Mar
31
Creative Use of Contraception
Filed Under Women's Health News
Creative Use of Contraception Creative use of contraceptive technology has helped us manage a number of gynecologic as well as non-reproductive illnesses. This so called “off label” use often requires “outside the box” creative thinking. This is common in the practice of medicine as we realize benefits other than contraception for which these prescriptions were initially intended.
The “morning after pill,” which we call emergency contraception (EC), is a good example of utilizing the most widely prescribed class of medicine, oral contraceptives, off label. Refinement of the initial Yuzpe protocol shows that it can now be given up to 5 days from an episode of unprotected intercourse. The Plan B® preparation does not contain estrogen and consequently has far less nausea as a side effect, making it the drug of choice for EC. Dosing has been simplified to give both Plan B® tablets at once, rather than divided doses 12 hours apart. Liberal use of EC is felt to be one factor that has lead to a decrease in abortion rates. Should you need EC we will accommodate you on any weekday requested.
Extended use of oral contraceptives has been practiced for years to decrease the frequency women must endure menstrual related conditions, such as cramps, migraine headaches, or simply the inconvenience of having your period. A commercially available product, Seasonale® is marketed so you only have your period four times a year. Of course you can also use any level dosed pill currently on the market do similarly. New data show that the creative use of contraception is no need to regularly stop the medication until an episode of break through bleeding occurs. Then you should stop your pills for just two days, and then resume taking them daily. This allows for a shorter menstruation.
Finally while we’re stretching your mind about contraceptives, the Mirena® IUD, which releases a small amount of locally acting progesterone, offers great potential in the treatment of heavy periods. Progesterone keeps the inside lining of the uterus thin, which is the source of menstruation. Likewise, as many doctors are becoming increasingly suspicious of systemic progestins another potential use for Mirena® is part of hormone replacement therapy for menopause. So if you are interested in taking estrogen for all its benefits, you can use this IUD to protect the inside lining of your uterus from developing cancer as well as minimizing the nuisance of undesired bleeding. Mirena® last for five years.
So feel free to discuss these non-contraceptive uses of birth control as well as other ones with your doctor so you may enjoy benefits in addition to protection from an unplanned pregnancy.
Wishing you good health!
Birth Control can be used to treat conditions from heavy periods to undesired menstrual symptoms.
To learn more about creative use of contraception, visit our web site
To watch a video on the Mirena® option for contraception, click here.
Women’s Health Specialists
2299 Mowry Ave. Suite #3C
Fremont, CA 94538
510.796.7057
