What is a long-acting contraceptive pill?
Long-acting contraceptive pills are drugs that achieve long-term contraceptive effects through hormone regulation. Compared with short-acting contraceptive pills, long-acting contraceptive pills are taken less frequently and have longer-lasting contraceptive effects, making them suitable for women who need long-term contraception. In recent years, long-acting contraceptive pills have become one of the hot topics due to their convenience and effectiveness. This article will introduce in detail the types, principles, advantages, disadvantages and precautions of long-acting contraceptive pills.
1. Types of long-acting contraceptive pills
Long-acting contraceptive pills are mainly divided into the following categories:
| Type | Common medicines | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Oral long-acting contraceptive pill | Such as compound norgestrel tablets | Take once a month |
| contraceptive injection | Medroxyprogesterone acetate injection | Injection every 3 months |
| subcutaneous implant | levonorgestrel implant | Implanted under the skin, valid for 3-5 years |
| intrauterine birth control system | Such as Mirena (levonorgestrel intrauterine system) | Placed in the uterus, valid for 5 years |
2. How long-acting contraceptive pills work
Long-acting contraceptive pills mainly achieve contraceptive effects through the following mechanisms:
1.Suppress ovulation:Hormonal components (such as progesterone and estrogen) prevent follicle maturation and ovulation by inhibiting the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.
2.Changes in cervical mucus:Progesterone thickens cervical mucus, preventing sperm from entering the uterus.
3.Changes in the endometrium:Hormones thin the lining of the uterus, making it difficult for a fertilized egg to implant.
3. Advantages and disadvantages of long-acting contraceptive pills
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| The contraceptive effect is good and the success rate is as high as 99%. | Some people may experience hormone-related side effects (such as irregular menstruation, headaches) |
| Easy to use, reducing the trouble of taking medication every day | Requires professional doctor operation (such as injection, implantation) |
| Some types are reversible (such as oral drugs, injection needles) | Fertility recovery takes longer after discontinuation of medication |
4. Precautions for long-acting contraceptive pills
1.Applicable people:Suitable for healthy women of childbearing age, especially those with long-term contraceptive needs.
2.Taboo groups:Women with severe cardiovascular disease, liver disease, breast cancer, etc. should avoid use.
3.Side Effect Management:If severe discomfort occurs (such as persistent headache, chest pain), you should seek medical treatment in time.
4.Regular review:Blood pressure, liver function and other indicators need to be checked regularly during use.
5. Long-acting contraceptive pills vs. short-acting contraceptive pills
| Comparative item | long acting contraceptive pill | short-acting contraceptive pill |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency of taking | 1 time per month or less | 1 time a day |
| contraceptive effect | 99% | 91%-99% |
| side effects | may be more obvious | relatively light |
Conclusion
Long-acting contraceptive pills provide women with more contraceptive options, but before using them, you need to fully understand their principles, advantages, disadvantages, and precautions, and choose the method that best suits you under the guidance of a doctor. In recent years, with the development of medical technology, more new long-acting contraceptive methods (such as microneedle patches) are also being developed, which may bring more convenience to women's health in the future.
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