The drug "Regulon": reviews from doctors, instructions for use

Increasingly, women are choosing oral medications as a means of contraception. Properly selected birth control pills will not only protect against unwanted pregnancy, but also stabilize hormonal levels and the menstrual cycle. One of the most famous representatives of such hormonal drugs is Regulon, a new generation monophasic drug with proven high efficiency.

Instructions for use

The schedule for taking Regulon is tied to a woman’s menstrual cycle. The first tablet of the drug is taken on the first day of menstruation.
You need to drink it for 3 weeks, 1 tablet per day. After this, you need to take a 7-day break, after which you continue taking it according to the same regimen. Women who are not breastfeeding can start taking Regulon 3 weeks after the birth of the child. Before this, it is recommended to undergo tests and consult with a gynecologist. If the decision to prevent conception with COCs is made later, it is recommended to use additional methods of contraception during the first week of use.

If you used other hormonal-based contraceptives before Regulon, your dosage regimen will be slightly different from the standard one. In this case, the first tablet should be taken the next day after the end of the previous course, without breaks. But, if the pills you were taking contained only progestogens (“mini-pills”), taking COCs will have to be postponed until the start of your next menstruation.

Sometimes there is no menstrual bleeding while taking the mini-pill. In this case, you can start drinking Regulon from any day of the cycle, but during the first 7 days, use condoms, uterine caps or other barrier contraceptives.

Interaction with other drugs

Medicines that induce liver enzymes, such as hydantoin, barbiturates, primidone, carbamazepine, rifampicin, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, felbamate, griseofulvin, as well as medicines containing St. John's wort reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives and increase the risk of breakthrough bleeding. . The maximum level of induction is usually achieved no earlier than 2-3 weeks, but can last up to 4 weeks. after drug withdrawal.

Ampicillin, tetracycline - reduce effectiveness (the mechanism of interaction has not been established).

If co-administration is necessary, it is recommended to use an additional barrier method of contraception throughout the entire course of treatment and for 7 days (for rifampicin - within 28 days) after discontinuation of the drug.

Oral contraceptives may decrease carbohydrate tolerance and increase the need for insulin or oral antidiabetic agents.

Release form of the drug

The drug is available only in tablet form. According to reviews, this medication is one of the most popular means of contraception. Regulon tablets contain a combination of synthetic analogues of hormones that prevent the fertilization of the egg even if the woman is sexually active without using barrier means of protection against unwanted pregnancy (condoms).

Each tablet is covered with a protective film shell of a white or grayish tint. Regulon pills have a convex on both sides, on one of which the marking P8 is stamped, and on the other - RG. Each pack of Regulon contains 21 tablets placed in a blister. One pill contains:

• 0.15 mg desogestrel;
• 0.03 mg tinyl estradiol.

In addition to the main active ingredients, there are also auxiliary components, including magnesium stearate, lactose monohydrate, stearic acid, potato starch and povidone.

Regulon price

The medication Regulon is a drug sold online and in pharmacies at a cost depending on the number of tablets in the pack and pricing policy. Approximate Moscow prices:

Number of tablets in a pack	Pharmacy name	Price, rubles
21	WER.RU	400
	ZdravZone	397
	Pharmacy IFC	541
	Pills.ru	460
63	WER.RU	1050
	ZdravZone	1100
	Pharmacy IFC	1310
	Pills.ru	1060

The effect of OK on the woman’s body

The drug Regulon belongs to the group of OKs - oral contraceptives. There are 2 types of drugs: parenteral and tablets, which serve the same purpose - suppressing the production of female sex hormones. This cannot but affect your health.

When taking OCs, the natural functioning of the endocrine organs changes, in particular, the production of their own progesterone and estrogen decreases. It should be borne in mind that after stopping oral contraceptives, it will take 3 months to establish this process.

Regulon normalizes a woman’s hormonal levels thanks to the analogues of estrogen and progesterone it contains. Regular use of the drug prevents the development of a number of gynecological diseases.

If you follow the rules of administration, Regulon, like other OCs, will not lead to weight gain. If this occurs, it means that the tablets were selected incorrectly.

The main goal of taking OK is to improve a woman’s health by stabilizing her hormonal levels. Weight gain does not have a positive effect on health unless the patient is malnourished or underweight.

Effect on skin

When taking COCs, allergic rashes and age spots may appear. As a rule, they do not cause serious inconvenience, and after stopping the use of the drug they completely disappear.

Discharge

In the first weeks after starting to take Regulon, brown spotting may appear. They do not cause any harm to the body and are not a cause for concern. If heavy bleeding occurs, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

"Regulon" reduces the body's tolerance to carbohydrates and can cause fluid retention. Therefore, while taking the drug, a slight increase in body weight is possible. To prevent this from happening, you need to monitor your diet and avoid overeating.

When taking Regulon, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting and epigastric pain are possible. Therefore, the drug is not recommended for people suffering from acute or chronic gastrointestinal diseases.

If you follow the rules for taking Regulon, your periods will come every 3 weeks, during 7-day intervals. Withdrawal of the drug usually occurs without any significant side effects. But in some cases, bleeding outside the menstrual cycle, amenorrhea or a delay of 7-10 days is possible.

Menstrual cycle after Regulon withdrawal

After finishing taking the drug, the menstrual cycle is restored within 1-3 months. It is possible that PMS symptoms will reappear (headache, weakness, irritability), pain will resume, or these manifestations will become less pronounced. It all depends on how strong these manifestations were initially.

At first, menstruation may be scanty, and its volume does not increase much after stopping the contraceptive. But after three months, the volume of discharge normalizes and becomes the same as it was before taking the drug. The duration of scanty periods in the first 1-3 cycles ranges from 7 to 14 days.

If a woman stops taking the contraceptive halfway through the package, spotting brown discharge is possible for up to two weeks. They are triggered by a sharp drop in the level of sex hormones in the middle of the menstrual cycle.

In general, in the first three months the body is rebuilt, and both scanty (which happens more often) and heavy periods are possible. The reason for contacting a gynecologist should be scanty discharge that lasts too long (more than 2 weeks) or heavy periods, accompanied by weakness and pain in the lower abdomen.

When should I expect my period after stopping Regulon?

After drinking the last pill from the package, menstruation should begin within 1-3 days, unless the contraceptive was taken for too long (6 months or more). And after a long course of taking a contraceptive drug, your period may be delayed for several months until the body begins to produce its own hormones again.

Why are there no periods after stopping Regulon?

It happens that withdrawal bleeding does not occur. After long-term use of COCs, the female body needs time to resume the production of its own hormones. Pregnancy cannot be ruled out as the reason for the absence of menstruation. If pregnancy is not confirmed and there are no menstruation for 3 or more cycles, then this may be a manifestation of secondary amenoria.

Secondary amenorrhea develops against the background of ovarian hyperinhibition syndrome in 0.7% of women. This small percentage includes women who, most often, already had menstrual dysfunction before starting Regulon. Another reason for the development of secondary amenorrhea: taking reserpine, phenothiazine or narcotic drugs together with taking Regulon.

The mechanism of ovarian hyperinhibition is to block the synthesis of GnRH by the hypothalamus and develop hyperprolactinemia.

Ovarian hyperinhibition syndrome is confirmed by ultrasound results (multifollicular ovaries and hypoplastic endometrium, no more than 4-5 mm) and the results of hormone studies (FSH, LH and estradiol levels are below normal).

Scanty periods after stopping Regulon

Scanty periods a few days after stopping COCs are a normal reaction of the body to changing hormonal levels. If pregnancy develops while taking the drug, it may also initially manifest itself as scanty bleeding. Bloody discharge after discontinuation of Regulon

Bloody discharge after stopping a hormonal contraceptive is a withdrawal syndrome, which is a normal reaction of the female body. Discharge can last up to 14 days. Their duration depends

• depending on the patient’s age: the older she is, the longer the bleeding lasts;
• on the duration of taking the drug: the longer the use lasted, the longer the discharge was observed.

Brown discharge after stopping Regulon

After discontinuation of Regulon, brown discharge may be observed, and this is a normal reaction of the body. A small amount of blood, particles of atrophied endometrium and platelets give the discharge a brown color.

Bleeding after stopping Regulon

Against the background of prolonged suppression of ovarian function, the vessels supplying the walls of the uterus become thinner. When hormone levels drop and menstruation begins, these vessels can become severely damaged and cause breakthrough bleeding. Such a side effect of the drug is rare if the rules of administration are followed. But if a woman stops taking the drug halfway through the pack, breakthrough bleeding is more common.

Stomach hurts after stopping Regulon

Pain in the lower abdomen after completing a course of COCs may be associated with increased work of the ovaries after a long break. This side effect of the drug goes away as normal ovarian function is restored.

Pregnancy after discontinuation of Regulon

If a woman took a contraceptive for 3-4 months, then she can become pregnant in the first month after completing the course. In this case, pregnancy is often accompanied by the fertilization of two eggs and the birth of twins.

If you use a contraceptive for a longer period of time, it is recommended to wait until the normal menstrual cycle is restored (up to 3 months) and then plan a pregnancy.

Valentina Lyapunova, general practitioner, especially for Mirmam.pro

How does this product work?

With regular use of Regulon tablets, artificial hormones suppress ovulation. In addition, they contribute to changes in the consistency and chemical composition of cervical mucus, which makes it difficult for sperm to further penetrate the uterus through the cervix. Even if conception occurs, the fertilized egg will not be able to implant into the wall of the organ.

In fact, the tinyl estradiol and desogestrel contained in the drug are artificial analogues of estrogen and gestagen. That is why the contraceptive has an estrogenic-progestogenic effect on the female body. The intake of these substances into the body over a long period of time helps to suppress the production of gonadotropin and prevent the onset of the ovulation cycle, without which fertilization is impossible.

In addition to contraception, several other uses of Regulon tablets are known. What do they help with? It turns out that steroid contraceptives can be used for therapeutic purposes. Thus, “Regulon” is often prescribed to women for the treatment of diseases arising from hormonal imbalance and the elimination of benign neoplasms.

Many people mistakenly think that Regulon tablets protect against sexually transmitted infections, but infection can only be prevented using barrier methods of contraception; birth control pills are powerless in this matter.

Side effects of Regulon

Taking Regulon carries a risk of side effects. The most undesirable and dangerous to health include the following:

• increased blood pressure (arterial hypertension);
• thromboembolism of arteries and veins (thrombosis in deep veins, myocardial infarction, stroke);
• thromboembolism of the circulatory system of the kidneys and liver;
• thromboembolism of mesenteric or retial arteries and veins;
• porphyrin disease;
• hearing loss due to otospongiosis;
• hemolytic-uremic syndrome;
• rheumatic chorea (disappearing after stopping the drug);
• exacerbation of lupus erythematosus.

There is a list with less dangerous side effects that occur when taking Regulon:

• amenorrhea (occurs after stopping the pills);
• acyclic bleeding;
• bloody vaginal discharge;
• soreness of the mammary glands against the background of their enlargement and tension;
• nausea and vomiting;
• angiopathy;
• change in the density of cervical discharge;
• galactorrhea;
• cholelithiasis;
• chloasma;
• the appearance of inflammation in the vagina;
• the appearance or exacerbation of jaundice and itching due to cholestasis;
• exudative or erythema nodosum;
• thrush;
• Crohn's disease;
• migraine;
• skin rash;
• carbohydrate rejection;
• change in emotional mood;
• depression;
• fluid retention in the body;
• increased sensitivity of the cornea;
• weight gain.

Answers to popular questions

It is recommended to consult your doctor before taking COCs. Especially if up to this point you have not used hormonal contraceptives and do not know how they affect your body.

It is possible, but the probability of this is extremely low - only 0.3–0.9%. To avoid unwanted pregnancy, follow the rules of administration, monitor your cycle and, if necessary, use barrier contraceptives.

It is possible, but it is recommended to discuss this with a gynecologist before doing so. And, if contraception is still necessary, choose an analogue.

Alcohol, unlike antibiotics, does not have a negative effect on the effectiveness of Regulon. Therefore, drinking alcoholic beverages is not prohibited while taking the drug.

Tablets should not be taken if you have liver disease, gastrointestinal pathologies, cardiovascular failure, epilepsy, diabetes, etc. To identify individual contraindications, before starting to take Regulon, you need to undergo a gynecological examination and tests.

Expert advice

Doctors strongly recommend that you undergo a general medical examination before starting to take a contraceptive. Laboratory tests must be carried out, a detailed personal and family history must be collected, a gynecological examination must be completed, and only after this can a decision be made on the advisability of using Regulon. Based on the examination results, the doctor evaluates the benefits and possible negative effects of taking a hormonal contraceptive and conveys this information to the patient. Perhaps a specialist will advise you to prefer some other method of protection. All the best!

In what cases is Regulon prescribed?

You can purchase this product at a pharmacy only with a prescription from a doctor. In Russia, the price per package averages 500-600 rubles. Now let's move on to a detailed consideration of the question of why Regulon tablets help women.

Primarily, this drug is used as an oral contraceptive - a means to prevent unplanned pregnancy. The instructions for use for Regulon tablets also note that they can be used to eliminate dysfunctions of the female reproductive system. This monophasic contraceptive helps restore a regular menstrual cycle.

Is it possible to take Regulon tablets for dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, heavy bleeding outside of menstruation? It is better to ask your doctor this question, since the decision about the need to prescribe this drug should only be made by a qualified specialist. Uncontrolled use of the drug on the recommendation of friends and acquaintances can lead to negative consequences.

Based on reviews and instructions, many women take Regulon tablets to relieve aching pain in the lower abdomen. The contraceptive eliminates pain and helps normalize the fluid volume of discharge during menstruation. Some users note that long-term use of Regulon tablets, which were originally intended to protect against pregnancy, led to the disappearance of dark discharge and clots from the genital tract between menstrual cycles.

There is another group of diseases for which the therapeutic effect of this drug has been proven - these are hormone-dependent tumors. What are Regulon tablets used for? It turns out that in practice this drug is prescribed to women who suffer from mastodynia, mastopathy, and have benign formations of the mammary glands and ovaries.

Purpose

The instructions for use state that the main purpose of the product is to protect against unwanted conception. Medical practice and patient reviews state that when taking the drug Regulon, the instructions do not tell about all possible positive effects.

Regular use of pills affects the condition and functioning of the reproductive organs. If a woman has dysfunctional uterine bleeding, she suffers from pain during the premenstrual period. The pain that appears from time to time during menstruation in the lower abdomen goes away completely if one main rule of administration is followed - strictly following the instructions without skipping the use of the pills.

The discomfort and sensation of pain in the mammary glands disappears.

Women suffering from endometriosis are familiar with these pills and are often prescribed to improve their effectiveness in treating the disease. A well-known pathology, uterine fibroids, is treated in the early stages with the hormonal contraceptive Regulon. The tumor stops growing if its size does not exceed 20 mm. When an ovarian retention cyst occurs, the pills promote the resorption of the formations.

Women who have reached the age of 40 usually already have resolved issues regarding family and number of children, and therefore most doctors advise using hormonal contraceptives. Regulon prevents abortion and negative consequences. Pregnancy at this age often ends in miscarriages, and pills allow you to avoid them and maintain good health.

Analogs

There are substitutes for Regulon. They may differ in composition, but have a similar effect.

List of analogues:

• Munali;
• Femoden;
• Lindinet;
• Denovel 30;
• Mercilon;
• Janine;
• Logest
• Evra;
• Ovidon;
• Madinet;
• Ovosept;
• Jazz;
• Rigevidon;
• Yarina;
• Tristin
• Marvelon;
• Miniziston;
• Drospifem 20;
• Novinet;
• Non-ovlon;
• Microgynon;
• Belara;
• Miness;
• Miralda;
• Silest.

Analogues of Regulon are: Marvelon, Mercilon, Tri-Mercy, Novinet.

Regulon, like any drug from the COC group, has direct analogues. These are Marvelon, Tri-Mercy, Mercilon and Novinet. If you are looking for something similar but with a different composition, you can try "Jess", "Janine", "Sileste", etc.

Analogues of the drug according to ATC codes:

MARVELON MERSILON NOVINET TRI-MERSY

Before using REGULON, you should consult your doctor. These instructions for use are for informational purposes only. For more complete information, please refer to the manufacturer's instructions.

Who are contraceptive pills contraindicated for?

In parallel with the numerous list of indications, there is an impressive list of restrictions and prohibitions for the use of Regulon tablets. The instructions for use indicate various contraindications to taking oral contraceptives, which can be divided into absolute and relative.

The first category includes pathological conditions and various diseases that do not allow the use of this contraceptive under any circumstances. These are incurable diseases of the liver and gallbladder, including hepatitis, cholecystitis, stomach and duodenal ulcers, and acute pancreatitis.

How to take medicine if you have hormone-dependent formations, it is better to consult your doctor. If a woman has uterine bleeding of unknown etiology, giving her oral contraceptives with hormones is dangerous. Caution should be exercised in the presence of cardiovascular diseases, and in case of confirmed thrombosis, thromboembolism, stroke or heart attack, you should not take pills - this can be dangerous for the health and life of a woman.

Based on the principle of action of Regulon tablets, it is easy to assume that if there are disorders of the endocrine system, the body may not react to the drug in the most usual way. Under no circumstances should it be used by women suffering from diabetes. Smoking and an allergic reaction to any irritant can contribute to an unfavorable response from the body.

Most women have faced this situation. The schedule for taking the drug must be taken seriously, because skipping one pill can lead to the fact that the contraceptive drug simply does not work and pregnancy occurs. So, what recommendations can be given to a woman who forgot to take the Regulon birth control pill?

If no more than 12 hours have passed since the moment when you needed to take the drug, you must immediately take the pill and continue to follow the dosage schedule. Otherwise, if more than 36 hours have passed since the previous dose, doctors advise either stopping hormonal contraceptives until the next menstruation, or using additional means of protection.

According to many women, Regulon is the best pill to protect against unplanned pregnancy. But if you still miss a dose, you need to be on the safe side with other methods of contraception. The thing is that a decrease in estrogen levels in the body increases the risk of ovulation.

Contraindications and side effects

Before purchasing birth control pills, you should definitely consult a gynecologist. This rule applies not only to Regulon, but also to any other medications.

The use of Regulon is contraindicated in the following cases:

• risk of thrombosis;
• pancreatitis;
• vaginal bleeding, the cause of which has not been established;
• period of pregnancy or suspicion of possible pregnancy;
• the period of breastfeeding in cases where it is undesirable to give it up;
• liver diseases - tumors, liver failure, intrahepatic cholestasis;
• cholelithiasis;
• angina pectoris;
• state of heart attack, stroke, and also after them;
• diabetes;
• some types of neoplasms of the mammary glands and reproductive organs (hormone-dependent forms);
• migraine;
• hepatitis;
• dyslipidemia;
• individual allergic reactions to the drug.

It is not recommended to use any hormonal drugs as a means of contraception for women over 35 years of age if they smoke more than 15 cigarettes per day.

Some women experience side effects when taking Regulon, which force them to abandon hormonal contraception or select another remedy.

Individual reactions of the body are almost impossible to predict, and often the result of taking the drug is strikingly different from what was expected.

side effects of Regulon , based on doctors’ observations and reviews,

• inflammatory processes and bloody discharge from the vagina;
• enlargement and hardening of the mammary glands, which disappear after discontinuation of the drug;
• galactorrhea - voluntary secretion of milk not associated with feeding the child;
• candidiasis;
• soreness in the lower abdomen;
• allergic itching, rashes;
• feeling of nausea and vomiting not associated with taking any food;
• migraine attacks that last for several days;
• jaundice;
• depression, increased emotionality;
• weight gain.

Use with caution

In addition to absolute ones, relative contraindications should also be taken into account. The drug should be used with caution if there is a high risk of developing arterial thrombosis or hypertension. Relative contraindications also include autoimmune diseases (lupus erythematosus). A woman over 35 years old must undergo laboratory blood tests before taking Regulon tablets.

In addition, it is not recommended to take Regulon for migraines, obesity, or heart pathologies. Intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease are a serious limitation for the use of hormonal contraceptives. The drug should be prescribed with caution after extensive surgery, prolonged immobilization, or severe trauma.

Contraindications

The use of the drug is prohibited if you have hypersensitivity to the components of Regulon. During lactation and if pregnancy occurs (or if you suspect it), you should also not take pills.

Contraindications to Regulon:

• migraine;
• angina pectoris;
• thrombosis;
• diabetes;
• pancreatitis;
• severe liver disease;
• jaundice;
• cholelithiasis;
• Gilbert's syndrome;
• vaginal bleeding.

Heavy smokers over 35 years of age (with more than 15 years of experience or those who smoke 15 cigarettes a day) are prohibited from using the drug, as indicated in the instructions.

How to take it correctly, dosage

How to take Regulon tablets is clearly stated in the instructions. The drug is taken from the first day of menstruation. Doctors prescribe one tablet once a day for 21 days. That is why one package contains 21 tablets - this number of pills is enough for one 28-day menstrual course, since after using the blister you need to take a week's break. As a rule, during this period women experience bleeding. It may last as long as your period, or a little longer.

After a week, you must start taking birth control pills from the next pack. Usually, every attending physician tells his patients how to take Regulon tablets if, after a week's break, bleeding is still observed. But if for some reason no attention was paid to this issue at the gynecologist’s appointment, you need to act as follows: start taking the pills, regardless of your period.

This regimen for taking Regulon should be followed as long as there is a need for oral contraception. If you follow the rules of administration, the effect of birth control pills is permanent.

It is important to start taking the drug from the first day of your period. In this case, protection against unwanted pregnancy will be reliable; the use of additional methods of protection will not be required.

“What to do if you missed a Regulon pill at the beginning of your cycle?”

All women ask their doctor this question. You can start taking the drug from the second or third day, but then using pills alone is not enough; for reliable protection you will have to use additional methods of contraception throughout the entire cycle. But what if more than five days have passed since the first day of menstruation and the woman missed the Regulon pill, what to do?

Description of the product

Regulon tablets are round in shape, white in color and marked on both sides - “RG” on one side and “P8” on the other side. The tablets are packaged in a blister, on the surface of which the serial numbers of the tablets are marked, and it is also possible to mark the day of the week to start taking the drug.

The basis of the contraceptive is two hormones: ethinyl estradiol and desogestrel. Ethinyl estradiol is a synthetic (that is, artificially produced) analogue of the hormone estradiol. Its molecular structure is absolutely identical to the structure of its natural prototype. Desogestrel is a chemical analogue of progesterone.

Details about the main hormones

Ethinyl estradiol is used to treat diseases of the endocrine system and oncology.
But the main area of ​​application remains gynecology.

Medicines containing ethinyl estradiol are prescribed for the following problems:

• hypoestrogenism is a lack of natural estradiol;
• after surgery to remove the ovaries;
• vaginitis in young girls and elderly ladies;
• infertility and disturbances in the functioning of the ovaries;
• some types of breast (breast) cancer;
• during menopause;
• in the postpartum period to reduce milk production in cases where breastfeeding is contraindicated for some reason.

With long-term use of drugs with synthetic estrogen, thickening of the endometrium, mucous membranes of the vagina and cervix occurs. The concentration of cholesterol and its derivatives in the blood decreases.

Desogestrel affects the viscosity of cervical mucus, regulates hormonal levels to a level corresponding to the early follicular phase, and causes inhibition of ovulation. The scope of desogestrel is limited only to contraception.

Mechanism of action of the contraceptive

The combination of two hormones guarantees a high level of the contraceptive effect of Regulon. The Pearl index, an indicator characterizing the level of reliability of the method of contraception, for Regulon ranges from 0.1 to 0.9. For comparison, the Pearl index of the intrauterine device ranges from 0.9−3 depending on the manufacturer.

Such indicators are achieved due to the fact that:

• high mucus viscosity slows down the progress of sperm;
• fertilized eggs cannot attach (implant) to the thickened endometrium of the uterus;
• suppression of the pituitary gland's synthesis of gonadotropins changes hormonal levels and makes ovulation impossible.

In addition to the main task - protection against unwanted pregnancy - "Regulon" stimulates lipid metabolism, which allows some women to lose weight, reduces the amount of blood loss during menstruation and reduces the number of acne on the skin. It is noted that when taking Regulon, manifestations of PMS - both emotional and general somatic - can completely disappear.

Mechanism of action

Synthesized hormonal components are the main substances that make up oral contraceptives. Progesterone and estrogen prevent the egg from leaving the ovary by preventing its maturation. Thus, ovulation does not occur, which makes pregnancy impossible.

Also, taking such drugs reduces the ability of the fallopian tubes to contract and increases the viscosity of the secretion secreted by the uterine cervix. Thus, it is more difficult for sperm to penetrate into the uterine cavity.

Effect of the drug

Regulon is an oral contraceptive consisting of ethinyl estradiol (estrogen component) progestin, desogestrel. The drug is prescribed for contraception, to treat hormonal imbalance in the body. It is effective in the treatment of PMS and dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

The drug inhibits hormones produced by the pituitary gland, which affect the normal course of menstruation. The production of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones is suspended under the influence of gestagens. As a result, ovulation is suppressed and sperm cannot penetrate the uterine cavity.

Ethinyl estradiol thickens and changes the composition of the mucus secreted in the cervix. The sperm enters an aggressive environment and cannot penetrate the uterus. At the same time, the maturation of the egg is inhibited, the corpus luteum cannot develop normally, and the rupture of the follicle is prevented. The endometrium develops insufficiently. In a woman who does not take COCs, the thickness of the endometrial layer normally reaches 1 cm. If oral contraceptives are taken, the thickness of the layer is no more than 4 mm.

If the sperm and egg manage to unite, despite the barriers that have appeared, the fertilized egg simply cannot attach to the uterine cavity, it will not receive the necessary nutrition from the thin endometrium. The effect of Regulon extends to the fallopian tubes. Their contractility decreases, which causes a decrease in the speed of passage of the egg.

If pregnancy occurs

Confirmed pregnancy is a direct contraindication for further use of birth control pills. It is important to take Regulon tablets as written in the instructions and not deviate one step from the recommended regimen. This is the only way to guarantee maximum protection against unplanned pregnancy and fertilization of the egg can occur.

But if you are already pregnant, you cannot take the pills. They will not be able to interrupt it, but they can harm the embryo. You should also stop using Regulon during breastfeeding. Taking hormonal contraceptives can cause a reduction in milk production and negatively affect the growth and health of the baby.

As a measure to protect against unwanted pregnancy, this drug can be taken for several years. Many women who have chosen this method of contraception worry about whether such long-term suppression of reproductive function with the help of hormones will affect future motherhood.

Gynecologists answer such questions this way: if you take the pills correctly, following all the doctor’s instructions and recommendations, it will not affect fertility in any way. Judging by the reviews, for most women, after stopping the drug, pregnancy occurred approximately 6-12 months later.

For those planning to expand their family, doctors advise stopping taking them only after completing the full course of Regulon. How many tablets are in the pack has already been noted. Ovulation is restored after 3-6 months.

Regulon during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Regulon is contraindicated for use during pregnancy. Regulon should be stopped 3 months before the planned pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs, the drug should be discontinued.

Epidemiological studies have shown that among children born to women who took hormonal contraceptives before pregnancy, the incidence of malformations does not increase. In cases of taking the drug in the early stages of pregnancy, no teratogenic effect was detected.

The use of Regulon is contraindicated during lactation (breastfeeding), because it reduces the secretion of breast milk and changes its composition. In addition, the active substances are excreted in small quantities in breast milk.

Efficiency

Each patient noted positive or negative changes from taking Regulon. The effectiveness of the drug has been confirmed by reviews, but this does not exclude the fact that side effects do occur.

Advantages of Regulon:

• improving the condition of hair and nails;
• eliminating acne;
• acceptable price;
• efficiency;
• breast enlarges;
• pain during menstruation disappears.

Disadvantages of Regulon:

• high incidence of side effects (you may gain weight);
• the need for individual selection (Regulon is not suitable for everyone);
• severe “withdrawal syndrome”.

Indications for use

The main indication for the use of the drug is oral contraception (prevention of unplanned pregnancy). The drug has confirmed its effectiveness in a number of painful conditions that are the reason for its use:

• premenstrual syndrome;
• dysfunctional uterine bleeding;
• dysmenorrhea;
• pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation;
• excessive menstrual bleeding;
• dark discharge during the premenstrual period;
• dyspaurenia;
• soreness of the mammary glands;
• enhancing the effectiveness of endometriosis treatment;
• counteracting the development of tumors in uterine fibroids (effective at the stage when the tumor does not exceed 2 cm);
• support for resorption of ovarian retention cysts;
• negative consequences of abortion.

How to take after childbirth or abortion?

After termination of pregnancy, the tablets continue to be taken according to the above-described regimen. You need to take the drug from the first day after the intervention, even if there is bleeding. In this case, there is no need to protect yourself using additional methods other than oral contraceptives.

The composition of Regulon tablets allows them to be taken after childbirth only if the woman does not intend to breastfeed her baby. The active ingredients of the drug pass into breast milk. After the baby is born, you should take the pills no earlier than 21 days after birth, and only if there are no contraindications.

This will definitely require consulting a doctor. However, if a woman had sexual intercourse before taking birth control pills, the use of oral contraceptives is postponed until the next cycle. If the decision to take the pills was made after 21-28 days, during the first week it is necessary to use additional means of protection.

special instructions

The annotation for the drug Regulon describes special instructions for use. You should study them carefully.

The drug is prohibited for liver failure, and can be used with caution in liver diseases. If there is impaired renal function, then taking birth control pills is allowed only after assessing the benefits and risks.

Reception after childbirth and abortion

Often, after hormonal stress (which includes childbirth and a failed pregnancy), a doctor prescribes Regulon tablets. They should be taken in the same way as for other indications. OK helps to establish the menstrual cycle disrupted by medical termination of pregnancy (curettage) or miscarriage, childbirth.

Pregnancy period

The course of treatment with the drug during pregnancy is prohibited, as well as during breastfeeding. If there is an urgent need to use the drug, lactation must be stopped.

The drug can be taken after breastfeeding and pregnancy. This is allowed only after consultation with a doctor.

Menopause period

During menopause, Regulon is prescribed as a contraceptive (after all, the likelihood of conception still remains) to increase estrogen levels. The drug helps a woman cope with hormonal changes during this period and relieve menopausal syndrome.

Drug interactions

The contraceptive increases the need for insulin, as well as for taking antidiabetic drugs. When taking any medications, you should study compatibility with Regulon.

Efficacy may be reduced by the following substances (liver enzyme inducers):

• topiramate;
• barbiturates;
• griseofulvin;
• hydantoin;
• preparations of St. John's wort, etc.

Alcohol and smoking

The instructions for use of Regulon do not mention the use of alcoholic beverages. It should be noted that OCs affect the liver, just like alcohol. Double load on the organ is extremely undesirable, so you should stop drinking alcohol.

Smoking is prohibited while taking OCs, due to an increased risk of thrombosis.

Reception scheme

The instructions for use of OK indicate how to take the drug. As a rule, doctors adhere to this scheme. A woman needs to remember that the main thing when using Regulon tablets is stability and responsibility. Before taking it, you should study the list of consequences and contraindications.

Start

You should start taking it on the first day of your period. You should choose the right time and stick to it throughout the course.

You should take 1 tablet per day (all dosage days are conveniently written on the blister). After the 21st day you need to take a break. It is possible that menstruation will occur at this time. After 7 days, Regulon is taken again, regardless of whether the period has passed.

Skipping a pill

If you miss more than 12 hours, you need to take 2 tablets the next day. Next - according to the scheme outlined in the instructions. If the dose is constantly exceeded, an overdose is possible. However, you should use additional methods of contraception until the end of the cycle.

Cancel

After stopping taking the pills, withdrawal syndrome may occur - this is when side effects begin to appear due to the fact that the body has stopped receiving previously administered substances. On the part of the reproductive system, drug withdrawal is expressed in amenorrhea (absence of menstruation for more than six months), pain in the ovaries may appear, which is associated with inhibition of their function for a long time.

To properly complete your intake, you should finish all the tablets in the package after finishing your menstrual cycle. You should not stop taking OK in the middle of the cycle. A woman’s body is ready to conceive 3 months after stopping the drug.

If the patient has been taking the drug for 5-15 years, then to stop taking the medication, you should act only under the guidance of a gynecologist. This situation requires a gradual reduction in the dose of hormones.

During the use of OCs, a deficiency of vitamin B9 developed. After discontinuing Regulon, it will not be superfluous to take folic acid.

Admission rules

The drug is used from the first day of the onset of menstruation, swallowing one tablet every day at the same time. Use contraceptives for 21 days without skipping.

Upon completion of using the package, take a week off so that bleeding, similar to menstruation, passes within a seven-day period. On the 8th day after the last pill taken, even with still bleeding, open a new blister pack and take the pill at the same time as before.

While the woman needs the contraceptive effect, the pills are taken. When taking the pills in accordance with the instructions given in the manual, Regulon has a protective effect against unwanted conception even during a week's rest period.

First use

The dose is taken on the first day of the cycle; there is no need for additional protective drugs. When the reception begins on days 2-5, then during the first seven days of use other barrier-type agents are used additionally, for example, condoms. If more than 5 days have passed since the start of menstruation, then the drug begins to be used from the next cycle.

Reception after birth

If a young mother does not feed her baby breast milk, then after 3 weeks you can start using the pills, but it is strictly forbidden to start taking them without consultation and examination with a gynecologist. There is no need to use other types of contraceptives.

In a situation where a woman has had sex after giving birth, the pills begin to be taken from the next cycle. When starting to use Regulon after more than 21 days, condoms are additionally used for the first week.

If there was an abortion

When the doctor, after examining the patient, does not find any contraindications, the pills can be taken from the first day after the abortion. No additional contraception is needed. In case of curettage, Regulon is often prescribed.

The essence of using the drug after curettage, abortion, or if there was a frozen pregnancy is to start the process of restoring ovarian function, their full functioning, to avoid the appearance of pathologies, inflammatory processes, which, according to statistics, appear in every third girl after the 2nd abortion .

The lack of progesterone is compensated by hormonal agents. Proliferative processes in the organ system responsible for reproductive function are excluded. The list consists of theca tissue hyperplasia, polycystic ovary syndrome, mastopathy, endometriosis, endometrial hyperplasia, fibroids, adenomyosis and others.

How to switch to Regulon

The transition from one type of contraceptive pill to another is carried out according to the scheme of using the first pill of a new type on the next day of the completed course of the previous pills. The first day after 28 days of use (three weeks of use and a week of rest) is the countdown for the course of taking Regulon. There is no need to use other contraceptives.

When a woman switches from a single-component mini-pill, the pill is swallowed on the first day of the cycle. If there is no bleeding during the use of the mini-pill, the new drug can be started any day if the girl does not become pregnant. During the initial week, it is advisable to use secondary contraceptive drugs: condoms, caps with spermicide, or abstain from sex; the calendar method does not work.

Changing the time of your period

When the days of menstruation change, the tablets are taken without a break for a week; during this period, there is a high probability of breakthrough type menstrual bleeding, which does not reduce the protective effect.

Skipping funds

A woman who has forgotten about the pill has missed a dose; she uses the pill as soon as she remembers it, if no more than 12 hours have passed since the scheduled dose. Nothing changes in the pattern of contraceptive use; they are used at the previously appointed hour.

If a pill is missed, more than 12 hours have passed since the prescribed time of use, then the effectiveness of protection may noticeably decrease; doctors recommend using secondary types of contraception before the start of a new cycle.

If a girl missed 1 pill in the first week or two, then she takes 2 pills the next day, then the course is carried out according to the usual regimen, but with other contraceptives. A pill missed between the 2nd and 3rd week is continued with the consumption of the missed pill and without a week's break.

How to combine with other medications?

If you want to change your oral contraceptive to Regulon birth control pills, you must follow a similar regimen:

• the first pill should be taken the day after the end of the pack, designed for 28 days;
• after taking 21 tablets of the previous drug, take a week's break, and only then start using Regulon tablets;
• There is no need to use a condom, vaginal suppositories or other methods of contraception.

If, before taking Regulon, oral contraceptives containing only progestogen (so-called “mini-pills”) were used, the first pill is taken on the first day of menstruation. If there are no regular periods during the period of using progestogen drugs, you can take Regulon tablets only after excluding pregnancy on any day of the cycle.

If for some reason it is necessary to delay the onset of the menstrual cycle, continue taking birth control pills without interruption. That is, after taking 21 tablets, open the next package and continue to drink the drug without a seven-day pause. At the same time, the possibility of spotting or minor bleeding cannot be excluded, which does not indicate a decrease in the contraceptive properties of Regulon.

When taking pills against the background of problems with the gastrointestinal tract, it is important to consider that the drug will only be partially absorbed into the blood. For vomiting or diarrhea, tablets are taken twice a day with an interval of 12 hours between doses. As soon as the symptoms of the disease are relieved, you should continue to take pills according to the standard principle.

Some medications that stimulate the production of liver enzymes may reduce the effectiveness of hormonal birth control pills. Such drugs include:

• "Hydantoin."
• "Carbamazepine".
• "Primidon".
• "Rifampicin."
• "Felbamate."
• "Topiramate."
• "Griseofulvin".

Among the herbal components, it is worth noting St. John's wort, which minimizes the effect of oral contraceptives and increases the risk of intermenstrual bleeding. Antibiotics based on ampicillin and tetracycline act in a similar way. And although the exact mechanism of their mutual influence on each other has not been established, experts are convinced that these agents reduce the effectiveness of Regulon.

Pharmacological properties

Ethinyl estradiol and desogestrel are the main components of the Regulon contraceptive. The instructions and reviews from experts report that these substances, when ingested, not only protect against unwanted pregnancy, but also have a beneficial effect on the woman’s health as a whole. The drug has a good effect on lipid metabolism, increasing the content of HDL in the blood plasma, but without changing the concentration of LDL. This is not the only therapeutic effect that the Regulon contraceptive has. Reviews from doctors indicate that patients using this remedy normalize their menstrual cycle, and in the case of initial menorrhagia, blood loss during menstruation is significantly reduced. In addition, the drug has a beneficial effect on the skin and helps eliminate acne vulgaris.

Possible reasons for cancellation

If side symptoms or discomfort appear, it is not always necessary to stop taking oral contraceptives. In some cases, the appearance of consequences of intake does not indicate disorders in the body. To make sure that discontinuation of the drug is required, you should consult a gynecologist.

Discontinuation of the drug is necessary if:

• side effects are too strong and do not allow you to lead your usual lifestyle;
• there was a desire to have a child;
• barrier contraception is required;
• The patient does not have regular sex life.

Dosage should be discontinued if a woman becomes pregnant. This also happened in medical practice.

A severe headache similar to a migraine may be a reason for discontinuation. If there is a sharp drop in vision, you should call an ambulance - this is one of the symptoms of a heart attack or thrombosis.

Pain in the lower abdomen when taking Regulon is a reason to go to the doctor.

Bloody discharge

If the medication was prescribed after an ectopic pregnancy, in order to normalize the cycle, to eliminate a functional ovarian cyst, then bloody or brown discharge may be present in the first 30 days from the start of use. This is a normal phenomenon that occurs when you get used to the drug. In the following months, the spotting should disappear.

The discharge should not continue for more than 3 days in a row. Blood may be present on the underwear even after discontinuation of the drug for 3-4 days. In all other cases, consultation with a specialist is necessary to replace the drug.

Pregnancy

Regulon is characterized by long-term use (it can be taken for more than 8 years). If a woman decides to become pregnant, she should stop taking oral contraceptives 3 months before conception.

According to medical data, most often after discontinuation of Regulon, pregnancy occurs within six months.

Symptoms of overdose

• The woman becomes depressed;
• Experiences a feeling of nausea, vomiting;
• A severe headache appears;
• A cramp occurs in the calf muscles from time to time;
• There is bloody discharge that is not related to menstruation.

The first thing to do in case of an overdose is to rinse the stomach in the first 2-3 hours after consuming the pills.

What to do if you forgot to take a Regulon tablet?

The drug is extremely popular among women. Those who have used OK note mostly negative aspects. However, it is unknown to what extent the reviews are related specifically to Regulon, and not to contraceptives in general. As a contraceptive drug, it fully fulfills its functions. Replenishes hormones, estrogens and progesterone, increases mammary glands, weight, and also normalizes the menstrual cycle.

Despite the popularity of Regulon, it cannot be called a completely harmless drug. In the vast majority of cases, the drug is tolerated normally, but based on user comments, sometimes these birth control pills cause unpleasant symptoms such as increased blood pressure and partial hearing loss. With long-term use of this drug, some women developed thrombosis.

More common adverse reactions include headache, psycho-emotional imbalance, and skin rash. Often, patients who wear contact lenses experience tearing and eye irritation.

Many women are afraid to take hormonal contraceptives because of the side effects that may arise from the use of steroid drugs - weight gain, growth of body hair, mood swings, etc. However, such fears are unfounded. If there is a risk of weight gain, it is associated to a greater extent with the probable stagnation of fluid in the body, which Regulon can cause.

Sometimes birth control pills cause gastrointestinal problems. Disturbances in the functioning of the genitourinary system, the development of an inflammatory process, an increase in the size of the mammary glands, the development of mastodynia, and thrush are also possible. In case of individual intolerance, the drug is immediately discontinued. It is worth noting that the use of hormonal contraceptives does not affect a woman’s ability to drive a car.

Pharmacokinetics

Desogestrel

Suction

Desogestrel is quickly and almost completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and is immediately metabolized into 3-keto-desogestrel, which is a biologically active metabolite of desogestrel.

Cmax is reached after 1.5 hours and is 2 ng/ml. Bioavailability - 62-81%.

Distribution

3-keto-desogestrel binds to plasma proteins, mainly albumin and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). Vd is 1.5 l/kg. Css is established by the second half of the menstrual cycle. The level of 3-keto-desogestrel increases 2-3 times.

Metabolism

In addition to 3-keto-desogestrel (which is formed in the liver and in the intestinal wall), other metabolites are formed: 3α-OH-desogestrel, 3β-OH-desogestrel, 3α-OH-5α-H-desogestrel (first phase metabolites). These metabolites do not have pharmacological activity and are partially converted by conjugation (the second phase of metabolism) into polar metabolites - sulfates and glucuronates. Clearance from blood plasma is about 2 ml/min/kg body weight.

Removal

T1/2 of 3-keto-desogestrel is 30 hours. Metabolites are excreted in urine and feces (in a ratio of 4:6).

Ethinyl estradiol

Suction

Ethinyl estradiol is quickly and completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Cmax is reached 1-2 hours after taking the drug and is 80 pg/ml. The bioavailability of the drug due to presystemic conjugation and the “first pass” effect through the liver is about 60%.

Distribution

Ethinyl estradiol is completely bound to plasma proteins, mainly albumin. Vd is 5 l/kg. Css is established by the 3-4th day of administration, while the level of ethinyl estradiol in the serum is 30-40% higher than after a single dose of the drug.

Metabolism

Presystemic conjugation of ethinyl estradiol is significant. Bypassing the intestinal wall (first phase of metabolism), it undergoes conjugation in the liver (second phase of metabolism). Ethinyl estradiol and its conjugates of the first phase of metabolism (sulfates and glucuronides) are excreted into bile and enter the enterohepatic circulation. Clearance from blood plasma is about 5 ml/min/kg body weight.

Removal

T1/2 of ethinyl estradiol averages about 24 hours. About 40% is excreted in the urine and about 60% in feces.

Other reasons for delay

The reasons for a delay in menstruation after discontinuation of the drug may be the following:

• Withdrawal syndrome . As described above, the hormonal system begins to work in double mode, since previously additional work was spent fighting suppression. With increased levels of hormones, pregnancy is more likely than with normal levels of hormones.
• Accidental pregnancy . Lack of systematic use can cause a hormonal surge and hyperovulation, which is described above.
• Amenorrhea . The risk group includes young girls and premenopausal women. The number of such women does not exceed 3%. Regulon, like any hormonal drug, can cause this, but the likelihood is extremely low. Such a pathology can be caused by disturbances in the endocrine or hormonal systems of the body.
• Pathological functioning of the ovaries or thyroid gland . Delayed menstruation can be caused by polycystic ovary syndrome or uterine cyst.
• Oncological diseases. Regulon reduces the risk of cancer, but does not completely eliminate the possibility. There are hormone-dependent forms of cancer. If the gynecologist did not notice or special research methods were not carried out, then there is a possibility that Regulon will even help the tumor grow, since it grows from the production of hormones.
• Urogenital infections. Regulon protects against unwanted pregnancy when taken correctly, but it does not provide protection against sexually transmitted diseases. If you are not confident in your partner, then it is better to use barrier contraceptives.
• Gonorrhea.
• Syphilis.
• HIV.
• Hepatitis B, C.

After stopping the drug, how does the body behave?

In order to determine why there is a delay after stopping Regulon, it is important to understand the principle of hormone production before and after using the medication.

After taking the drug, the body needs to readjust. The ovaries and adrenal glands rest during the intake of hormonal substances, therefore, the production of hormones is significantly reduced. The authorities responsible for this type of activity need time to restore their work. It is for this reason that absence of menstruation is possible for 30–60 days.

Disruption of the menstrual cycle when using the drug

Each woman's menstrual cycle is individual, and it may change when she starts taking oral contraceptives. The reaction to the use of hormonal drugs is unpredictable, so it is not a fact that menstruation after Regulon will begin after the first pack of pills. The first 3 cycles “these days” may be delayed. This is because the body needs to adapt.

If after taking a pack of Regulon your period does not appear within 10 days, you need to go to the doctor. The reasons for the absence of menstruation may be the following:

• the onset of pregnancy;
• severe stress;
• poor nutrition;
• intoxication.

Improper use of the drug can lead to pregnancy, and this significantly changes hormonal levels, so, naturally, menstruation will not begin.

We conclude that a delay in menstrual periods is normal in the first months of taking a contraceptive, but if it drags on too long or your period does not come at all, you should visit a gynecologist.

How to use correctly

In order for the contraceptive to have the desired effect, the first days of menstruation should serve as the beginning of taking the medication. It is better to use the medicine immediately when bleeding appears. A delay of 5 days is possible. For the first week after starting use, you must use local contraception.

Therapy continues for 21 days. Then you need to take a week's break. The second or third day after stopping Regulon is the time when your period will come. Bloody discharge may appear later - within a seven-day period. Menstruation indicates the cessation of the effect of the medicine. On the 29th day of the cycle, taking OK is resumed with a new package. It is advisable to check with your gynecologist how long to repeat the course.

Oral contraceptives: pros and cons

Contraceptive pills are hormonal synthetic substitutes for natural estrogens and gestagens. Depending on the composition, medications may have an antiandrogenic effect and treat some gynecological diseases.

Among the advantages of choosing this method of contraception:

• provides protection against unplanned pregnancy in more than 99% of cases;
• you can choose a generic for any age and with a minimum hormonal dosage;
• hormonal balance is normalized;
• normal menstruation is restored;
• have a healing effect, relieve premenstrual syndrome;
• help in the treatment of inflammatory gynecological pathologies;
• reduce pain during menstruation, eliminate symptoms of mastopathy;
• increase the chance of pregnancy after a course of treatment.

Despite the significant list of advantages, OK also has a long list of side effects and contraindications. Due to possible negative consequences, women prefer to choose alternative contraception.

Disadvantages of oral remedies:

• high risk of developing negative health consequences;
• decreased contraceptive effect while taking antibiotics and adsorbents;
• excess weight gain, metabolic failure;
• pigmentation, hair loss and other cosmetic defects;
• inconvenience of use, the need to take pills every day;
• lack of protection against sexually transmitted infections;
• severe withdrawal, return of hormonal imbalances.

Also, if you skip pills, the chance of conception increases. In this case, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions so that non-compliance with the rules of use does not lead to an unplanned pregnancy.

Lack of menstrual flow

The main reason that there are no periods after stopping Regulon is pregnancy. The reproductive system begins to work with redoubled force, increasing the chances of conception. If there is a delay in menstruation, and the test is negative, the doctor may consider other reasons for this phenomenon.

• Amenorrhea, menopause. It can occur against the background of improper functioning of the endocrine system, both in women on the threshold of menopause and in patients of childbearing age.
• Myoma, polycystic ovary syndrome.
• Oncology.
• infections of the genitourinary system.

If a week has passed since taking the last Regulon tablet and your period does not start, you need to consult a doctor; self-medication is prohibited.

What does discharge in different phases of the cycle indicate?

If the body should have already gone through the allotted adaptation period, but the spotting did not go away when taking birth control pills, then the period of their activation can tell the specialist which hormone is dominant in you and prescribe other contraceptives that are more suitable for you.

Brown discharge when taking OCs at the beginning or middle of the cycle may indicate a lack of estrogen in oral contraceptives and you should choose pills with a stronger dosage.

Discharge after taking OCs at the end of the cycle indicates a lack of the progestogen hormone in the contraceptives.

Heavy discharge while taking contraceptives, which has a breakthrough nature, indicates accelerated atrophy of endometrial cells by the uterus during the period of adaptation of the body and is not a dangerous symptom for a woman. Another option for such bleeding may be a violation of the regimen for taking oral contraceptives and a shift in hormonal levels.

Without a doubt, in the case of breakthrough bleeding, consultation with a specialist is the best option. But most contraceptives in their instructions advise doubling the daily hormonal dose until the discharge stops when taking OCs. Then you should go back to your usual regimen.

When more than three months have passed since the start of the course, and when taking contraceptives, discharge marks a specific period of the monthly cycle, there is no need to immediately suspect pathology. Minor bleeding may begin due to hormonal conditions or the pills themselves.

After menstruation

If a woman has taken a break after the blister pack (21 tablets) or has finished taking placebo pills (28 tablets in a strip), then cleansing the uterus is allowed for two to three days. The blood clots remaining inside after menstruation come out, and spotting occurs after menstruation.

Even dark brown discharge after menstruation occurs due to too low a dose of estrogen, which, unlike progesterone, stops the rejection of the mucous layer of the uterus. It is necessary to choose another drug, but before that you should consult a doctor; you cannot take other oral contraceptives of your own choice and desire.

During ovulation

The following factors can provoke brown discharge in the middle of the cycle when taking birth control pills:

• lack of synthetic estrogens;
• lack of gestagen;
• natural processes.

When you take the OC (“mini-pill”), the egg develops and leaves the follicular sac, causing a small amount of blood in the cervical fluid.

After ovulation

The most common cause of bloody discharge before menstruation after taking modern contraceptive methods is a lack of progestogen. It is still impossible to exclude pregnancy when the order of the pills was disturbed or a day was missed (bloody secretion on days 6–12 after ovulation).

There are also situations when a woman notices brown discharge instead of menstruation when taking OK. Natural progesterone rises after ovulation, preparing the body for the expected menstrual bleeding. When there is not enough hormone, the endometrium does not shed in time, causing a delay. But if you take Jess or other microdosed contraceptives, pseudo-menstruation may appear instead of menstruation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytcopyrightru

Find out about other reasons for spotting brown discharge instead of your period by following the link.

Bloody discharge when taking birth control pills can sometimes be observed by girls who use contraceptives to prevent unwanted menstruation. In this case, there is no break before a new package of pills, but the next tablet begins immediately. In most cases, menstruation does not begin, but spotting may occur. It is somewhat larger in volume, but has no signs of bleeding.

Missed pills: what to do?↑

Gynecologists categorically prohibit skipping the drug. But if you are 12 hours late with it, then you can take the drug without fear. If there is a break of more than twelve hours, there is no guarantee of contraception. You have a high risk of becoming pregnant, so use additional contraception.

If you missed taking Regulon in the first 2 weeks of the cycle, then take 2 tablets the next day and finish the course as usual. If this happens in the 3rd week of the cycle, you take 2 tablets together, but do not take a seven-day break. During this period, brown discharge may begin, because hormones are in minimal doses.

Symptoms of bleeding and first aid

How to identify uterine bleeding and distinguish it from normal menstruation?

There are several signs to diagnose bleeding:

• general malaise;
• dizziness;
• paleness;
• unclear consciousness;
• decrease in pressure;
• increased heart rate;
• nausea.

In addition to these, there are local symptoms:

• vaginal bleeding;
• the presence of clots in the blood;
• excessive bleeding, in which hygiene products need to be changed after one to two hours;
• duration of menstruation up to 10 days;
• menstruation occurs on the 21st day of the cycle or earlier;
• bleeding between periods;
• blood after sexual intercourse.

If bleeding occurs in a pregnant woman, an ambulance is needed to take the patient to the maternity hospital.

If for other types of bleeding it is not possible to urgently go to the hospital, it is necessary to provide first aid:

• Under no circumstances should you take a bath, douche, or take medications that increase uterine contractions.
• It is necessary to place the woman in a horizontal position with her legs slightly raised. You can place a heating pad with ice in the lower abdomen.
• It is helpful to give more fluids, especially those containing vitamin C and glucose (sugar). Tea with sugar and lemon is perfect.

These measures are applicable while waiting for medical help, but cannot at all replace medications prescribed by a doctor.

All analogues of Regulon

Analogues in composition and indications for use

Name	Price in Russia	Price in Ukraine
Marvelon desogestrel, ethinyl estradiol	500 rub	81 UAH
Novinet desogestrel, ethinyl estradiol	59 RUR	130 UAH
Mercilon desogestrel, ethinyl estradiol	105 RUR	116 UAH
Munali desogestrel, ethinyl estradiol	—	88 UAH

The above list of drug analogues, which indicate Regulon substitutes , is the most suitable, since they have the same composition of active ingredients and coincide in indications for use

Menstruation while taking medication

When taking Regulon, menstruation begins during the withdrawal period, when the woman drinks the last 21st tablet and takes a break for 7 days. During the first 3 months, the body adapts to the drug, and scanty intermenstrual discharge may be observed. This is not a reason for abruptly stopping taking pills and is considered the norm. For prevention, you can visit a gynecologist.

If a week has passed since taking the last pill and your period is delayed, you should consult a doctor. The reason may lie in the individual reaction of the body, hormonal imbalance. Pregnancy cannot be ruled out if the drug dosage regimen has been disrupted.

Concern should arise when menstruation does not end at the usual time and there is an abundance of discharge. It is forbidden to stop taking pills on your own; you must first consult a gynecologist to find the cause of the problem.

Normally, menstruation with Regulon is established within 3 months, the body fully adapts, and hormonal levels are leveled out. The woman notices relief, the complete disappearance of PMS symptoms, and the intensity of pain during this period decreases. The duration of menstruation may decrease, as well as the abundance. If there are side effects, worsening of the condition, or bleeding, you should consult a doctor. Self-medication is strictly prohibited.

Other reasons for the appearance

Alarming symptoms in gynecology are: pain, bleeding and pathological discharge from the vagina. The appearance of traces of blood or spotting brown discharge may indicate the development of a serious pathology that requires immediate treatment.

The most common causes:

Infections

Sexually transmitted infectious diseases (gonorrhea, trichomoniasis). Most often, the secretion is brown. Characteristic signs of the inflammatory process are discomfort during sexual intercourse, pain, and unpleasant odor.

Candidiasis (another name is thrush)

The most common infectious lesion of the female genital organs. Its appearance is associated with a disturbance in the activity of local immunity and acid-base balance in the vagina due to a decrease in the amount of normal microflora. Discharge from thrush is white, similar to “curd mass”, accompanied by severe itching in the perineal area.

Uterine fibroids

Myoma is a tumor formation that can be located deep in the muscular layer of the uterus, under the mucous membrane or under the serous membrane. The presence of a large tumor in the uterine cavity is often accompanied by an increase in the latter. Compression and twisting of myomatous nodes is characterized by intense pain and the appearance of bloody discharge from the vagina.

Types of uterine fibroids (Click to view)

Vaginal secretions with fibroids are characterized by abundance, bright red color and duration of 5-7 days after normal menstruation.

Malignant neoplasm

Often the only nonspecific symptom of a cancerous process in the endometrium is bloody discharge. For them there is no connection with the phases of the menstrual cycle. Such bleeding is not accompanied by pain. Signs of damage appear already in the later phases due to the spread of the process with metastases throughout the body.

The sudden occurrence of any symptoms from the genital organs while taking Regulon is a serious reason to contact a gynecologist. It is possible to exclude infectious and tumor processes in the uterine cavity only through examination and laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods.

Changes in the body after stopping use

While taking Regulon, the body receives hormones from the outside, as a result, the work of the ovaries and adrenal glands is gradually inhibited, because for some time they were deliberately suppressed. After discontinuation of the drug, a hormonal imbalance occurs, and changes in the functioning of the reproductive system begin. There may be a delay in menstruation, disruptions in the cycle.

An insufficient amount of required hormones in the body leads not only to menstruation irregularities. The condition of hair and nails worsens, the skin becomes dry, and rashes often occur. The nature of menstruation changes. They can be more abundant and longer lasting.

There is another nature of changes in the body after discontinuation of a contraceptive. When the suppression of the pituitary gland stops, it begins to work first in the same mode, and then with redoubled force, sending all the produced hormones directly to the ovaries, which have also been in a “sleeping” state for a long time. As a result, they become more active, enhancing their work. During this period, the chance of getting pregnant increases, which is what women often strive for. Oral contraceptives are an effective treatment for infertility.

How the body works after stopping the use of OCs

To understand why there are no periods after stopping OCs, you need to understand the principles of hormone production before and after their use. At the end of taking Regulon, the body requires another restructuring. The ovaries and adrenal glands practically do not work during the period of taking the drug, because the body receives the necessary hormones from the outside. The production of hormones is reduced, and the organs need time to restore their function, so you may not have periods for a couple of months.

In addition to the failure of menstruation, drug withdrawal provokes other changes:

• hair loss, deterioration of its structural composition;
• disturbances in the restoration of epidermal cells (dryness, flaking, itching).

Your menstrual cycle can change greatly. Firstly, the volume of blood loss increases, and secondly, the timing changes. If earlier your periods lasted 2–3 days, then after completing the course they can last 5–7 days.

This is the first way the body works. After stopping taking OCs, there is a second option, which is observed in most patients.

With prolonged suppression of the functions of the pituitary gland, the body tries to work in the same mode even after stopping the use of hormones. The pituitary gland, without receiving a reverse reaction, begins to stimulate additional production of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones.

Increased work of the pituitary gland improves the functionality of the ovaries. With such coordinated work of organs, the likelihood of pregnancy increases. OK can cure some types of infertility.

After discontinuation of the drug, hair may begin to fall out

Foreign studies of side effects of GCs

Interesting studies examining the side effects of hormonal contraceptives have been conducted in foreign countries. Below are excerpts from several reviews (translation by the author of fragments of foreign articles)

Oral contraceptives and the risk of venous thrombosis

New England Journal of Medicine

Massachusetts Medical Society, USA

May, 2001

CONCLUSIONS

Hormonal contraception is used by more than 100 million women worldwide. The number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases (venous and arterial) among young, low-risk patients - non-smoking women from 20 to 24 years old - is observed worldwide in the range from 2 to 6 per year per million, depending on the region of residence expected cardiovascular -vascular risk and the volume of screening studies that were carried out before prescribing contraceptives. While the risk of venous thrombosis is more important in younger patients, the risk of arterial thrombosis is more relevant in older patients. Among older women who smoke and use oral contraceptives, the death rate ranges from 100 to just over 200 per million each year.

Reducing the dose of estrogen reduced the risk of venous thrombosis. Third-generation progestins in combined oral contraceptives have increased the incidence of adverse hemolytic changes and the risk of thrombus formation, so they should not be prescribed as first-choice drugs for new users of hormonal contraception.

The judicious use of hormonal contraceptives, including avoidance of their use by women who have risk factors, is absent in most cases. In New Zealand, a series of deaths from pulmonary embolism were investigated, and the cause was often due to a risk that doctors had not considered.

Judicious administration can prevent arterial thrombosis. Almost all women who had a myocardial infarction while using oral contraceptives were either older, smoked, or had other risk factors for arterial disease - in particular, arterial hypertension. Avoidance of oral contraceptives in these women may reduce the incidence of arterial thrombosis reported in recent studies from industrialized countries. The beneficial effect that third-generation oral contraceptives have on the lipid profile and their role in reducing the number of heart attacks and strokes has not yet been confirmed by control studies.

To avoid venous thrombosis, the doctor asks whether the patient has ever had venous thrombosis in the past to determine whether there are contraindications to the use of oral contraceptives, and what is the risk of thrombosis while taking hormonal medications.

Low-dose progestogen oral contraceptives (first or second generation) were associated with a lower risk of venous thrombosis than combination drugs; however, the risk in women with a history of thrombosis is unknown.

Obesity is considered a risk factor for venous thrombosis, but it is unknown whether this risk is increased by oral contraceptive use; thrombosis is rare among obese people. Obesity, however, is not considered a contraindication to the use of oral contraceptives. Superficial varices are not a consequence of pre-existing venous thrombosis or a risk factor for deep venous thrombosis.

Heredity may play a role in the development of venous thrombosis, but its significance as a high-risk factor remains unclear. A history of superficial thrombophlebitis can also be considered a risk factor for thrombosis, especially if it is combined with a family history.

Venous thromboembolism and hormonal contraception

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, UK

July, 2010

Do combined hormonal contraceptive methods (pills, patch, vaginal ring) increase the risk of venous thromboembolism?

The relative risk of venous thromboembolism increases with the use of any combined hormonal contraceptives (pills, patch and vaginal ring). However, the rarity of venous thromboembolism in women of reproductive age means that the absolute risk remains low.

The relative risk of venous thromboembolism increases in the first few months after starting combined hormonal contraception. As the duration of taking hormonal contraceptives increases, the risk decreases, but it remains as a background risk until you stop using hormonal drugs.

In this table, researchers compared the annual incidence of venous thromboembolism in different groups of women (per 100,000 women). It is clear from the table that in women who are not pregnant and do not use hormonal contraceptives (non-pregnant non-users), an average of 44 (with a range from 24 to 73) cases of thromboembolism per 100,000 women were registered per year.

Drospirenone-containingCOCusers – users of drospirenone-containing COCs.

Levonorgestrel-containingCOCusers – using levonorgestrel-containing COCs.

Other COCs not specified – other COCs.

Pregnantnon-users – pregnant women.

Strokes and heart attacks when using hormonal contraception

New England Journal of Medicine

Massachusetts Medical Society, USA

June, 2012

CONCLUSIONS

Although the absolute risks of stroke and heart attack associated with hormonal contraceptives are low, the risk increased from 0.9 to 1.7 with products containing 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol and from 1.2 to 2.3 with using drugs containing ethinyl estradiol in a dose of 30-40 mcg, with a relatively small difference in risk depending on the type of progestogen included in the composition.

Risk of thrombosis of oral contraception

WoltersKluwerHealth is a leading provider of expert health information.

HenneloreRott – German doctor

August, 2012

CONCLUSIONS

Different combined oral contraceptives (COCs) have different risks of venous thromboembolism, but the same unsafe use.

COCs with levonorgestrel or norethisterone (so-called second generation) should be the drugs of choice, as recommended by national contraceptive guidelines in the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the UK. Other European countries do not have such guidelines, but they are urgently needed.

In women with a history of venous thromboembolism and/or known coagulation defects, the use of COCs and other contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol is contraindicated. On the other hand, the risk of venous thromboembolism during pregnancy and the postpartum period is much higher. For this reason, such women should be offered adequate contraception.

There is no reason to withhold hormonal contraception in young patients with thrombophilia. Pure progesterone preparations are safe with respect to the risk of venous thromboembolism.

Risk of venous thromboembolism among users of drospirenone-containing oral contraceptives

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

November 2012

CONCLUSIONS The risk of venous thromboembolism is increased among oral contraceptive users (3-9/10,000 women per year) compared with non-pregnant and non-users (1-5/10,000 women per year). There is evidence that drospirenone-containing oral contraceptives have a higher risk (10.22/10,000) than drugs containing other progestins. However, the risk is still low and much lower than that during pregnancy (approximately 5-20/10,000 women per year) and in the postpartum period (40-65/10,000 women per year) (see table).

Table Risk of thromboembolism.

How do periods change when taking Regulon?

The first menstruation that begins after taking 1 tablet of Regulon will proceed as usual, and then scanty spotting is possible for 2-3 cycles. During this time, your period may start a little earlier or later. Within three months, the female body adapts to the new level of sex hormones in the blood. Three months later:

• the menstrual cycle stabilizes: menstruation will come from the 23rd to the 28th day of the cycle;
• discharge becomes less abundant and longer lasting;
• PMS symptoms disappear;
• pain syndrome is relieved.

How long does your period last when taking Regulon?

When taking Regulon, menstruation begins during a seven-day break, when the concentration of hormones in the blood drops. In the first three months, while using the drug, the duration of menstruation may be reduced to 2-3 days. In the future, after adaptation, when taking Regulon, menstruation lasts from 3 to 5 days.

Scanty periods when taking Regulon

Menstruation when taking contraceptives, including Regulon, becomes scanty and does not contain mucous inclusions. These changes occur under the influence of the main components of the drug. Ethinyl estradiol replaces natural estrogen in a woman’s body and since its concentration is lower than what is normal in a woman, it does not ensure proper proliferation of the endometrium. The endometrium does not grow more than 3-5mm. The gestagen component also affects the reduction in the volume of secretions: under the influence of desogestrel, endometrial hypotrophy develops, that is, the size of the endometrial layer decreases and the number of blood vessels decreases.

What's better

In order to choose the right hormone-based contraceptive, you should consult a doctor. Such drugs are prescribed only based on test results. Otherwise, the consequences may be detrimental to health.

General properties

It is impossible to say categorically which is better, Lindinet 20 or Regulon, in terms of composition, performance and treatment results. The drugs have common properties, which makes the choice even more difficult. You can also find the drug Lindinet 20 and 30 on sale.

General properties:

• contraceptive effect;
• healing effect;
• normalization of menstruation;
• price range;
• cosmetic effect.

The medicinal effect of the medications is almost identical. What distinguishes Regulon is the presence of antiandrogenic action, Lindinet is the ability to choose the release form according to age. The cost of generics starts from 400-450 rubles.

Age indications

Regulon can be prescribed to both young nulliparous girls and women before menopause. Lindinet has several different release forms that can be selected for girls and women over 20 and 30 years old.

Both drugs are not recommended for use by persons under 18 years of age. As a medicine, Regulon and Lindinet can be indicated at the age of 16 years, if the benefit to the girl outweighs the health risk.

Price

You can buy a package of Lindinet for 450 rubles, Regulon - a little cheaper. The price may vary depending on the place of purchase and the number of tablets in the package. On sale you can find packs designed for 2-3 courses.

Pregnancy and lactation period

Due to the high dose of synthetic estradiol, the tablets should not be taken during pregnancy. This can lead to miscarriage or fetal growth retardation. If you suspect possible conception, you should consult a doctor and interrupt the course.

During breastfeeding, it is better to choose contraceptives suitable for lactation - mini-drinks. Lindinet and Regulon are contraindicated for women who are lactating. Hormones are absorbed into milk and affect the baby's health.

Degree of protection

Oral contraceptives promise a 99% level of protection against unwanted conception. However, if the dosage regimen is violated, the effect of the tablets may be reduced.

When additional contraception is needed:

• antibiotic treatment;
• food poisoning;
• taking certain adsorbents;
• missing two or more tablets.

Oral contraception does not protect the female body from possible infection with STDs. For casual sexual intercourse, it is recommended to use a condom or abstain from sexual intercourse.

Frequency of side effects

Hormonal drugs, even in small concentrations, can negatively affect the functioning of other internal organs. The effect on the genitourinary system is positive, but the cardiovascular and endocrine systems may be affected.

Possible side effects:

• metabolic disorders, weight gain;
• chest pain, development of mastopathy;
• unstable psycho-emotional state;
• headache;
• decreased sex drive;
• nausea, vomiting and other digestive system disorders;
• pigmentation and rashes.

In case of individual intolerance, allergic reactions on the skin may occur, urticaria, Quincke's edema and even anaphylactic shock may develop. Additionally, poor tolerance to contact lenses may occur.

Contraindications

Chronic diseases of internal organs can cause refusal to take oral contraceptives. Despite the therapeutic gynecological effect, the drugs can cause complications in other body systems.

In the list of contraindications:

• varicose veins, tendency to thrombosis;
• recent strokes and heart attacks;
• tumor processes;
• cerebrovascular pathologies;
• anemia, coagulopathy;
• metabolic diseases, diabetes;
• bleeding in the uterus of unknown origin;
• genital herpes;
• pregnancy and lactation;
• childhood;
• severe cardiovascular diseases;
• otosclerosis.

If you are hypersensitive to the components of the composition, you should choose an alternative method of protection against unwanted pregnancy. Contraceptives should be prescribed with caution to people with impaired liver and kidney function.

How best to choose OK

First, a woman needs to see a gynecologist. The doctor will order a laboratory blood test and determine the level of each hormone.

How to choose the best contraceptive:

1. Purpose of application. To protect against unwanted pregnancy, it is better to opt for low-dose drugs, since they have less risk of negative consequences. For treatment, it is better to choose those drugs that contain the hormones necessary for the body.
2. Individual intolerance. It is worth taking into account your existing experience. Tell your doctor if you took any of the contraceptives and what negative effects you had. Based on the research obtained, you can select the appropriate medication.
3. Tendency to gain weight. According to the instructions for use, the drug Jess does not contribute to weight gain. While taking Regulon, a woman may gain several kilograms.
4. Medical examination. It is necessary to visit not only a gynecologist, but also other specialists to exclude the presence of contraindications. As an additional study, ultrasound diagnostics of the pelvic organs is prescribed.
5. Analyzes. The most important thing is to know your own hormone levels. The test should be taken on an empty stomach in the morning on days 3-5 of the cycle. Additionally, tests for tumor markers, a general gynecological smear and a biochemical blood test may also be prescribed.

You need to tell your doctor details about the menstrual cycle: heaviness, pain, frequency and the possibility of delays. Next, the specialist determines the woman’s phenotype (estrogenic, balanced, progesterone) and prescribes a specific drug.

Reviews

Manufacturers of low-dose products promise a contraceptive effect with less detection of negative reactions to hormones. Women around the world use such drugs to maintain normal estrogen levels and protect against unplanned conception.

My husband and I don't like to use condoms; I have a bad reaction to latex. I decided to try the pills and at the same time treat my acne. I chose Regulon, then it was still sold without a prescription. The pills worked for me, I even began to look younger and my breasts grew. The only drawback is that I gained 4 kilograms in six months.

Svetlana (Belarus, 35 years old).

There are a lot of side effects from taking hormonal medications. I have already tried Lindinet, Jess, Yarina and Regulon. I will say that Yarina is best tolerated. They also recommend Jess. If you do not have hormonal problems and do not need treatment, it is better to choose mini pills or spermicides.

Polina (USA, 30 years old).

It is very difficult to find a contraceptive that is suitable for nulliparous girls. I'm only 22 years old, and I already have a slight hormonal imbalance. I was prescribed Lindinet 20, I felt a little nauseous for the first week, and then the side effects stopped appearing. I’ve been taking it for several months now and have no plans to change to other pills.

Margarita (Russia, 22 years old).

Indications

Both drugs are combined oral contraceptives. The only indication for the use of Regulon is to prevent unwanted pregnancy. According to the instructions for use, Novinet is also prescribed for the same purpose. Both contraceptives are recommended by doctors not only for young girls, but also for older women with an active sex life.

Each patient has the right to decide what is better to use after 40 years - Novinet or Regulon. But in order to make the right choice, it is recommended to consult with your doctor, read the list of contraindications and side effects, and also study the reviews of other women.

Regulon after abortion

Regulon can be taken after an abortion. Regulon is one of the contraceptive hormonal drugs that can be used both after an abortion and for menstrual disorders, as well as for severe premenstrual syndrome. When taking this contraceptive after an abortion, the condition of the skin improves, the number of vulgar acne decreases, and the menstrual cycle normalizes.

Regulon should be taken regularly after an abortion, at the same time, for 24 days. If the dose is delayed for more than 12 hours, the next time you take it, you must take two tablets at once. The contraceptive effect can only be achieved with long-term and regular use of the drug.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

What is important to consider when stopping the drug?

The action of the contraceptive in tablets is based on the suppression of pituitary hormones responsible for the normal menstrual cycle. The drug helps suppress ovulation and interferes with the penetration of sperm into the uterus, which reduces the likelihood of pregnancy.

The barrier is achieved by changing hormonal levels, increasing the density of cervical mucus and changing its composition.
After completion of sexual intercourse, sperm find themselves in an environment that is aggressive for them and cannot freely reach their destination. The drug inhibits the process of egg maturation, deprives the corpus luteum of the opportunity to develop normally and promotes rupture of the follicle. Normally, the thickness of the endometrium is 1 cm; taking Regulon reduces its value to 4 mm, which prevents the fertilized egg from firmly attaching.
In addition, the contraceptive reduces the ability of the fallopian tubes to contract, which leads to a decrease in the speed of passage of the egg. About the nature of the menstrual cycle during the period of taking contraceptives >>

After Regulon is discontinued, the body is deprived of such protection. In this case, the pituitary gland does not have time to rebuild itself, the ovaries resume their work, and against this background there is a high probability of becoming pregnant. This feature of the body is often used in cases of problems with conception, so contraceptives are often prescribed specifically for these purposes.

Due to such features, it is necessary to make sure that the absence of regulation and delay are not associated with pregnancy. The likelihood of conception also increases if you do not take oral contraceptives; missing even one pill can cause a surge in hubbub and hyperovulation and lead to pregnancy.

The situation of missing a pill is not always associated with a woman’s forgetfulness; in some cases, this may be predetermined by poisoning and vomiting, when the woman may not pay attention to the fact that as a result the body did not receive the required amount of the drug.

The situation of pregnancy while taking Regulon is not critical, since the drug does not in any way affect the health of the unborn baby.

Adaptation doesn't end there

The reason for prolonged spotting while taking OCs may be a violation of the rules for using a contraceptive or the fact that the drug was incorrectly selected. This explains the side effects. Oral contraceptives are considered safe for a woman’s health, and a negative reaction in the form of bleeding is caused by a lack of dose of a particular hormone.

This situation can be clearly seen using the example of a specific stage of the course:

1. The first tablets. At the beginning or halfway through the package you may bleed due to a lack of estrogen in the drug. If your period does not end when taking Jess, you must stop using OK, but it is advisable to consult a doctor and drink the tablet to the end.
2. Remains of packaging. From the middle of the total number of tablets to the end of the package, spotting may begin due to the too low content of the progestin component. And also the gestagen itself may not be suitable, so the selection of another oral contraceptive is required, but you cannot suddenly stop using the old drug, otherwise there is a risk of bleeding and other side effects.

Instructions

Before using any oral contraceptive, you should consult your doctor. OKs are sold only by prescription due to a long list of contraindications. Before prescribing the drug, it is necessary to take a blood test for hormones.

Regulon

One of the popular low-dose drugs is Regulon. Its contraceptive effect consists of increasing the viscosity of mucous secretions, which delays the movement of sperm. The active ingredients are ethinyl estradiol (30 mcg) and desogestrel (150 mcg).

Action of hormones:

1. Ethinyl estradiol. This is a synthetic estradiol substitute that can maintain normal estrogen hormone levels and improve the functioning of the sebaceous glands, preventing the appearance of acne.
2. Desogestrel. This is an analogue of natural progesterone, it has anti-estrogenic and progestogenic properties, but does not cause androgenic activity in the body.

The drug also has a positive effect on lipid metabolism: it increases the concentration of HDL (high-density lipids) in the blood plasma, without affecting the content of LDL (low-density lipids). Regulon is often prescribed to reduce the intensity of menstruation and help improve the condition of the skin, hair and nails.

The package contains 21 active tablets. After finishing taking it, you need to take a break for 7 days and start taking a new package of tablets. You can buy a pack for up to 400 rubles.

Jess

A universal drug suitable for use by young women and older patients. The drug is easily tolerated, helps maintain optimal body weight and not gain weight.

Jess is a new generation hormonal contraceptive. The composition of the medication is practically no different from Regulon, but the dosage of hormones is different: drospirenone - 3 mg, ethinyl estradiol - 0.02 mg.

During the reception, the following is observed:

1. Menstrual cycle. Bleeding becomes more regular, pain and premenstrual syndrome are less of a concern. The risk of developing anemia and profuse discharge is reduced.
2. Gynecological diseases. It has been proven that the use of OCs helps prevent the development of cancerous tumors of the uterus and ovaries.
3. Metabolism. Jess, like Regulon, has a positive effect on lipid metabolism. While taking the drug, the woman does not suffer from swelling or weight gain.
4. Contraceptive effect. Due to suppression of ovulation, conception is impossible.

Jess also has slight antiandrogenic activity and helps restore normal hormonal levels in women of reproductive age and menopause. The drug is a synthetic substitute for progesterone and estradiol. The average cost per package is 1000 rubles.

Delay

Each woman's menstrual cycle is individual. However, after taking hormonal pills, it begins to change. The body may react differently to Regulon, and because of this, not everyone starts their periods strictly after taking 21 tablets.

During the first 3-4 months of taking the drug, many people experience intermenstrual bleeding, and then the body gradually adapts and the bleeding disappears.

If you have finished your pack of pills, 10 or more days have passed, but your period has not started, be sure to make an appointment with a gynecologist. The doctor will conduct an examination and determine as accurately as possible the reasons for the development of such a deviation. The main factors that provoke a delay in monthly bleeding include:

• Conceiving a child.
• Improper diet, passion for low-calorie diets, which lead to a deficiency of beneficial vitamins and microelements in the body.
• Strong emotional stress.
• Poisoning with toxic substances, food, alcohol.

During severe stress or pregnancy, the balance of hormones in the female body changes. If you take birth control pills incorrectly, they will not protect you from unplanned fertilization.

It is enough to take the Regulon tablet a few hours later and the patient is likely to experience hyperovulation. This leads to the formation of several eggs at once. The first leaves the follicle on time, and the second with a delay, which increases the chances of successful fertilization.

If a patient experiences symptoms of poisoning after taking Regulon, be sure to consult a doctor. The hormones contained in the drug do not distribute into the plasma, which means the drug does not perform its main function. Vomiting and stomach upset may last for several days.

Indications for use of OK

OK (oral contraceptives) are designed to protect against unwanted pregnancy and have an additional therapeutic antiandrogenic effect. OC contains synthetic hormones that help suppress ovulation and prevent sperm from attaching to the egg.

Modern drugs are highly reliable, help restore the normal menstrual cycle and even improve the functioning of the sebaceous glands.

In the list of indications for admission:

• contraception;
• disruption of the female cycle;
• premenstrual syndrome;
• painful periods;
• excessive activity of the sebaceous glands, acne and acne;
• hormonal imbalance.

The active substance in the drugs is usually a synthetic estradiol substitute. The dosage is prescribed individually depending on the diagnosis and age of the patient.

Oral contraceptives: effect on the menstrual cycle

"Regulon" is a combined hormonal drug, which is available in a blister with 21 tablets. The hormone content in each tablet is set at the same level. This is the main difference from hormonal changes in the female body.

The menstrual cycle is a complex, regulated system in which cyclic changes occur. In the first phase of the cycle, the ovaries secrete estrogens (estriol, estradiol) - substances that affect the growth of endometrial cells (the inner layer of the uterus) and the formation of a kind of “soft bed” for the egg.

Important! In the middle of the cycle (days 12-14), the levels of estrogen and gestagens (progesterone) level out. At this moment, the egg is released, and in the absence of fertilization, it is released in transit.

Progestin hormones released in the second phase (from “gesta” - pregnancy) promote the germination of small vessels into the endometrial tissue. If pregnancy does not occur, the level of progesterone decreases sharply, the functional layer of the endometrium separates, exposing the vessels - menstrual bleeding appears.

The cyclical nature of changes in the uterus is due to the adequacy of the concentration of hormones in the blood; contraceptive drugs use microdoses that are not capable of causing a pronounced reaction in the body. The endometrium does not grow enough to accept the egg. The contraceptive effect of drugs is based on this.

Transition

The first tablet in the package is taken from the first to the fifth day of the menstrual cycle. The transition from one combination drug to another is carried out after the packaging is completely finished.

When the last 21st tablet is taken, you need to take a week break and start taking a new remedy. Lindinet 20 or Regulon can be taken on the first day of withdrawal bleeding, since the drugs belong to the same pharmaceutical group.

Basic rules for switching to other contraceptives:

1. KOK and OK. It is carried out in the usual way: the intake of the old remedy ends, a break is taken for 7 days. On the 8th day of treatment, you must start taking new pills.
2. Progestin agents. This category includes estrogen-free mini-pills, injections or patches. You can switch to Lindinet or Regulon tablets on any day of the cycle after completely stopping the previous drug.

Before changing the drug, consult your doctor. When changing a contraceptive, negative effects on the functioning of other organs may occur. The most common: nausea, headaches and the development of depression.

In the first week of taking birth control pills, it is recommended to use additional barrier contraception. During the first 5-7 days, the concentration of hormones in the body is insufficient to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

Termination of course

The appearance of discharge after discontinuation of contraceptives is allowed for several months. Everything will depend on the ability of the female body to restore its own hormonal levels. But it shouldn’t bleed systematically, otherwise you can’t do without a medical examination.

Read what menstruation should be like after stopping OK in the article by following the link.

After completing the course, secretion with blood may appear in one or two days. It resembles a daub and does not cause a woman much discomfort. Sometimes a woman’s body reacts more strongly to stopping the use of OCs, so it is possible that more heavy discharge may occur due to a sharp drop in hormone levels.

In almost half of women who decide to cancel a course of contraception, spotting vaginal secretions with blood disappear after 10–14 days. The duration of adaptation is influenced by the following factors:

1. Age. The older the woman, the slower the state of the reproductive system stabilizes.
2. Total reception time. The shorter the course, the faster the chance of getting pregnant. When contraceptives have been used for many years, there is a risk that the body will be destabilized within six months or even 12 months.

Effect on menstruation

If a woman decides to stop taking oral contraceptives, then she needs to prepare for the fact that she will not have heavy periods in the first few months. Monthly bleeding will become more and more frequent over time until the situation finally returns to normal. The presence of scanty brown discharge instead of menstruation with a negative pregnancy test is considered normal.

After stopping OK, spotting is normal, and a slight delay is allowed. It can be caused by the following processes in the body:

1. Gradual normalization of the menstrual cycle.
2. Stabilization of temporary atrophic changes in the uterine mucosa.
3. Restoring the ability of the endometrium to implant.
4. Changes in vaginal microflora.
5. Reduced thickness of cervical mucus (after the mini-pill).

It is necessary to sound the alarm if menstruation has been absent for several months, and against this background the general condition has worsened.

You cannot suddenly stop taking birth control, otherwise serious health consequences cannot be avoided. Most often, there is a longer recovery period with spotting instead of menstruation. But the most dangerous consequence of abruptly stopping the course is uterine bleeding, which requires rapid hospitalization. Therefore, doctors advise taking all the tablets from the package. The exception is the diagnosis of the following diseases:

• hypertension;
• diabetes;
• cancer;
• imbalance of lipid metabolism;
• sudden drop in vision;
• liver problems.

Therefore, if you want to quit oral contraceptives, you must consult your doctor so that he can select the optimal dose reduction regimen based on a specific drug (Silhouette and others). This is the only way to avoid withdrawal syndrome with unpleasant side effects.