Sometimes in a woman's intimate life there is an unplanned sexual intercourse. In case of unwillingness to become pregnant, immediate action is required. But all folk remedies, as doctors' reviews show, are ineffective and can even cause serious harm to he alth. Many people know the Postinor pills, which are emergency contraception and can protect against pregnancy. However, pills have a lot of contraindications, so you should familiarize yourself with the principle of their action and find out the features of the reception.
The main components of the pill
Postinor pills have a rather powerful effect on the hormonal system of a woman. The instruction states that the main active ingredient of each pill is levonorgestrel. In this case, the dose is very high - 750 micrograms. There are also auxiliary components that do not affect the activity of the drug, but contribute to the formation of the tablet itself:
- talc;
- silica;
- potato starch;
- lactose monohydrate;
- magnesium stearate.
When the drug is indicated
Many women in a panic remember which pills to take after an unprotected intercourse. "Postinor" comes to mind one of the first. However, it is worth considering that, according to the attached annotation, it is not often prescribed to terminate a pregnancy that has already occurred. The drug is considered a measure of emergency contraception when sexual intercourse was unforeseen and unprotected. Also, pills are used in case of an unreliable main method of protection against pregnancy (for example, a condom broke).
Pills banned
Postinor tablets have a powerful hormonal load on a woman's body. Therefore, their reception is possible only in the case of an undisturbed menstrual cycle. The drug is banned in the following cases:
- teenage girls up to 16-18 years old;
- history of liver failure;
- lactase deficiency or intolerance;
- hypersensitivity to any substances of the pill;
- galactose malabsorption;
- pregnancy.
Due to the fact that Postinor tablets can cause a serious hormonal failure, the instruction makes warnings. The drug should be taken with caution in the following diagnoses and conditions:
- jaundice;
- Crohn's disease;
- the breastfeeding periodfeeding;
- liver disease;
- problems with bile ducts.
Allowed dosage
Contraceptive pills "Postinor" is an oral contraceptive, so they must be taken orally. The instruction strictly stipulates the dosage and timing of administration. It is not recommended to violate the norms prescribed in the annotation, otherwise it may lead to serious hormonal disruption and disturbances in the menstrual cycle.
So, the instructions say that during the first three days (72 hours) you need to drink 2 tablets of Postinor. Moreover, if the first pill should be drunk as soon as possible after intimacy, then the second - after 12 hours. Some deviation is allowed. But after taking one dose, no more than 16 hours should pass.
In order for the effect to be maximum, the main condition for the drug is the speed of its adoption. It is necessary to have time to take both pills no later than 72 hours after sexual intercourse without protection. Sometimes vomiting occurs after using the remedy. The instruction instructs to take the pill again if less than two hours have passed. The cycle time is not taken into account.
It is important that after taking the drug and before the next menstruation, you must use a condom during intercourse. You can use a cervical cap. During one cycle, the use of "Postinor" again is prohibited. This can lead to irregular periods and the inability to conceive in the future.
Side effects while taking
The use of Postinor tablets should be strictly limited. They are not a permanent measure of protection against pregnancy, but are taken only in emergency cases. Ideally, pills should not be taken more than twice a year. But in life, various unforeseen situations happen, so you need to familiarize yourself with the possible side effects that may occur against the background of taking:
- allergic reaction in the form of a rash, swelling or hives;
- vomit;
- diarrhea;
- dizziness;
- increased sensitivity of the mammary glands;
- headache;
- late period.
It is worth knowing that if the delay is not more than a week, then drug treatment is not required. Otherwise, an examination and consultation with a gynecologist is necessary. It is also worth noting that the reaction may be individual and any other side effects are not excluded.
So, if there is no menstruation for more than seven days, then both the failure of the cycle and the onset of pregnancy are possible. Therefore, the instruction warns of a mandatory visit to the doctor in this case. Reviews show that nausea, spotting and abdominal cramps are the most common side effects.
Overdose management
Tablets "Postinor" are a strong hormonal remedy. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the recommended dosage instructions. If by chancewoman has exceeded the norm, then it is necessary to drink a large amount of liquid and mechanically induce vomiting.
With an overdose, all side effects become pronounced. But there is no special antidote, so after vomiting, you should consult a doctor for the appointment of complex therapy and other methods that exclude pregnancy.
Interaction with other drugs
Postinor pregnancy pills may not have the desired effect if used incorrectly or combined with certain other medicines. Therefore, it is important to know which drugs reduce the process of levonorgestrel activity:
- Taking Nevirapine, Amprecavil and Lansoprazole.
- Treatment with Tacrolimus, Topiramate and Oxcarbazepine.
- Use of barbiburates such as Primidon, Fenitin, Carbamazepine.
- Taking St. John's wort medicines.
- Treatment with antibiotics ("Tetracycline", "Ampicillin", "Rifampicin", "Ritonavir").
If "Postinor" is taken simultaneously with inducers of liver enzymes, then, on the contrary, there is an increase in the metabolism of the active substance of the drug.
Levonorgestrel can increase the effect of hypoglycemic drugs. Therefore, women who use such drugs, it is better to consult a doctor for advice. In addition, "Postinor" and its analogues cause toxicity"Cyclosporin" by suppressing his metabolism.
Reception Features
Postinor tablets are intended for cases of emergency contraception and are not allowed to be taken during one menstrual cycle. The drug is not able to replace permanent contraception. However, if it is taken according to the instructions and the dosage is not violated, then it does not affect menstruation and its nature.
But reviews show that spotting can sometimes be observed, accompanied by a delay of several days. In case of a change in the nature of menstruation or its non-occurrence after a week of the due date, pregnancy must be excluded. It is worth considering that pain in the abdomen and fainting can signal an ectopic pregnancy, which is also a common complication of taking pills.
Postinor pills are prohibited for adolescents under 16 years of age. The instructions for use, however, indicate that in an emergency (rape), an appointment can be made by a gynecologist. Also, after using the pills, all women should visit a doctor to select the optimal scheme for preventing unwanted pregnancy. After all, pills designed for emergency protection are not able to protect against diseases that are transmitted through intimacy. Also, the effectiveness of "Postinor" may well decrease in diseases of the digestive system (Crohn's disease).
Replacement or looking for an analogue
The drug in question is not at all safe, hasmany side effects and contraindications. So pills are not suitable for women who have a history of various liver diseases. Therefore, they should choose an analogue of Postinor tablets, of which there are a lot now, and the price of some is an order of magnitude lower.
The most popular and well-known among women are the following:
- "Zhenale";
- "Ginepriston";
- "Escapel";
- "Microflute";
- "Eskinor-F.
All drugs are identical in properties, but cause fewer side reactions and have a lower price. Experts note that the safety of analogues is an order of magnitude higher, because they belong to a new generation of contraceptives. "Postinor" has been known for a long time and is an old drug.
What to choose?
Many girls and women are interested in what is better and more effective. Often in a pharmacy they offer "Zhenale", but pharmacists cannot say whether it is better. The drug also has its contraindications and causes side effects. Therefore, it is advisable to discuss the use of any drug with a doctor. "Zhenala" is also forbidden to take regularly, because it is not designed for permanent contraception and causes serious changes in the hormonal background of a woman. In addition, if after using "Zhenale" pregnancy nevertheless occurred, then it is worth seriously examining. After all, the risk of developing pathologies in the fetus is quite high.
"Ginepriston" also has a number ofcontraindications. The main ones should include:
- breastfeeding period;
- pregnancy;
- heart disease;
- adrenal pathologies.
In addition, reviews often mention side effects that occur even with full observance of the instructions. Among them:
- allergic reactions:
- abdominal pain;
- headaches and dizziness;
- nausea;
- bloody vaginal discharge;
- late period.
Therefore, before choosing "Postinor" or its equivalent, you should consult a gynecologist.
"Postinor" or medical abortion
Menstruation after the Postinor pill may be delayed, but it may also start on time. Often on the background of the reception, you can notice spotting. Therefore, the drug is sometimes confused with a drug intended for abortion with medication. Worth looking into.
"Postinor" is a means to prevent the onset of the very fact of pregnancy and is used in an emergency. Medical abortion terminates an already existing pregnancy in a non-surgical way.
"Postinor" is taken no later than 72 hours after intimacy. Abortion pills are used already after the onset of pregnancy. It is necessary to debunk the myth that the drug in question causes a miscarriage if the pills are taken after it has occurred. This happens sometimes, but rarely.
It is also worth noting that the emergencycontraception can be used by a woman on her own without medical supervision, if everything goes without complications. Medical abortion is carried out only under the full supervision of a gynecologist.
Consequently, it is impossible to answer the question of the preference for contraceptive measures, because these are two different concepts and they are carried out in different cases. Also, each technique has a number of its own contraindications and causes side effects.
Reviews on the use of "Postinor"
There are a lot of reviews about Postinor tablets. Moreover, there are opinions about their effectiveness and relative safety, but there are also reviews about the mass of side effects and the onset of pregnancy.
Often on the forums, women share their feelings about the reception. First of all, patients are worried about abdominal pain and dizziness. There is also a general negative effect on the body. The menstrual cycle is disturbed, bloody discharge appears in its middle. Often in the reviews there are complaints of headache, nausea and the appearance of a rash. But the instructions indicate the appearance of such symptoms.
Many women are afraid to take this drug because of the high content of hormones. Doctors confirm that this puts a serious burden on the body, but if the remedy is used as an emergency, then there are no special problems.
There are negative reviews about the cost of the drug. The package contains only two tablets, which are necessary for the reception. But their price exceeds 500 rubles, depending on the region.
Conclusions
"Postinor" is able to protect against unwanted pregnancy, but it should be used no more than twice a year. At the doctor's appointment, women complain about the appearance of adverse reactions. But still most often the reception passes without unpleasant consequences. The effectiveness of the drug is quite high, but still doctors do not attribute it to 100%.
Many women recognize the effectiveness of pills, while doctors believe that using them is harmful. However, abortion in any case will bring not only hormonal imbalance in the body, but also psychological trauma. Therefore, sometimes it is worth taking pills and suffering some inconvenience. But after such an incident, you should think about regular precautions.
