Advantages And Diadvantages Of Progestin

June 6, 2011 - Posted in Understanding Progestin - Permalink

Over the years, there are so many different types of oral contraceptives developed and one of these is the Progestin birth control pills. While other regular pills contain two female hormones—the estrogen and progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone), this pill only has progestin. Thus, most medical practitioners and specialists claim that it is safer and more effective.

Let us look over the advantages and disadvantages of using Progestin oral contraceptives:

Advantages

1. Once you start taking this type of pill, changes will happen to the uterus that makes pregnancy quite impossible. It prevents the egg to be produced by the ovaries during ovulation and thickens the lining and mucus of the uterus. Thus when a sperm is released, it will have a difficult time reaching in because of the thick mucus and lining surrounding the uterus.

2. Progestin is safe to use for women who are breast feeding. While other types of pill can affect the production and quality of breast milk, progestin pills do not have this effect.

3. Most medical practitioners would caution the use of pills to female smokers, women who have high blood pressure, overweight and over 35 years of age. However, progestin considered safer to use for this type of women.

4. While some users suffer severe headaches and feeling sick in the stomach while using regular pills, most women taking progestin pill do not have these side effects.

5. Progestin is also used to treat other medical conditions like secondary amenorrhea which the inability to have a menstrual period, dysfunctional uterine bleeding and prevent endometrial hyperplasia.

6. Since there is only one female hormone in this type of pill, it is said to have lesser side effects compared to a regular type of oral birth control pills.

Disadvantages

1. For first time users of this pill, the usual side effects include some vaginal bleeding in between your menstrual period which can be very inconvenient. The bleeding will go away after some months and should not be a cause of alarm. However if the bleeding gets heavy, do not hesitate to consult your doctor immediately.

2. Like other birth control pills, the progestin pill should be taken for one whole month for it to protect you from getting pregnant. For this reason, it is vital that even while on the pill, you should have a backup contraceptive like the use of condom.

3 .Timing is very important. When taking the progestin pill, you have to make sure that your daily intake should happen on a certain time at a regular basis. In case you miss out on one tablet, you have to take it immediately within 3 hours. Otherwise, you have to have a backup contraceptive within the next 48 hours to prevent you from getting pregnant.

4.Different women face different forms of progestin side effects. The common side effects are the following:

•Headache

•Dizziness

•Breast pain or tenderness

•Longer periods

•Pain in the lower abdominals

•Mood swings

•Dryness and less menstrual period

•Appetite changes

•Acne and/or skin rash

To know more about progestin side effects and if progestin oral contraceptive is right for you, paying your doctor a visit would be a good idea and when you have chosen a product that you will use, it is also helpful to take some time to read the manufacturer’s insert regarding the medication to gather all relative information that will help you decide if this is indeed good for you.

What is the proper dosage?

June 1, 2011 - Posted in Progestin Dosage - Permalink

When it comes to drug dosage, no one can really tell you how much your body can take. Everyone is different. Your body may not react on a particular dose another person considers high. There are many things to consider when finding out the right medicine dosage that your body can tolerate. What you see on the label is very generic. It doesn’t consider what your health condition really is.

That is why it is always better to consult your doctor when it comes to taking in some kinds of medicines; may it be supplements or other kinds of drugs. If you notice, before a doctor prescribes, he does several examinations. This is to ensure that your body will be able to positively react to a particular medication; and if yes, to what extent. Same thing goes true with progestin. This synthetic hormone, when taken in the wrong amount, can severely affect your health.

Before you can come up with the right progestin dosage, you need to know that the balance between estrogen and progesterone should be maintained all throughout. Progestin, as a birth control, does not contain estrogen. So if you’re taking too much of it, there is a tendency for your body to exceed the maximum level of progesterone needed. When this happens, your body may react negatively and you may start to experience side effects.

Once your doctor identified the right dosage for you, it is a must that you follow it religiously. If you’re taking natural progesterone, then that’s great. There will be no problem when you want to take it. However, if you’re taking mini pills or progestin, you have to be extra careful as it is a synthetic substance. You can’t imagine how bad your health can be when you take more than what your body requires.

You need to have the right timing. According to experts, it is best to take progestin every day at the same time. So that means if you take your pill 7am this day, you need to take it 7am tomorrow. If you missed for about 3 hours, you have to take it as soon as possible then support it with another method of contraceptive for at least 2 days. Progestin birth control pill is very different than other regular contraceptive pills. If you missed to take it for a day, you can’t drink two pills the next day to make up for it. If you weren’t able to take progestin in one day, you need to use another birth control method for another month. That’s how it is with progestin. If you don’t want to go through this hassle, take your dose on time.

Progestin can strictly harm your mental and physical well-being. Make sure you are on the right health condition when deciding to take this kind of medicine. Again, if symptoms persist, consult your doctor. You know it.

Progestin and Some Known Side Effects

May 28, 2011 - Posted in Common Progestin Side Effects - Permalink

Progestin is a synthetic form of , progesterone
a naturally occurring hormone in the body. It has similar effects as the hormone which is why it has been used to mimic the effects of the hormone in the body. For purposes of contraception, progestin is used as the mini-pill
, in combination with estrogen in the regular pill and also as implants or inserts as well as shots. All these forms cause the body to think that it is pregnant and thus prevent ovulation taking place. Another effect it produces is the thickening of the mucus in the cervix making it inhospitable to sperms and prevents the sperms from entering the uterus.

When used in the right dosage and amounts, progestin is an effective method of contraception although strict adherence to the scheduled dose should be followed. It gives very high percentages in contraceptive effectiveness. However, problems may result when strict adherence to scheduled doses is not followed and additional birth control
methods need to be used.

While progestin is considered to be safe, there are side effects that come with using it as it is a synthetic drug. Many women do not experience any side effect at all while others will experience some side effect for a limited period of time. Still there will be some women who experience severe side effects. These vary depending on the individual, the same as with all other medicines.

Minor side effects may include fluid retention and weight gain, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, headaches, tender breasts, irregular menstrual cycles among others. These are usually seen for first time users and may go away after a few months of use. However, if these symptoms persist or become so bothersome, consultation with medical practitioners is advised. It may or may not be that the dosage needs to be adjusted or the type of medicine is not suited for the individual.

In some rare cases, severe side effects of progestin have been observed. When the following symptoms occur, consult a doctor immediately as these need immediate attention: Yellowing of the skin, swelling of calves or fingers, severe allergic reactions like swelling of lips, face or mouth, difficulty in breathing, chest pains, changes in vision such as blurring, abdominal pain and fainting. You should not take any cases of these symptoms lightly. Anything out of the ordinary should be questioned and given the appropriate medical attention. Another thing that has been discovered recently in studies is that there seems to be an increased risk of Chlamydia and /or gonorrhea infections for people who have been exposed to the bacteria. It is now advised that women who may be exposed to these and other sexually transmitted diseases use condoms as well. While there are still inconclusive results, the initial findings tend to point to the higher risk of contracting these diseases hence care is advised to be on the safe side. As in all kinds of medication, it is wiser to be informed and to know what risks can come with taking the medications to prevent complications.

The Progestin Mini Pill

May 27, 2011 - Posted in Progestin Mini Pills - Permalink

Progestin
is a synthetic chemical that is the identical equivalent of the hormone progesterone. It is usually prescribed to women as one of the many options for birth control. It comes in many forms like shots, implants and pills. In pill form, it is also known as the mini-pill and is considered safer than the regular birth control pill because it does not contain estrogen which has more side effects. This substance works by suppressing ovulation letting the body get the impression that it is pregnant when not and thus prevents the ovaries from releasing eggs. This also causes the thickening of mucus in the cervix making it difficult for the sperm to pass through. In the unlikely event that sperms do pass through, it makes the uterus inhospitable to a fertilized egg thus making it impossible to be implanted in the uterus.

One advantage of the mini-pill is that it does not have estrogen which can cause many problems in susceptible women. Dosage of the hormone progestin is also lower than that in the regular pill. To be effective, the mini-pill has to be taken at the same time everyday without exception. In cases when it happens that one forgets to take it, it should be taken immediately and other back-up methods of birth control should be used. One drawback of this is the timing of course. When pregnancy does occur, it is difficult to determine and check if one is pregnant or not.

Like all drugs, the mini-pill may have side effects as it is composed of synthetic chemicals although most people will not experience any at all. Some of the minor side effects include bloating, fluid retention, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, dry mouth, heartburn, irritability, stomach pains, vomiting and tiredness. If these symptoms persist after a time, consultation with your physician is important. You should always check with your doctors whenever any unusual symptoms persist or become severe enough to affect lifestyle.

There are other more unusual side effects
and these may include severe allergic reaction. These reactions may include hives, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the mouth, face or lips and chest tightening. Abnormal vaginal bleeding, gallstones, blurring or double vision, yellowing of eyes or skin, migraine, speech problems, fainting, coughing up of blood are all severe side effects and immediate medical attention should be sought. Do not wait when you experience any of these symptoms. You need to check with your doctor as soon as possible. Sometimes, swelling may also be experienced in the limbs like in the calf area, ankles and even fingers. Sudden pain in the chest, weakness on one side of the body, seizures and tremors are also emergency situations and consult your doctor immediately in these rare cases.

Despite the possible problems that may arise out of the use of the mini-pill, it is considered the safer alternative to other forms of contraception because of the lower dosage of the hormone and ease of use. As with all medicine, it is best to check periodically with your doctors to be on the safe side.

The Ominous Side Effects of Mini Pills

May 26, 2011 - Posted in Progestin Mini Pills - Permalink

What are Mini Pills?

 Mini pills are synthetic contraceptive drugs mainly composed of progestin.  Progestin is bio-identical progesterone coming from plants and structured like that of human progesterone. The difference of mini pills from other birth control pills is that they are made of progesterone alone and doesn’t contain even a small amount of estrogen.

 How do mini pills work?

 Progesterone is responsible for the menstrual cycle and pregnancy of a woman.  It is a natural hormone that helps release an egg that may be fertilized with the help of sperm cell, or be released in a form of menstruation.  Mini pills work by making your body act like you’re pregnant.  So that means, while you are taking this medication, you do not menstruate.  Therefore, there will be no chance of egg cell being released and no chance of getting fertilized.  Another thing that mini pills do is to tighten the mucus around the cervix, making it real hard for sperm cells to pass through.  These properties of progestin make it one of the best choices of women under birth control
.

 Why there are side effects?

 However, studies show that too much progesterone can cause stern hormonal changes in a woman’s body.  Since you are only taking progestin and no estrogen, there is a big chance that you’re body may reach the maximum level of progesterone causing physical and emotional side effects
.  You need to know that estrogen keeps the balance of progesterone for a normal hormonal growth.

 Another reason why progestin causes negative side effects is that it is a synthetic substance.  Keep in mind that your body is organic.  Anything artificial or unnatural substance it takes, your body will involuntarily react to it.  This doesn’t just stand true with progestins.  All other synthetic drugs may be recognized by the human body as foreign substances and once a chemical reaction inside happen, chances are you will experience minor to severe side effects.

 Every woman’s physique reacts differently to progestin.  So you may not experience some side effects other are experiencing.  It is always a MUST that you confer with your doctor any issues about progestin side effects
progestin side effects.  Before anything else, you should make sure you are healthy.

 Here are the common side effects of Progestin:

    * Vaginal discharge and bleeding

    * Bloating, headaches and migraine

    * Breast Cancer

    * Heart problems that may lead to stroke or heart attack

    * Weight gain, sleep disorders that may sometimes lead to insomnia

 Another alarming side effect of progestin is severe depression.  It may start with frequent mood swings and later on becomes very destructing depression.  If you have any history of health issues like diabetes, liver, gall bladder and kidney problems, it is NOT recommended that you use mini pills.

Use of Progestin Birth Control

May 24, 2011 - Posted in Progestin Birth Control - Permalink
There are many birth control medications available over the counter and the most common types of pills available are combination and progestin-only pills. Progestin-only may come in shots, suppositories, cream, and the most common as an oral pill.  They all have same effects but for the purpose of our discussion, we will just use progestin pill to represent all other progestin birth control drugs. 

What is Progestin and how does it works as Birth Control Pill?

Progestin is synthetic or artificial bio-identical progesterone that is prescribed to women as means of birth control, or as part of the Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) use to treat women having severe symptoms of menopausal.   When it comes to birth control, progestin, same as other contraceptives, suppresses ovulation, thus, preventing fertility of the egg cell.  Progestin without estrogen is also called mini-pill
“mini pill”.  Mini pill makes your body think as if you are pregnant so you wouldn’t be able to release egg cells and you will not menstruate.  Another thing it does is to do some changes in your uterus making it less capable of keeping fertilized egg.  Progestin also thickens the mucus in your vagina, making it hard for sperm cells to pass through.

Side Effects of Progestin

Every beneficial medicine has side effects
side effects.  That is merely because most if not all are synthetic.  Your body wouldn’t want any foreign substance entering so as defense mechanism, you’re body will react to the “foreign Substance”, leading to side effects. Progestin may cause tolerable side effects such as dizziness, headache, too much urination at night, sleep interruption, abdominal and stomach cramps.  No matter how minor these side effects are, they can be very discomforting.  Anytime you experience any of these side effects, don’t set it aside.  Talk to your doctor today.  You may not know it but you’re body is already reacting negatively to progestin and later on, you may experience more worse side effects such as stomach bloating, migraine, Hair loss or excessive hair growth, loss of sex drive or libido blood clotting that can result to heart problems like heart attacks and stroke, breast tenderness and breast lumps that can become malignant and cause breast cancer and weight gain and decrease in blood sugar

Some women tend to have mild allergic reactions to progestin such as asthma while some experience extreme allergic reaction that leads to worst cases such as death.

Be cautious of everything that you take.  Be it food, beverages, or medicines.  Know the risks before you end up suffering the consequences of a drug that’s supposed to help you or cure you.

What Doctors Say About Progestin Side Effects

May 22, 2011 - Posted in Understanding Progestin - Permalink

Most, if not all medications have side effects.  There can be minor side effects
such as drowsiness and itchiness, or major side effects like occurrence of another disease like cancer and heart problems that can lead to serious health conditions or worst, to one’s death.

 That is why when taking any medicine; it is always recommended that you are guided by your trusted physician.  Side effects may vary from person to person, depending on his/her body resistance to foreign chemicals and substances which are the primary causes of a drug’s negative effects.

 One of the many medications that have unbearable side effects is progestin.  It is synthetic progesterone that is prescribed to women having hormonal illnesses such as menopausal symptoms.  Progestin is a known component of HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy for menopausal women as it brings back the level of progesterone that women tend to lose as they get older. Progestin is also used as a contraceptive medication.  It causes vaginal mucus to thicken, making it hard for sperm cell to pass through and makes it impossible for pregnancy to occur.

 Good as it may seem, progestin has side effects that may slightly or severely harm your body. Common side effects of progestin
are dizziness and drowsiness, headache, breast tenderness and bloating, stomach pain like cramping and diarrhoea, fatigue, and vomiting.  If you are experiencing any of these side effects, you need to get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible.  These effects may seem normal but they can be very uncomforting to you and your family. 

Progestin, resisted by your body may lead to heightened side effects such as:

  • Changes or loss of sex drive/libido
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Sleep interruptions to severe insomnia
  • Swelling of mouth, tongue, lips and some other parts of the face
  • Coughing up blood
  • Vision impairment to vision lost
  • Vaginal discharge or odour
  • Mood swings and depression

 Imagine having even just one of the severe side effects of progestin.  Just one can greatly affect your daily life.  Though progestin is good in some circumstances, it is best to ask the experts first whether to take it or no.  This does not just apply to progestin alone.  There are many medications being sold over the counter that are believed to cure diseases but unknowingly, they create more harmful new diseases. 

 The old saying goes this way: Prevention is better than cure.  It’s true indeed.  If you take care of your body well, you’ll have lesser chances of acquiring health problems that may trigger you to opt for synthetic drugs.  Live well and may the best of health be with you!

Knowing the Risks in Progestin Use

May 21, 2011 - Posted in Progestin and Depression - Permalink

For pregnant women and for menopausal women, progesterone supplements or progestin
is usually prescribed. Such supplements help in maintaining wellness during pregnancy and is prescribed during HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy undergone by women suffering from menopause.

 Risks are part of Medicines

However, women taking progestin should be prepared for possible progestin side effects
that range from minimal to severe. If stern side effects are observed, it is advised that you stop taking progestin and ask your doctor for alternatives.

 Usual side effects of Progestin

Vertigo or uneasiness may also be experienced by women taking progestin. So you may want to take such supplement before bedtime. You don’t want to be driving to work feeling drowsy or working some reports at the office with distracted and floating mind unless you want your boss to get mad at you! Other common progestin side effects
are frequent headaches, breast tenderness, vaginal discharge, and difficulties in urinating. Some women even experience constant diarhea that leads to discomfort and strenuous stress.

 Profound Side Effects

Serious side effects of progestin are blood clotting that may lead to heart attacks or stroke. Other severe progestin side effects are vision impairment, chest pain, numbness in the arms and legs, and difficulty in breathing. Women especially those who have low immune system may also experience breast lumps (that may cause breast cancer when became malignant), vaginal bleeding, and chilling. A common ingredient of progestin supplements is peanut oil. This component can provide aggravate side effects for some women allergic to peanuts.

 Progestin to aggravate Depression

If you’re going through depression, you may want stop taking in progestin. The discomfort it brings can worsen your depression. Studies show that women taking progestin are more likely to have mood swings and anxiety.

 There’s nothing wrong in taking progestin because basically, progesterone is needed by your body. However, some progestin supplements are synthetic and the way they are formulated can cause the side effects we discussed. It’s better to stick with alternatives that aim to cure whatever health problems you’re going through with lesser risks.

 It’s always better that you consult your physician in any case you feel any symptoms of the side effects- even the less serious ones. You never know when these effects get worse.

Consequences of Progestin Side Effects

May 20, 2011 - Posted in Progestin - Permalink

Before deciding to take drugs or even supplements, you must be very careful and diligent enough to research and know about its side effects.  It’s usual for medicines to have side effects because most of them are artificially formulated, containing synthetic substances that may be harmful at some levels. 

 When planning to have a baby but having some hormonal issues, you might have heard of progestin already.  This is a supplement that boosts production of progesterone in your body and help you get pregnant.  Progestin may come in pills, suppositories, creams, and shots.  You may also find it as a drug used for HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy which is used to treat women suffering from severe symptoms
of menopausal such as hot flushes, body pains, discomfort, and a lot more.

 But as we say, medicines if not all, have side effects that can lead to other serious health problems. Increased level of progesterone in the body may lead to light mood swings to severe depression.  So if you really want to take progesterone-producing medications or supplements, you may want to opt for products that include oestrogen in the ingredients and not progestin alone as it counterbalance progesterone when it’s too high.

 Studies have shown that women taking progestin experience dizziness, discomfort, and difficulty in sleeping.  Sleeping disorders may start from light symptoms like interrupted sleep to severe cases of insomnia.  Other side effects of progestin are vaginal discharge, diarrhoea, and urination problems.  Though the side effects varies in people (you might not experience these severe side effects), it is best that you consult your doctor before opting to take such.

 Experts agree that progestin
is good for women who have low level of progestin.  But too much intake of it may produce terrible side effects
to women.  Knowing the right dosage according to your body needs is indispensable so you can get away with worse progestin side effects like severe depression
, heart problems causing heart attacks and or strokes, vaginal bleeding, and a lot more life-threatening conditions.

Progestin-Only Oral Contraceptive and Its Side Effects

May 18, 2011 - Posted in Progestin Side Effects - Permalink

What is Progestin-only oral contraceptive? 

This is a kind of birth control pill
that is gaining popularity these days.  Unlike the regular oral contraceptive that contains two female hormones–the estrogen and the progesterone, this type of pill only contains progesterone and is said to have lesser side effects. This is the reason why it is sometimes called the “mini-pill”
.

Studies have shown that using this pill is not only safer but also more effective because the progestin
progestin will prevent the ovaries from releasing egg to the uterus.  It also causes the mucus in the vagina to thicken thus, making it difficult for the sperm to reach the egg.  Taking this pill also allow changes to happen in the uterus which makes it quite impossible for a pregnancy to start even if an egg was released.  The reasons why it is deemed safer to use compared to other contraceptives are because with only one female hormone present, quality milk is being produced by breastfeeding women.  It does not slow down milk production which often time happens when you are using regular pills.  It is also safer to use for women over 35 years of age, overweight and those who suffer high blood pressure.

However, it is important to note that there is no perfect contraceptive available.  Just like any typical oral contraceptive, 2 out of 100 women still get pregnant despite following all the instructions given on how to use this birth control method.  The moment you miss taking one pill during a certain time of the day, you need to have a backup contraceptive method to protect you from getting pregnant.    It may be true that there are fewer side-effects
compared to other contraceptive pills.  Nevertheless, these are negative effects that happen to every woman’s body.  

Some of the most common Progestin side effects are the following:

  • Gastrointestinal disorder (sometimes associated with pain in the lower abdomen)
  • Difficulty in sleeping
  • Dizziness or nausea
  • Spotting and irregular vaginal bleeding especially during the first few months of usage
  • Weight gain because it affects the appetite
  • Headaches
  • Loss of sexual appetite or libido
  • Mood swings.  Women having a very high level of progesterone oftentimes get irritable and depressed.  This happens because there is an absence of estrogen which works as a neutralizer for progestin.
  • Dryness and lack of menstrual period.  Estrogen causes a lubricating effect in a woman’s vagina.  Without it, it is expected that most will feel dryness and lack of menstrual bleeding.
  • Pain in the joints, muscles and bones.  It also causes pain and tenderness in the breasts.
  • Itching
  • Increase or decrease of facial and body hair which is sometimes connected to developing male characteristics
  • Increase or decrease in acne

Just like any medication, it is vitally important that you have to consult your doctor before taking any oral contraceptive especially the progestin-only pill.  It would be best to take the time to read the manufacturer’s insert regarding the medication to gather all relative information that will help you decide if this is indeed good for you.