How to use short-term contraception
Release time : 06/07/2025 09:30:01
Before getting ready to have children, it is important to take precautions to prevent pregnancy.
Taking short-term contraceptive pills is one of the common ways of contraception. It mainly achieves this through the inhibition of ovulation and other means.
However, there are also many things to pay attention to when taking short-term birth control pills. How should short-term contraceptives be taken? Taking short-term birth control pills is a common way of contraception, but they differ from regular medications in terms of their formulation and administration.
Most of the short-term contraceptive pills available on the market are packaged in 21-pill boxes, with the majority of users taking one pill daily for 21 days. After the 21-day cycle is completed, a seven-day break is taken before continuing with the next box. A total of 28 days constitute a single complete cycle, and the efficacy lasts for up to a month.
It is important to take medication at the same time each day. If it is difficult for you to remember, you can set it in the morning or before bedtime, which will help you establish a habit.
For those who are first-time users of the short-term contraceptive pill, it should be taken from the first day of menstruation to the second or fifth day.
During the first week of taking medication, if sexual intercourse is desired, it is still necessary to use a condom for protection against unwanted pregnancy.
During the first medication cycle, the drug effect may not yet be fully exerted, so special attention should be paid.
Please note, do not take medicines with wet hands. Moisture may affect the effectiveness of the medication.
Medications should be stored in dry, cool places. If they are damp or split, they may lose their effectiveness and can cause vaginal bleeding in women.
The short-term contraceptive method has some side effects. As the saying goes, "Three pills are poisonous," meaning that any medication comes with potential side effects and may affect the health of the female body.
1. After taking short-term contraceptives, some women may experience nausea and vomiting. Different types of contraceptives occur at different frequencies. Generally speaking, nausea does not last for 24 hours.
When taking medicine, taking it with the medication or before bed can reduce the frequency of nausea and vomiting.
2. Some women will develop symptoms of vaginal bleeding after taking the medicine. It is normal for this situation to occur without panic. It usually disappears on its own after 1-3 months of taking it.
3. Some women may experience early or delayed menstruation after taking short-term contraceptives. They may also be affected by drugs and do not require special treatment.
4. Some women may experience symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, breast tenderness, or generalized weakness, which are determined by the woman's physical condition. These discomforts are generally mild and last no more than 24 hours.
What should be noted when using short-term contraception? Short-term contraceptives are quite complex to use, and there are many places to pay attention.
Failure to follow the instructions for taking the contraceptive may result in it not being effective.
1. It is imperative to strictly adhere to the instructions provided in the instruction manual when taking medication. Regardless of whether menstruation has ceased, one should begin taking medication on the fifth day after menstruation begins, as delaying medication intake may result in an inability to suppress ovulation, thereby impacting the efficacy of contraception.
2. When taking medications, one should not interrupt the regimen; it is essential to continue the medication as prescribed. If a medication is missed on a given day, it should be resumed the following day. Failing to resume or discontinue medication in a timely manner can lead to vaginal bleeding or failure of contraception.
3. If you are planning to conceive, it is safer and more advisable to wait for six months after stopping the contraceptive pill before trying to conceive.
Generally speaking, ovulation can be restored after a month of medication withdrawal. However, if the interval is too short, the components of the medication may affect the fetus.
4. Before taking medication, carefully read the instructions. For example, individuals with postpartum, miscarriage, lactation, high blood pressure, or gynecological cancer, should not take the drug. It is better to consult a doctor at a hospital for advice.
There are various types of short-term contraceptive pills available on the market, generally categorized into three-pill, dual-pill, and single-pill formulations. The main active ingredients in all these types of pills are estrogen and progesterone.
The difference between them is that the estrogen and progesterone levels in a single photo are fixed, while the estrogen and progesterone levels in double and triple photos will change according to changes in menstrual periods. The administration method is also more complicated and needs to be followed in order.
Commonly used short-term contraceptives include single-photo oranges, while double-photo and three-photo pills have different doses per cycle, and are generally clearly marked on the instructions.
Currently, short-term contraceptives are over-the-counter drugs and can be purchased directly at pharmacies. However, we must pay attention to the fact that we must purchase through formal channels to ensure quality.
Before taking medication, one should inquire with a professional physician to clarify their own health conditions and then purchase and take it according to the advice.
Is short-term contraception safe? Although short-term contraceptives can effectively prevent pregnancy, they also have certain adverse effects on human health. Especially when used over a long period of time, they can cause harm to the body and are not recommended for long-term use.
Oral contraceptives, generally speaking, are effective in preventing pregnancy and can also prevent ovarian cancer. However, if they are taken for more than two years, they may cause high blood lipids and weight gain.
The intake of short-term contraceptives may affect the metabolism of women. If a diabetic woman takes them, it may increase the risk of high blood sugar. However, if she stops taking them, it will return to normal. Any adverse reaction can also be alleviated on its own.
Therefore, it is recommended that the use of short-term contraceptive pills not exceed three times a year.
The medical part covered in this article is for reading and reference only.
If you feel unwell, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately, and the medical diagnosis and treatment will be subject to offline diagnosis.