Non-hormonal contraceptive pills for women, list of the best and harmless contraceptives, reviews

There comes a time in every woman’s life when she thinks about protecting herself from unwanted pregnancy. Currently, pharmacy shelves offer a wide range of hormonal tablets that are highly effective. However, in the minds of Russian women the memory of their side effects associated with excess weight gain is still alive.

In this regard, many representatives of the fair half of humanity prefer to use contraceptives that do not contain hormones, despite their low effectiveness. What non-hormonal contraceptive pills do pharmacists offer women, and what new generation hormonal contraceptives do not have side effects on the female body?

Non-hormonal drugs - mechanism of action

Currently, women of reproductive age are increasingly resorting to chemical protection against pregnancy provided by non-hormonal pills. However, they justify their name only by their form, although they are not tablets as such. These drugs are not taken orally, like traditional hormonal contraceptives, but are inserted into the vagina.

These drugs contain spermicides - substances that destroy sperm within a short period of time, preventing them from penetrating the fallopian tube. Their active substance is benzalkonium chloride or nonoxynol.

Non-hormonal drugs

How exactly do non-hormonal contraceptives work?

Coming into contact with a sperm, spermicides destroy the flagellum, interfering with its further movement.
When interacting with the head of the sperm, the membrane is damaged, which leads to its death.
Causes thickening of mucus in the cervical canal of the cervix, which becomes a reliable obstacle to the advancement of weakened sperm.

Preparations based on spermicides are also available in other substances, which include the following forms:

vaginal suppositories;
vaginal creams and gels;
tampons;
diaphragms are soft, dome-shaped caps that cover the cervix.

Regardless of the form of release, the use of non-hormonal contraceptives allows you to create a reliable protective barrier against fungi and other diseases transmitted during unprotected sexual intercourse. This is facilitated by substances included in the preparations that have bactericidal and antimicrobial effects.

A distinctive feature of non-hormonal methods of contraception is that they must be used immediately before intimacy. At the same time, they retain their effectiveness for several hours.

What happens if you still pick up a COC at a pharmacy?

If something is not taken into account from the above list (by the way, it is incomplete), then the following may happen:

A woman may develop arterial or venous thrombosis, and then pulmonary embolism, which in many cases ends in death. The fact is that synthetic estrogens significantly increase blood clotting.

The risk of thrombosis is especially high:

In women who smoke over 35 years of age. For them, COCs are strictly contraindicated!
For migraine with aura. In this condition, while taking COCs, the risk of stroke increases sharply. COCs are contraindicated.
For migraine without aura in women over 35 years of age. In this case, COCs are also not prescribed. By this age, many of us already have a bunch of health problems, and it will only increase with the use of hormonal contraceptives. Up to 35 years of age, they are acceptable, but with a minimum dose of estrogen.
For arterial hypertension.

Hypertension itself is already a serious risk factor for thrombosis and ischemic heart disease, and then COCs increase blood clotting. Therefore, the risk of heart attack and stroke increases many times over. Uncontrolled hypertension is a contraindication for COCs.

Poor cycle control (spotting, breakthrough bleeding, or absence of menstrual-like bleeding). Of course, this is possible after a doctor’s prescription, but then the doctor will deal with this, not you.
Excessive hair growth on the face, body, acne, increased greasiness of hair, weight gain, etc.
Sometimes, when starting to take a combined oral contraceptive, a woman begins to feel like an old wreck. She suffers from headaches, depression, nausea, decreased libido, vaginal dryness, etc.

And they will come to you with complaints again. Do you need it?

Degree of reliability

The effectiveness of certain contraceptive drugs is assessed using the Pearl scale. The study is conducted among 100 women using this particular method of contraception. This indicator is based on information about how many women among the subjects managed to become pregnant despite protection. And the lower the indicator, the higher the effectiveness of the group of drugs being evaluated.

In this case, this indicator is 8-36. This means that from 8 to 36 women out of 100 become pregnant even with protection from unwanted pregnancy.

When is the use of non-hormonal drugs indicated?

Despite the rather low efficiency, non-hormonal contraceptive pills have a number of advantages compared to hormonal methods of contraception.

They can be used for various gynecological diseases, for example, uterine fibroids, as well as in the presence of hormone-dependent tumors.
These drugs do not enter the stomach and are not absorbed into the blood, and therefore are not able to affect the liver, blood vessels and other body systems.
They can be used for rare sexual contacts.
They have a bactericidal and antimicrobial effect, which hormonal agents lack.

Non-hormonal contraception will provide reliable protection for women breastfeeding babies. They are used if women are contraindicated to use COCs or other types of contraceptives.

These drugs will help prevent pregnancy in women of Balzac age (40-45 years). At this age, the menstrual cycle is no longer regular. However, the possibility of pregnancy has not yet been ruled out.

How to choose the right one

You should not decide on your own which birth control pills are best to take. Before choosing reliable pills, you need to undergo an examination and consult a gynecologist. To determine the hormonal background and the functioning of the reproductive organs, you need to do a pelvic ultrasound, donate blood for hormones, biochemical analysis, smear, and examine the mammary glands.

Only after this can you decide which medicine is best and select the required concentration and type. But it is still recommended to visit a doctor every six months and donate blood for clotting.

It is not always possible to undergo such an examination and consult a doctor before choosing a COC. Many women try to figure out how to choose birth control pills on their own. You should not rely on the advice of friends or the cost of the product.

The drug that is suitable for one woman is not always suitable for another. It is more important to take into account age, height, hormonal levels and the presence of chronic diseases. You can also study the rating of the best birth control pills, which is compiled based on reviews and recommendations from experts.

According to the age

You need to know how to choose the right birth control pills according to your age.

If there is a need to use contraception for young girls, you need to choose microdoses. The top includes Triziston, Triquilar, Marvelon, Femolen, Jess. They help improve skin condition and regulate the menstrual cycle. You can start drinking them no earlier than 2 years after the start of menstruation and with regular sexual activity.
From 20 to 35 years of age, COCs are appropriate to use if you have a regular sexual partner. Microdosed or low-dose contraceptives are used. They do not disrupt hormonal levels and normalize the menstrual cycle. It is recommended to choose tablets Janine, Yarina, Regulon.
After 35 years, it is necessary for an OC to be prescribed by a specialist after an examination. The best remedies are Marvelon, Triziston, Triquilar, Celeste.
Women over 45 years old find it difficult to determine which pills are best to take. This depends on the presence of chronic diseases, the menstrual cycle, and the use of other medications. It is advisable that they be prescribed by a doctor. Most often they choose Femulen.

How to choose by phenotype

An experienced doctor, at the first glance at a woman, understands which contraceptive drug may be suitable for her. It depends on the constitution, structural features of the body, height, and the course of menstruation. The table will help you understand how to select OK by type.

Are they sold without a prescription?

Nowadays, most contraceptive drugs are sold with a doctor's prescription. Only a few of them can be purchased freely; they contain low doses of hormones. These are Postinor, Escapelle, Novinet, Regulon.

Disadvantages and contraindications

Such drugs are inserted into the vagina. Moreover, this must be done at least 10 minutes before the intended sexual contact. This means the absence of any unpredictability in sex and the need to discuss with your partner the time of each coitus. When using these drugs, it is not recommended to shower immediately before or after sexual intercourse. The time you need to wait is specified in the instructions for each drug.

Non-hormonal medications contain acid, which can irritate the mucous membrane, causing itching and burning in the vagina. However, these products are not recommended to be used regularly, since their long-term use can lead to disruption of the microflora in the vagina, causing the development of dysbacteriosis. There are no contraindications for the use of these contraceptives. The only exception is individual intolerance to their components.

Review of popular contraceptives

All non-hormonal tablets are divided into groups based on which of the active ingredients is included in their composition.

Names of contraceptives based on benzalkonium chloride:

Pharmatex is most popular due to its low cost combined with high efficiency. It is available in the form of vaginal tablets, cream, suppositories and even tampons. Regardless of the dosage form, the drug begins to act 10 minutes after ingestion, without losing its properties for 3-4 hours.
Ginotex are ring-shaped tablets. It is recommended to administer them no later than 5 minutes before contact. The effect of the tablet lasts for 4 hours.
Genotex are tablets whose action is identical to previous drugs.
Erotex is a non-hormonal contraceptive suppository, the effect of which begins after 10 minutes and ends after 3 hours.
Contratex are candles that begin to perform their functions after 10 minutes and end after 4 hours.

Names of contraceptives based on nonoxenol:

Patentex Oval are highly effective suppositories that are inserted into the vagina 10 minutes before expected intimacy. They retain their effect for up to 10 hours.
Nonoxenol is a contraceptive suppository that has the same characteristics as the previous drug.

It should be remembered that before each subsequent sexual intercourse, non-hormonal contraceptives must be reintroduced.

How to choose contraceptives?

It is better to entrust the choice of oral female contraception to a specialist; the doctor will determine the woman’s phenotype, prescribe an analysis to determine sugar levels, hormonal levels, mammography, and ultrasound of the pelvic organs.

Important!

Before starting to take oral contraception, you should visit an ophthalmologist - many pills have a negative effect on vision.

Estrogenic phenotype

Women of short or average height, with medium or large mammary glands, deep voices, dry skin, non-greasy hair. The duration of the female cycle is more than 28 days, the duration of menstruation is 5–7 days. PMS manifests itself in the form of nervousness, the breasts become dense and painful. This phenotype is characterized by copious discharge of leucorrhoea, but pregnancy proceeds without any special symptoms or complications.

For such women, it is better to choose drugs with a large amount of gestagen - Rigevidon, Miniziston.

Progesterone phenotype

Women are tall, have an angular build, they have a low voice, small mammary glands, oily skin and hair, and frequent acne. The menstrual cycle is short, periods last 3–4 days, but the discharge is heavy. PMS manifests itself in the form of depression and lower back pain. Little leucorrhoea is produced; pregnancy is accompanied by severe toxicosis and significant weight gain.

Women of the progesterone phenotype are distinguished by severe toxicosis during pregnancy

Oral contraceptives must have an antiandrogenic effect - Yarina, Janine, Jess.

Balanced Phenotype

Representatives of the mixed type are characterized by feminine shapes, average height, medium-sized breasts, normal skin and hair. The duration of the cycle is 28 days, the duration of menstruation is 5 days, there are practically no manifestations of PMS, moderate leucorrhoea. Pregnancy proceeds normally, without any complications.

Suitable birth control pills are Novinet, Regulon.

Features of choice

How to determine which non-hormonal birth control pills are better? Considering their low cost, price is not a decisive factor when choosing. However, as the experience of women who have already experienced all existing forms of non-hormonal contraceptives shows, suppositories are suitable for women suffering from vaginal dryness. When using them, there is no need to use lubricants.

There are also unpleasant phenomena associated with the fact that when the tablet dissolves, a characteristic hissing sound is heard, and foam is released from the vagina. In addition, even using the best medications, it is possible that irritation, itching and burning may occur not only in women, but also in their partners. Each woman’s body reacts differently to certain substances. Therefore, determining which non-hormonal contraceptives are better will have to be done through trial and error.

Hormonal contraceptives

Every year, an increasing number of women prefer the use of hormonal oral contraceptives, which is explained by their high efficiency. They not only reliably protect against unwanted pregnancy, but also have a beneficial effect on the female reproductive system. Among other contraceptives, new generation contraceptives took pride of place on the pedestal.

Microdosed hormone pills

All modern hormonal preparations for oral administration are divided into four types, based on the amount of hormones they contain.

Microdosed contraceptives contain a minimal amount of hormones, which practically eliminates their side effects. The active ingredient in such drugs is ethinyl estradiol, a synthetic analogue of estradiol. Because of this, they are used to treat acne and painful menstruation caused by hormonal imbalances. Such drugs can be used both by very young nulliparous girls and by mature women who have never taken hormonal contraceptives.
Low-dose contraceptives also contain synthetic estradiol in combination with progesterone. Such drugs will be an ideal means of preventing unwanted pregnancy for young women who have already given birth. In addition to the contraceptive effect, these medications help eliminate manifestations caused by excessive levels of male sex hormones in the body. These include hair growth in inappropriate places, acne and male pattern baldness.

Medium-dose contraceptives contain synthetic analogues of estradiol with progesterone. They are intended for mature women who have given birth. Like the previous option, these drugs are designed to normalize hormonal levels. However, they cannot be used during breastfeeding.
High-dose contraceptives contain increased doses of estradiol and progesterone. Such drugs are most often used for medicinal purposes to restore hormonal levels. To protect against unwanted pregnancy, new generation birth control pills are recommended for women who have given birth after 35 years of age.

The benefits and harms of birth control pills

These funds have both disadvantages and advantages. Among the positive aspects are the following:

Many of them have a cosmetic effect.
Women who took hormonal medications often experienced acne disappearance, oily hair became drier, and facial hair growth stopped.
The menstrual cycle is restored and regulated.
New generation drugs can have a therapeutic effect on mastopathy, ovarian cysts and endometriosis.
There is no age limit for the use of hormonal contraceptives.

These contraceptives are very reliable and provide excellent protection against unwanted pregnancy. Manufacturers, as a rule, provide a 100% guarantee.

Among the disadvantages are the following:

Decreased libido.
Hair loss.
Constant monitoring of drug intake.
Good products are usually very expensive.
Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
Often, hormonal contraceptives provoke the appearance of age spots on the skin of the face and body.
Women who frequently use hormonal contraceptives develop spider veins on the face, swelling and cramps.

An excellent alternative to hormonal contraceptives are non-hormonal contraceptives.

Emergency contraception

These drugs are used in emergency situations and help prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse. They are recommended for use in the following cases:

in case of violent acts or if the condom is damaged;
with infrequent sexual intercourse.

Emergency contraception to exclude pregnancy.
Contraindications to their use include bleeding disorders, heart and vascular diseases, liver and kidney failure, malignant tumors and smoking.

Features of taking pills

How long can you take oral contraceptives, and do you need to change them? They must be taken daily and preferably at the same time. It is recommended to start taking them on the first day of menstruation. These drugs are intended for long-term use. However, women taking hormonal contraceptives should visit their gynecologist annually. If there are no contraindications, you can continue taking contraceptives.

With long-term use of COCs, menstruation may stop altogether, and this is not a pathology. However, if a woman forgot to take her birth control pill and the last day of her period is long past, this may be a sign of pregnancy. After discontinuation of contraceptives, the menstrual cycle is completely restored within 1-2 months. In this case, pregnancy can occur immediately or after a short period of time. You can take birth control pills for several years. If they do not cause any side effects in a woman, they should not be changed. Otherwise, the body will experience stress.

Another classification of COCs

In addition, there are:

Monophasic COCs when the content of EE and the progestogen component in all tablets is the same. They are the majority.

Biphasic COCs, when there are 2 types of tablets that differ in the content of EE and gestagen. These are Anteovin, Sequilar, Sinovulat, but, apparently, they have sunk into oblivion.

Three-phase - the package contains three types of tablets with different contents of EE and gestagen: Tri-mercy, Tri-regol, Triquilar.

Multiphase - five types of tablets in one package: Qlaira.

Triphasic and multiphasic simulate the fluctuations in hormones during the normal menstrual cycle.

Three-phase are recommended as the first drug for women with signs of estrogen deficiency. I wrote about them above.

But more often, women are transferred to triphasic COCs from monophasic COCs if their cycle is poorly controlled (spotting, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, etc.).

And if a woman does not have any health problems and contraindications to the use of combined oral contraceptives, doctors prescribe monophasic COCs with an estrogen dose of no more than 30 mcg and a low androgenic gestagen (gestodene, desogestrel, levonorgestrel): Femoden, Logest, Lindinet, Mercilon, Marvelon, Novinet, etc.