避孕药（参见：“男性避孕药”）
避孕药由合成激素所制成，既有单一激素剂型（孕激素），也有复合激素剂型（孕激素和雌激素）。这些合成激素与女性体内产生的激素相似。避孕药抑制卵巢排卵，而且也可能改变子宫内膜的特性。继而可能借此使精子更难以进入子宫。其结果是服用了避孕药的妇女不能怀孕。
避孕药时兴一个月用量的包装，每天服用一粒，在月经后第五天开始连续口服20天或21天。当一个包装盒被吃空时，就停止服用，直到过了经期第五天后，又开始新的一轮服药。（某些容器包装有28粒避孕药，则停止服药七天。）
避孕药只能有规律地服用才发挥作用。所以，每天在同一时间服用避孕药才是明智之举(举例来说，清晨醒来、早晨刷牙之后、早餐时、晚餐时或就寝前都是服药的时刻。)这样的日程安排能防止忘记服药。如果确实漏服了一粒，翌日在通常的时刻可以服用两粒，随后象通常一样继续服药。可是，如果连续漏服了两粒，则应该在余下的月经周期里采用另一种避孕方法。
避孕药是处方用药，需要遵照医嘱方能服用；因此，有的妇女就不应该服用。其中，吸烟的女性和未能戒除吸烟的女性不该服用避孕药；超过50岁的妇女也不应该服用，因为会冒一定的风险。无论如何，开具处方取药之前始终需要做医学检查，然后，必须与医生一起讨论，就自己的各种条件来看，是否合适服用避孕药。
某些第一次服用避孕药的妇女会有类似于妊娠的症状：体重增加、轻度恶心、情绪波动和乳房胀大。这些副作用通常会在数月内消失。可是，如果症状持续，可建议换用另一种牌子的避孕药。
避孕有效率：几乎是100%。 |
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Contraception
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Methods
of Contraception: Contraceptive
Methods for Women
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"The Pill"
Contraceptive pills are made of synthetic hormones, either alone (progestin) or in combination (progestin and estrogen). These hormones are similar to those produced by a woman's ovaries. The pills prevent any egg from being released from the ovaries, and they may also change the quality of the cervical mucus. This, in turn, may make it more difficult for the sperm to enter the uterus. As a result, the woman cannot become pregnant.
The pills come in packages made to last one month. One pill is taken every day for 20 or 21 days beginning with the fifth day of the menstrual cycle. When the package is empty, the woman stops taking any more pills until the fifth day of her new menstrual cycle. (Some packages contain 28 pills, the last seven without medication.)
The pills can work only if taken regularly. It is advisable, therefore, to take the pill every day at the same time (e.g., when waking up, brushing one's teeth in the morning, at breakfast, at supper, or going to bed). Such a daily routine will prevent a woman from forgetting a pill. If she does forget one pill, she can take two pills the next day at the regular time and continue as usual. However, if she forgot two pills in a row, she should also use another contraceptive method for the rest of the cycle.
Contraceptive pills are available only on prescription, since there are some women who should not take them. Among these are women who smoke and cannot give up smoking. Also women over forty may face some risks. In any case, a medical examination is always necessary before prescribing the pill. Together with her doctor, each woman then has to decide whether the pill is appropriate in her individual case.
Some women who take contraceptive pills at first experience some symptoms similar to those of pregnancy: a weight gain, slight nausea, as well as a tenderness and an enlargement of the breasts. These side effects usually disappear within a few months. However, if they persist, a switch to another brand of pills may be indicated.
Effectiveness: almost 100 percent. |
