The use of postinor in accordance with the instructions and taking into account contraindications for the use of this drug, as a rule, does not have any serious negative consequences. But if it is used frequently, the consequences can be the most unpredictable and sad.
Postinor requires strict adherence to instructions
Postinor is a postcoital contraceptive whose active ingredient is a synthetic analogue of progesterone - levonorgestrel. In order to effectively prevent pregnancy, postinor contains a very large dose of levoengestrel, so its use requires compliance with the instructions developed by the manufacturer. The manufacturer of Postinor, the Hungarian pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter, conducted numerous laboratory studies and clinical trials before developing detailed instructions for the use of this drug.
That is why Postinor must be sold in pharmacies with a doctor’s prescription. The doctor decides in each individual case whether a woman can use Postinor or not.
Postinor shows the highest effectiveness when taken within 24 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse, during which time it is quite possible to visit a doctor and consult with him whether postinor can be used in this case.
Consequences of using postinor for the female reproductive system
When taking large doses of hormones in accordance with the instructions, there are no significant consequences for the woman’s reproductive system. There may be a slight disruption in the menstrual cycle, but it is quickly restored. This manifests itself in the form of small intermenstrual bleeding, longer and heavier periods, or, on the contrary, in the absence of periods for five to seven days. All this goes away on its own and does not require treatment. But if your period is delayed by more than a week, you need to rule out pregnancy.
If Postinor is used regularly and especially several times during one menstrual cycle, disruptions in the menstrual cycle can be significant.
In this case, much depends on the individual, often hereditary characteristics of the woman: in one woman, disruptions, even significant ones, will be temporary, while in another, after repeated use of postinor, the menstrual cycle may change for a long time, which will eventually lead to infertility.
Consequences from the vascular system
These consequences can develop only if postinor is taken incorrectly and not in all women. Women who have blood coagulation disorders will mainly be affected. Under the influence of repeated intake of very large doses of hormones, the clotting ability of the blood increases, which leads to the appearance of blood clots in the blood vessels.
Blood clots block the lumens of blood vessels, as a result of which the flow of blood to certain organs and tissues is reduced or completely stopped. Blood clots can also break off and travel through blood vessels through the bloodstream, leading to thromboembolism - blockage of a vessel by a detached blood clot (embolus). Thrombosis and thromboembolism of the vessels of the brain and heart are especially dangerous - this can lead to the development of ischemic stroke or instant death due to blockage of the pulmonary artery.
What other consequences could the incorrect use of postinor have?
The use of postinor by women with impaired liver function can have serious consequences. Such disorders usually occur in severe, long-term diseases, in which the use of postinor is contraindicated. If a woman with impaired liver function nevertheless takes Postinor, her condition may worsen sharply.
The choice of modern contraceptives is large. Their actions boil down to two principles. Some need to be taken constantly, others - once and only in emergency cases. Postinor is an emergency drug. The drug reduces the possibility of unplanned pregnancy by 5-10 percent.
There is an opinion that postinor is a means of aggressive influence. Indeed, if the drug is used incorrectly, health problems can arise. It cannot be used continuously. In addition, be sure to read the instructions before use. Postinor has contraindications and side effects. The drug is dispensed in pharmacies with a doctor's prescription. Therefore, it is better to consult a gynecologist in advance.
Conditions for dispensing from pharmacies, release form of Postinor
Postinor is available in the form of tablets containing 0.75 mg of the active substance levonorgestrel; there are 2 of them in a blister. The cost of packaging today ranges from 310–390 rubles. You can purchase this contraceptive at almost any pharmacy.
The main active ingredient is a synthetic derivative of progesterone (the hormone of the second phase of the menstrual cycle) - levonorgestrel, which is also used in other hormonal contraceptives, only in much smaller quantities.
The instructions indicate that the drug is available with a prescription, but in fact, you can buy it without a doctor’s prescription. Usually, pharmacists sell Postinor without any questions asked, since the time to start taking it is very short, and the procedure for obtaining a prescription can significantly delay the time of taking the first pill. An exception to over-the-counter sales is Belarus, where it is prohibited to buy any hormonal contraceptives without a doctor’s prescription. Postinor falls into this category.
But do not forget that this is a serious medication that has a number of contraindications and side effects, and its uncontrolled use (or on a regular basis) is unacceptable. When choosing a drug, you must take into account all possible negative consequences and consult your doctor.
In Russia, Postinor can be bought without a doctor's prescription.
Indications for emergency contraception
Postinor is sometimes called the “firefighter” method of contraception. It belongs to the group of postcoital (used after sexual intercourse) contraceptives. Taking Postinor is possible as an emergency alternative contraceptive after unprotected sexual intercourse or when the contraceptive method used cannot be considered reliable. Examples can be very diverse:
- various injuries during the use of male condoms;
- damage to the cervical plate or contraceptive cap;
- skipping birth control pills intended for continuous use;
- incorrect calculation of the day of ovulation with the calendar method of contraception;
- unsuccessful interrupted sexual intercourse;
- loss or other damage to the intrauterine device, etc.
The use of Postinor is possible to prevent pregnancy during rape.
Timing and dosage regimen for abortion
Postinor should be taken orally no later than 72 hours after intimacy. The drug prevents pregnancy in the following ways:
- blocks ovulation if it has not yet occurred;
- affects the quality of the endometrium, making implantation of a fertilized egg impossible;
- thickens the mucus in the cervical canal, which prevents sperm from penetrating into the uterus.
Postinor is an emergency hormonal contraceptive that helps prevent pregnancy until the fertilized egg is implanted.
The contraceptive effect of Postinor decreases as the time that passes from the moment of intimacy to taking the pills increases:
- effectiveness reaches 95% if the drug is used in the first 24 hours;
- 85% if tablets are taken between 24 and 48 hours;
- 58% when taking the drug within 48 to 72 hours after sexual intercourse.
If the drug was taken after fertilization has occurred, then it creates conditions under which implantation of the egg into the inner lining of the uterus is impossible.
Postinor is a very unsafe drug and should not be taken regularly. Postinor contains a very large dose of a strong hormone, it should not be a method of contraception, it was created for the so-called. emergency case: God forbid, rape.
Obstetrician-gynecologist Malyarskaya M.M.
https://www.mariamm.ru/faq.cgi?id=1&tid=543
Postinor should be taken according to the following regimen:
- As soon as possible after sexual intercourse, but no later than 72 hours, you need to take the first tablet.
- Take the second tablet after 12 hours (if this is impossible for some reason, then the interval should not be more than 16 hours).
Can it be used?
What is Postinor essentially? This is an emergency contraceptive that is prescribed if it is necessary to terminate a pregnancy. But since it needs to be used as quickly as possible, we are talking about a presumptive pregnancy. Thus, if a woman does not want a child, but during the period of ovulation she had unprotected intercourse, then the use of Postinor will prevent pregnancy, and if conception has already occurred, then interrupt it by changing the structure of the endometrium and hormonal balance, which will ultimately prevent attachment of the fertilized egg and provoke its disintegration.
Contraindications and precautions
Postinor has a number of contraindications:
- age up to 16 years;
- pregnancy;
- severe renal failure;
- genital bleeding;
- tendency to form arterial and venous blood clots;
- sensitivity to any of the components of the drug;
- lactase deficiency.
You should be careful when using the drug for diseases of the biliary tract and liver, if you have a history of jaundice or Crohn's disease. It is also worth consulting with a doctor if there is a need for a woman who is breastfeeding to take Postinor.
In addition, you must adhere to the following rules:
- in case of vomiting within three hours after taking one of the tablets, you need to take another one;
- after consuming Postinor, it is recommended to use reliable methods of contraception until the start of the next menstruation;
- repeated use of the drug in one cycle is contraindicated, as it increases the likelihood of side effects, bleeding and hormonal imbalances;
- It is advisable to take this contraceptive in the preovulatory phase, as well as during ovulation; if the menstrual cycle is irregular, then you must first make sure there is no pregnancy.
Postinor should not be taken repeatedly during one menstrual cycle.
Side effects of the drug
Like other hormonal drugs, Postinor has a number of possible side effects:
- allergic reactions in the form of itching, rash, redness of the skin, swelling of the face;
- with a frequency of 1–10%: headaches;
- diarrhea;
- vomit;
- pain in the mammary gland;
- delay of menstruation (no more than 5–7 days, if menstruation does not start for a longer time, it is necessary to do a test to exclude pregnancy);
- pain in the pelvic area;
Typically, the above side effects are temporary and do not require taking special medications.
Emergency contraception, like abortion, is an unnatural phenomenon, a disruption of the body’s hormonal balance, and does not always pass without leaving a trace. Therefore, you need to try to take measures to avoid resorting to this method.
Obstetrician-gynecologist Malyarskaya M.M.
https://www.mariamm.ru/faq.cgi?id=1&tid=543
Side effects
Due to the fact that the drug is quite “heavy”, it has a significant impact on health and can provoke a number of complications, such as:
- Mood disorders;
- Loose stools, abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea;
- Dizziness, headache;
- Skin itching, allergic reactions;
- Increased vaginal discharge;
- Vaginal bleeding.
After use, it is recommended to consult a gynecologist.
What to do if you don’t get your period after taking the pills
After finishing taking Postinor, menstruation can begin either in a few days or on time, according to the woman’s menstrual cycle. Since the drug contains a significant dose of second-phase hormones, this can lead to a disruption in the cycle and a delay in menstruation, but not more than 7 days.
If after taking your period your period does not come on time and is delayed for more than a week, then you need to make sure that there is no pregnancy. Repeated use of the drug is unacceptable. If pregnancy occurs, then Postinor will not have any effect on it, since it is not a means for medical abortion in the event of implantation of the fertilized egg. For further advice, you should consult a doctor.
If menstruation is delayed by more than 7 days, pregnancy must be excluded.
Influence
The high effectiveness of this remedy is explained by the complex effect of the drug. It acts simultaneously in three directions:
- Deactivates sperm, preventing conception;
- Blocks ovulation from a hormonal point of view, preventing eggs from leaving the follicles;
- It changes the structure and structure of the endometrium, making it more loose, as a result of which, even if the fertilized egg is already present and does not die, it cannot attach.
This effect is achieved by significantly changing the patient’s hormonal background due to the intake of a large amount of synthetic hormones (which are contained in Postinor). Thus, if you take Postinor during ovulation, it will be blocked.
Video: emergency contraception
Postinor cannot be called a safe contraceptive. However, situations may arise in life when you have to make a decision about using these tablets. Before starting to take the medication, it is necessary to take into account such important factors as the mechanism of action, indications and contraindications, as well as side effects of the drug. The information provided will help you make the right choice. Be healthy!
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It is important to know!
According to the instructions, the maximum concentration in the blood is observed 3 hours after taking the first tablet. Therefore, within 60 minutes after using the medicine, it is permissible to breastfeed the baby one more time (or express milk).
Some young mothers make a big mistake when they use progestin not according to the instructions, that is, they take 2 tablets at the same time (without observing a 12-hour break). This approach can cause many side effects. One of the most serious of them is uterine bleeding, which can only be stopped by surgery.
