What are the side effects of short-acting oral contraceptives for women?

Many women take short-acting oral contraceptives as a method of contraception. Generally speaking, this type of medicine is very effective. As long as it is taken according to the instructions, most women will not experience unwanted pregnancies. However, it should be noted that short-acting oral contraceptives have many side effects if used for a long time. So what are the side effects of short-acting oral contraceptives? Let’s take a look together!

Short-term oral contraceptives The short-acting contraceptives used in China include contraceptive tablets No. 1 and No. 2, compound 18-methylethynylketone short-acting tablets, and oral contraceptive tablets No. 0, 1, and 2. When using, start taking the medicine from the day of menstruation, and start taking the medicine on the fifth day. The best time to take the medicine is before going to bed. Take one tablet a day for 22 consecutive days, which can prevent pregnancy for one month. Menstruation usually comes about 3 days after stopping the medication.

Side effects of short-term oral contraceptives:

(1) Pregnancy-like reactions, such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, and drowsiness. Mild reactions do not require treatment and generally disappear on their own after three months. The time of taking the medicine can be changed, such as taking it before bedtime. For more severe reactions, vitamin B6 or antiemetics, as well as strong tea, soaked ginger, etc. can be taken.

(2) Vaginal bleeding during medication. This situation is often caused by missed contraceptive pills, and can be treated in three ways. ① Bleeding occurs in the first half of the menstrual cycle (1 to 14 days). Starting from the day of bleeding, you can take 1 tablet of ethinyl estradiol (0.005 mg) or half a tablet of short-acting contraceptive pill daily, and take it together with the original contraceptive pill until the 22nd day. ② If bleeding occurs in the second half of the menstrual cycle (14 to 28 days), you can take 1/4 to 1/2 tablet of short-acting oral contraceptive pills together with the original contraceptive pills until the 22nd day and then stop taking them. ③ If bleeding occurs during the last few pills, you can stop taking the medicine and treat the bleeding at this time as a menstrual period. Start taking the next cycle of contraceptive pills on the 5th day of menstruation. Taking the medicine on time and not missing any pills can avoid or reduce vaginal bleeding.

(3) Decreased menstrual flow or amenorrhea. If menstruation still does not occur after stopping the medication for 7 days, after excluding amenorrhea caused by pregnancy and other diseases, the next cycle of contraceptive pills should be taken from the 8th day; if amenorrhea persists for more than 3 months, the medication should be stopped and other contraceptive measures should be used.

(4) For a very small number of women with facial pigmentation, they can take vitamin B complex and vitamin C, and use other contraceptive measures when necessary.

(5) A small number of women experience a slight increase in weight after taking the medication. They can continue to take the medication and increase physical exercise. If there is a significant increase in weight, the medication should be stopped and other contraceptive measures should be used.

Contraceptive pills should not be taken indiscriminately or used every month because they have many adverse reactions: such as irregular small amounts of bleeding during the medication period, called breakthrough bleeding; causing endocrine disorders, affecting the menstrual cycle, shortening the menstrual period, reducing menstrual volume, and reducing or eliminating dysmenorrhea. If amenorrhea occurs, the drug should be discontinued; there will also be pigmentation, weight gain, and early pregnancy-like reactions. These are all adverse reactions, so you must pay attention to them. Taking too many birth control pills can also have a certain impact on fertility. After taking oral contraceptives for a long time, if you want to get pregnant, you may experience a short period of anovulation, so you can stop taking the pills about six months before the expected pregnancy. But don't worry, oral contraceptives will not cause permanent infertility, nor will they affect future pregnancy.

By reading the above text, I believe you have a better understanding of short-acting oral contraceptives. Although contraceptives have a high success rate, it should be noted that they have many side effects. Therefore, it is best not to use contraceptives frequently, let alone use them indiscriminately, otherwise it may affect future fertility problems, and you must pay enough attention to it.