Emergency contraception: expert opinion

This information material is not an advertisement, does not aim at the promotion of goods, works or services on the market. Is it dangerous to emergency contraceptives? Why in Europe promoting emergency contraception? Russia has committed every year more than a million abortions - how to reduce this figure? About this says obstetrician-gynecologist, reproductive health expert, Shinkarenko Nina Yu. We all know the word "abortion." This procedure looks terrible, believe me. Nevertheless, according to Rosstat, in 2012 alone produced more than a million abortions. What is the reason? Generally low level of knowledge of people about contraception. For example, about 25% of women of reproductive age in our country are mostly natural methods of contraception (tracking phases of the menstrual cycle, coitus interruptus). However, when applying the physiological contraception during the year pregnancy occurs in 20-40% of cases. Also, do not fully protected couples who used barrier contraceptives - because condoms can break or slip. An estimated 17% of women regularly use hormonal contraceptives. But if a woman forgets to take pills on time, the chance of pregnancy is greatly increased. So what to do if the pills were not taken in time? If a condom breaks? If intercourse took place in the "dangerous" time? Fortunately, there is a solution - emergency contraception. Emergency contraception - a variant to prevent pregnancy when unprotected intercourse has taken place, that it is fundamentally different from routine contraception. Needless means for emergency contraception usually represents levonorgestrel tablets - hormone similar progestogen. Take these pills experts of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a single dose for three days after intercourse. The effectiveness of levonorgestrel repeatedly evaluated in larger studies. Based on their results, the most effective is this product in the first and second day after sexual intercourse - 95 and 85%, respectively, and about 60% - in the third day. Therefore, it is desirable to take these substances in the first 2 days after unprotected intercourse, and the sooner they will be more effective. Now how effective levonorgestrel. The principle of its action is to inhibit key steps in the process of conception - ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary) and implantation (attachment of a fertilized egg to the endometrium - the uterine lining). Thus, the egg or remains in the ovary, where it can not contact with the sperm, or if the contact has taken place, not attached to the wall of the uterus, and the pregnancy is not developing. In many developed countries, emergency contraception is paid a lot of attention, because the use of emergency contraceptive pills can significantly reduce the number of abortions among the population. For example, in the United States and in many European countries, these contraceptives are actively promoted, sold over the counter and even paid for compulsory health insurance programs. In our country, this type of contraception is quite a long time, however, women are so few know about it, at the right moment just forget about its existence. As a result - more than a million abortions a year. Finally, deserve special attention is not quite correct knowledge about the dangers of emergency contraceptive pills. For example, it is believed that emergency contraception should be taken no more than 1 time per year, and themselves contraceptives can trigger all sorts of side effects. Of course, we should not allow uncontrolled taking these drugs, because the frequent use, they can actually lead to a breach of the menstrual cycle, but 1 every 3-4 months to take them quite acceptable. In conclusion, I want to give some advice: do not bring it to abortion, do not kill themselves and their future children. Responsibly to the choice of a life partner, because unwanted pregnancies - a tragedy in the first place for the child. And, of course, all that is associated with contraception and preserving the health of women, requires timely consultation with a specialist.