Contraceptive issues for a young mother who only recently gave birth are especially acute. This is due to the fact that during the period of breastfeeding, the number of means that can be used to protect against unwanted pregnancy is sharply reduced. It is especially difficult for those ladies who have previously chosen oral contraceptives. However, doctors assure that you should not worry, because today there are special hormonal pills for lactating women.
When choosing birth control pills, a nursing mother should remember two simple rules. The first is that young mothers need to use hormonal drugs only from the progestogen group. Second - such drugs must be taken strictly according to the instructions.
What hormones can you take?
Usually, nursing mothers take in the so-called mini-pills. It is these pills that contain only progestagen - the only hormone approved for use during breastfeeding.
Progestogen works in the following way: it makes the cervical mucus thicker, as a result of which it becomes impermeable to sperm. In addition, it is this hormone that slows down the movement of the egg through the fallopian tubes, thereby complicating the process of fertilization.
If fertilization does occur, mini-pills prevent the embryo from attaching to the wall of the uterus and lead to a miscarriage.
The advantages of such drugs are that they practically have no negative effect, do not affect lactation, i.e. the quality and quantity of milk, and also allow you to correct some inflammatory diseases of the female genital area. In addition, they do not reduce libido and allow, after their abolition, to quickly restore the ability to conceive.
You should also be prepared for the fact that such mini-pills can cause some side effects when taken. So, for example, there may be fluctuations in the menstrual cycle, increased breast sensitivity, increased oily skin, the appearance of acne, etc.
Most of the side effects disappear as soon as the body gets used to the pills; in other women, such symptoms disappear 2-3 months after the drug is discontinued. However, if all this persists for longer, you need to see a doctor.
Contraindications to taking mini-drank
Only a doctor should prescribe mini-pills. After all, there are a number of contraindications for taking such drugs. So, for example, you should not drink hormonal contraceptives for those who have tumors and cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis, tumors of the kidneys, breast, and also have a history of vascular lesions of the brain, heart, etc. Also, do not prescribe mini-pills for epilepsy and bleeding from the genital tract of unclear etymology.
Mini-drank rules
You can start taking hormonal drugs no earlier than 6-8 weeks after childbirth. Otherwise, you can easily interfere with the body's natural hormonal changes.
You need to take the pills once a day, at a strictly defined time. Remember that the effectiveness of the drug decreases markedly even after a delay in taking the pill for several hours.
Naturally, it is worth remembering that this type of contraceptive only protects against pregnancy. But against sexually transmitted infections, they are powerless.
