Increased Awareness of Oral Contraceptives Leads to Television Advertisements
Awareness of oral contraceptives has reached new heights, as evidenced by their appearance in television advertisements. While these contraceptives are primarily used for contraception, they are also being taken more frequently for cycle control before important events. It is important to understand the proper usage of oral contraceptives, despite their availability and ease of use. To shed light on this topic, we spoke with Professor Song Jeong-min from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Gangdong Kyunghee University Hospital.
Creating a Contraceptive Effect: How Oral Contraceptives Work
Oral contraceptives, as the name suggests, are taken orally as a means of contraception. They contain hormones – estrogen and progestin – associated with pregnancy. By continuously administering these hormones at a certain concentration, oral contraceptives create an environment in which pregnancy is not possible. There are four generations of oral contraceptives currently available, all of which contain estrogen. Ethinyl estradiol, a synthetic form of estrogen, is present in all generations, offering similar estrogenic activity as the natural forms of estrogen.
Effective Therapeutic Purposes Beyond Contraception
Oral contraceptives are not solely prescribed for contraceptive purposes. They are also utilized for healthcare and treatment purposes, as they have proven effective in managing the symptoms of several female health conditions. By inhibiting the secretion of gonadotropins and maintaining a thin endometrium, oral contraceptives can help treat endometriosis, abnormal uterine bleeding, dysmenorrhea, and polycystic ovary syndrome, among other conditions.
Choosing the Appropriate Oral Contraceptive for Your Needs
The first generation of oral contraceptives is no longer in use due to their risk of serious cardiovascular side effects. Presently, the second to fourth generations are available. The second and third generations can be purchased over the counter at pharmacies, while the fourth generation requires a prescription. Each generation includes different forms of progestin. Additionally, there are oral contraceptives that solely contain progestin without estrogen. Since the effectiveness and side effects of contraceptive pills vary based on the generation, it is advisable to consult a specialist who can recommend the pill most suitable for your needs.
Addressing Side Effects with Expert Guidance
The second generation of oral contraceptives poses a low risk of venous thromboembolism, but may lead to side effects such as acne, weight gain, hirsutism, and depression due to androgen activity. The third generation has reduced androgen-related side effects compared to the second generation, but carries an increased risk of venous thromboembolism. It may also cause headaches, breast pain, and high blood pressure. Professor Song emphasizes the importance of seeking treatment and obtaining a prescription from a healthcare professional to manage these side effects effectively. Misuse or mismanagement of oral contraceptives is not recommended.
Oral Contraceptives and Smoking
Women who smoke and are over the age of 35 should legally refrain from taking oral contraceptives, according to the Food and Drug Safety Administration. Estrogen, a common ingredient in birth control pills, can make the blood sticky and increase the risk of blood clots. Smoking amplifies this risk, especially among women over the age of 35 and those who smoke more than 15 cigarettes per day. Patients with liver diseases, breast cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, cirrhosis, hepatitis, stroke, cardiovascular disease, or a family history of such conditions should also avoid taking oral contraceptives.
Correct Dosage and Withdrawal Period
When using oral contraceptives for contraception, it is crucial to follow the prescribed duration of use and withdrawal period. These contraceptives can be taken continuously for 21 days out of a 28-day cycle, followed by a 7-day break, or they may involve taking active tablets for 24 days, followed by placebo tablets for 4 days. For cycle control without contraception, one pill should be taken daily starting at least a week before the expected period and continued until the desired date. For cycle control with a contraceptive effect, one pill should be taken daily from the first day of the period, one month before the desired cycle control period until the desired date. Starting oral contraceptives on the first day of the period ensures a contraceptive effect throughout the entire cycle, including the withdrawal period. However, if started after the first day of the period, an additional method of contraception should be used for the first 7 days.
Ensuring Effectiveness even if You Forget
If a dose is forgotten but not more than 12 hours have passed, one tablet should be taken as soon as remembered, and regular intake should resume to maintain the effectiveness of the drug. If more than 12 hours have passed, the response will depend on the specific time the tablet is taken:
- During the first week, one or two tablets should be taken as soon as remembered, followed by regular timing. However, an additional method of contraception should be used for 7 days.
- During the second week, the same approach as the first week should be followed. If the contraceptive pills have been taken for 7 days before the forgotten dose, no additional contraception is necessary.
- During the third week, the contraceptive pill should be taken as soon as remembered, and the regular intake should continue. However, if the contraceptive pill has not been taken for 7 days before the forgotten dose, the current pack should be completed, and a new pack without a withdrawal period should be started. Supplementary contraception must be used for 7 days.
It is important to remember that you should consult with a healthcare professional for personalized guidance on the correct usage of oral contraceptives tailored to your specific needs and circumstances.
[헬스코리아뉴스 / 임해리] Awareness of oral contraceptives has improved so much that advertisements are even appearing on television. Oral contraceptives are mainly taken for contraception, but they are also increasingly taken for cycle control before an important day. Although oral contraceptives are readily available and easy to take, you must know how to use them properly. We learned about the correct method of taking oral contraceptives and precautions with Professor Song Jeong-min from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Gangdong Kyunghee University Hospital.
Professor Song Jeong-min from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Kangdong Kyunghee University Hospital explains the correct method of taking oral contraceptives and precautions.
Create an environment where hormones do not lead to pregnancy… Create a contraceptive effect
Oral contraceptives are literally oral contraceptives. It is a preparation that contains the hormones estrogen and progestin associated with pregnancy. It has a contraceptive effect by continuously administering hormones to maintain a certain concentration and create an environment where pregnancy is not possible. There are currently 1 to 4 generations of oral contraceptives, and the 1st to 4th generation all contain estrogen. There are three main types of natural estrogens (estradiol, estriol, and estrone), and all 1st to 4th generation oral contraceptives contain ethinyl estradiol, which has almost the same estrogenic activity as estradiol.
It can be used for therapeutic purposes other than contraception
These contraceptives are not necessarily prescribed for contraceptive purposes, but are sometimes prescribed for health care and treatment purposes. Oral contraceptives are effective in improving the symptoms of female diseases by inhibiting the secretion of gonadotropins and keeping the endometrium thin. Specifically, it is used to treat △endometriosis, △ abnormal uterine bleeding, △dysmenorrhea, polycystic ovary syndrome △, etc. or to control the health of the uterus.
Find the right birth control pill for your condition
First generation oral contraceptives are currently no longer used due to serious cardiovascular side effects. So, the 2nd to 4th generation are currently being sold. The 2nd and 3rd generation are over the counter drugs and can be bought in 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. As the side effects and effectiveness of contraceptive pills vary depending on the generation, if you are considering taking it for the first time, it is recommended that you consult a specialist and receive a recommendation for the pill that is suitable for you
Side effects can happen, but it’s okay if you work with a professional.
The second generation has a low risk of venous thromboembolism, but side effects such as acne, weight gain, hirsutism, and depression can 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 an increased risk of venous thromboembolism and can cause headaches, breast pain, and high blood pressure. Professor Song said, “If you receive treatment in a hospital and get a prescription, you can achieve the desired effect while coping without these side effects, so there is no need to be too reluctant, and for the on the contrary, it is not a good thing. an idea to be misused.”
Smokers over the age of 35 should not take oral contraceptives.
The Food and Drug Safety Administration legally states that women who smoke over the age of 35 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 from oral contraceptives may increase. This risk increases with age and the amount of smoking (more than 15 cigarettes per day), and is particularly evident among 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. Do not even take it if you have had a stroke or cardiovascular disease, or a family history of it.
21+7, 24+4, etc. You must check the dosage and withdrawal period correctly before taking it.
When using oral contraceptives for contraceptive purposes, you must check the duration of use and the withdrawal period. Oral contraceptives can be taken 21 days out of 28, taken 7 days off, or an active tablet taken for 24 days followed by 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 a 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 medication, immediately after the time you take 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 the effectiveness of the drug. 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 appointed 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 appointed time. If you have been taking birth control pills for 7 days before forgetting to take them, you do not need to use a back-up method of 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 pack but take a new pack without a withdrawal period. Supplementary contraception must be used for 7 days.
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