These are the medicines given orally to prevent contraception.
Oral contraceptives are of three types:
1. Combined pills
2. Progesterone only pills
3. Emergency contraceptives
1. Combined pills
• They contain both estrogen and progesterone and inhibit ovulation.
Dosage : 1 tablet daily for 21 days from 1st day of menstrual cycle.
No tablet for next seven days.
To increase compliance of patient, 28 tablets strips are used, with first 21 containing the medicine and the remaining 7, only Iron.
If one tablet is missed, take 2 next day.
If 2 tablets are missed, discard the whole set, switch to any other mode of contraception and start fresh with the new set.
Breakthrough Bleeding
Abnormal Bleeding which occurs during 1-21 days of menstrual cycle. It occurs due to sudden increase in progesterone
Phasic Pills : the level of progesterone is increased slowly
Diphasic pills : Low dose of progesterone from 1-10 days and increased dose from 11 to 21 days.
Triphasic pills : very low dose from 1-5 days, low dose from 6-10 days and high dose from 11-21 days.
Phasic Pills prevent the breakthrough bleeding.
2. Progesterone only pills:
They contain LNG ( Levonorgestrel).
They make the cervical mucosa thick.
3. Emergency contraceptives:
They are also known as post coital contraceptives or morning after pills.
They include:
1. Combined pill : 2 tablets at start and 2 tablets after 12 hours.
2. Progesterone only pills: 1 tablet at start and 2 tablets after 12 hours.
3. Mefipristone : Given within 72 hours of intercourse. It is also used for induction of abortion.
4. Ullipristal : Given within 120 hours of intercourse.
Side effects of Oral Contraceptives:
Oral contraceptives have a large number of side effects.
Nausea, edema, recurrent headache, abnormal bleeding, acne, weight gain, breast cancer, cervical cancer, etc.
Other benefits of Oral Contraceptives:
It decreases risk of endometrial cancer, fibroids, iron deficiency anemia, osteoporosis, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cyst, etc.
P.S. : Please consult a medical practitioner before taking any medication.
Thank You.