Do you know what a contraceptive is? Well, you’ve probably heard that they are medications used to prevent pregnancy. And that’s pretty much it!
However, few people stop to think about what contraceptives represent for women’s lives and their health. Have you ever reflected on this?
What are contraceptives?
Contraceptives are hormonal medications designed to prevent pregnancy in women. They are methods that act directly on the female body, differing from other contraceptive strategies, such as IUDs, condoms, and many more.
It is worth noting that these medications do not prevent STIs (sexually transmitted infections). Therefore, the combined use of condoms is recommended for everyone.
What is their social importance?
Besides being a valuable medication for women’s health, contraceptives have great historical and social importance. Developed around the 1960s, they revolutionized the role of women in the world and allowed them to reach places that were previously impossible.
From the possibility of planning pregnancy, women gained greater autonomy over their bodies and their lives. With this, it became possible for them to start planning their careers, achieving positions in the job market, and dedicating themselves to their dreams.
In a way, then, it’s possible to say that contraceptives were an important step for movements like feminism. And perhaps you don’t know, but today there is already very promising research on contraceptives for male use.
What are its benefits?
In the previous topic, we discussed two important benefits of contraceptives: pregnancy prevention and greater control for women over their own lives. However, there are also other advantages and indications for using the pill. Some good examples are:
- control of symptoms in cases of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS);
- reduction of premenstrual tension (PMS) symptoms;
- treatment of cramps;
- treatment of issues such as endometriosis;
- reduction of menstrual flow;
- regularization of menstruation.
What types of contraceptives are there?
There are several types of contraceptives, a name given exclusively to medications that act hormonally in the body. Other contraceptive methods are called “barrier methods”.
Check out some contraceptive methods below!
Pills
These are the most well-known form of contraception. They should be taken daily, preferably at the same time.
Injection
The contraceptive injection can be administered monthly or every 3 months, depending on your doctor’s recommendation.
Patch
It is literally a patch that must be applied to the skin weekly. Therefore, every 7 days, you should change the product and take a one-week break after 3 patches have been used.
Ring
The vaginal ring is a product placed inside the vagina. It is changed monthly.
Implant
The implant is a very small device that, as the name suggests, is implanted under the patient’s skin. It can be changed every 6 months, 1 year, or even every 3 years, depending on the brand.
IUD
Finally, there is the IUD, the intrauterine device. It can be just a barrier method—known as the copper IUD—or it can also release hormones into the woman’s body.
What is contraception prescribed for?
Your gynecologist may prescribe birth control pills for various purposes. After all, in addition to preventing pregnancy, they help treat other problems, especially those of a reproductive nature. Examples include Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis.
However, it is also possible to use the pill for other purposes. For example, when a woman uses medications that are incompatible with pregnancy. One example is the treatment of issues such as androgenetic alopecia, which requires the use of drugs that can harm the fetus.
In these cases, the birth control pill itself can also help, blocking male hormones (testosterone) in the woman’s body and acting as an adjunct in the treatment of the dermatological problem. Pretty cool, right?
How does it work?
Each contraceptive has its own mechanism of action. However, the main goal of all of them is to maintain hormone levels at rates that prevent the woman from entering the ovulation period.
The female menstrual cycle is a very complex chain of events. In it, hormones activate and deactivate, causing other processes to begin or end. In this case, the goal is to prevent the “triggers” of ovulation from happening and, therefore, prevent female fertility.
Therefore, it is very important that you take your pill at the same time every day, ensuring that hormone levels remain stable in your body. Or, of course, that you change your contraceptive method (such as a ring, patch, or others) within the prescribed period.
Is birth control harmful?
This is a very frequent question. After all, is birth control harmful to health? The answer is: it depends.
Even though it brings many benefits, we cannot forget that we are talking about a medication. Therefore, self-medication should not be practiced. Contraceptive prescriptions can only be made by a gynecologist, sometimes in partnership with other professionals such as a hepatologist and an endocrinologist.
This is because there are some contraindications for their use, such as circulatory problems, risk of stroke and thromboembolism, and, of course, liver problems.
So, when wondering if contraceptives cause weight gain or are harmful to health, keep in mind that everything will depend on your body. Therefore, prior examinations and a good conversation with your gynecologist are fundamental for a correct prescription, okay?
As we can see, contraceptives are a very important strategy for women’s health. However, they should be prescribed with caution, based on a thorough analysis by a good professional. So, consult your doctor and ask your questions about the best pill for your health!