Patient's question:
Doctor, hello:My husband and I just got married and currently do not want to have children. My husband works in engineering and is often away from home. What contraceptive methods should I use besides condoms? Are there any other good methods? Is Marvelon good? Do I need to take it every day? Does it have side effects?
Doctor's answer:
Hello: You can take oral contraceptives instead of taking them every day! (1) Short-term oral contraceptives: Composed of estrogen and progestogen compounds. Generally, start on the 5th day of the menstrual period, take one tablet (pill) per day, continuously for 20 to 22 days, without interruption. If accidentally missed a dose, take one tablet within 24 hours. Menstruation will occur 2 to 4 days after stopping the medication, and then take the next cycle's medication on the 5th day after the menstrual period. If menstruation does not occur after stopping the medication for 7 days, start the next cycle immediately. The contraceptive effect is satisfactory, with a success rate close to 100%, making it the most widely used oral contraceptive in the world. In recent years, both domestically and internationally, there has been a gradual promotion of reducing the hormone dosage to minimize side effects. Short-term oral contraceptives include Oral Contraceptive Pill No. 1 (Compound Ethynodiol Diacetate Tablets), Oral Contraceptive Pill No. 2 (Compound Megestrol Tablets), and Compound 18-Methynodiol Tablets, among others.(2) Long-term oral contraceptives: Utilize long-acting estrogen ethinylestradiol combined with various progestogen compounds. These formulations primarily rely on ethinylestradiol being stored in adipose tissue and gradually released to exert a long-term effect. On the 5th day of menstruation, take one tablet, and then take one tablet every 28 to 30 days thereafter. The formulations include Long-acting Contraceptive Pill No. 1 (Compound Chlormadinone Tablets), Compound Desogestrel Tablets, and Long-acting Compound Mestranol Tablets (Long-acting Contraceptive Full-dose Tablets). These medications are simple to take, highly effective, and popular.
(3) Micro-dose progestogen contraceptive pills: Using only progestogen without estrogen also provides contraceptive effects and avoids the various side effects caused by estrogen. Take one tablet every night continuously throughout the menstrual cycle, and continue