of contraception for 7 days from the day you start taking it again.
For the 2nd week, as in the 1st week, take 1 or 2 tablets as soon as you remember and then take it at the designated time. If you have been taking birth control pills for 7 days before forgetting to take them, you do not need to use back-up contraception.
In the 3rd week, take the contraceptive pill as soon as you remember and continue taking it as usual. However, if you did not take the contraceptive pill for 7 days before forgetting to take it, you should continue to take the current package but take a new package without a withdrawal period. Supplementary contraception must be used for 7 days.
Reporter Jong-ho Jang [email protected]
Professor Jeongmin Song
2023-10-25 01:42:23
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