Hormonal Contraception
Hormonal ways to prevent pregnancy can be of two types
- Oral contraceptive pills
- Non oral hormonal contraception: Includes Hormone releasing Intrauterine device, injectable contraceptives, Contraceptive Implants, Transdermal hormonal patch , Hormonal contraceptive vaginal ring .
Oral contraceptives
Can be of two types
- Combined pills (estrogen and progesterone combined pills)
- Progestogen only pills
Why Oral contraceptive pills(OCPs)?
OCP is a widely accepted and most effective method of fertility control.
Advantages benefits of Pills include
- Minimum failure rate of 0.1% to 1.8%
- Prevents pregnancy effectively
- Period cycle regularization
- Cure of many menstrual disorders
- Protection against Uterine cancer and Ovarian cancer
- Protection against Benign breast disease like fibrocystic changes , fibroadenoma
- Protection against acne , hirsutism
- Treatment for functional Ovarian cysts/ Follicular cyst
- Treatment of Premenstrual Syndrome
- As a treatment of Endometriosis/ Adenomyosis
- Reduces painful cramps and heavy blood flow is reduced as well!!
- Does not interfere in sexual life
- DOES NOT AFFECT FUTURE FERTILITY! You can get pregnant right after stopping the medicines.!!
Which OCP is best suitable for you ?
- In non lactating women , young females → fourth generation lower dose oral contraceptive pills are helpful.
- If you are a patient of PCOS and does not want pregnancy then OCP containing Drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol helps better in preventing acne and hirsutism
- In Lactating mother → Progestin only pills should be given.e.d Dronis -P
How Pills should be consumed?
Newer generation low dose pills come in a pack of 21 tablets like shown below.
- One tablet is to be taken starting between day 1 to 4 of the menstrual cycle and continued daily for 21 days everyday before sleeping at bed time.
- The medicine should be stopped after finishing the first pack of 21 tablets, usually menstrual blood flow occurs between 2-4 days of stoppage of medicine.
- The next pack should be started after 7 days of stopping the previous pill. Or from the 3rd day of the next cycle.
- The pill free period allows menstrual blood flow.
- Do not miss the dose orelse irregular bleeding or conception may occur.
What are the common side effects?
- Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite
- Breakthrough bleeding
- Reduced blood flow during menses
- Vaginal discharge
Am I eligible ?? Who should avoid OCP?
- Patients with age>40 years
- With other conditions like High blood pressure, Diabetes, Thyroid Disease
- Women with history of Deep Vein thrombosis
- Women with Liver disease, Gallbladder disease
- Women with migraine
