Patient's question:
I have been with my boyfriend for over a year. During this time, we used condoms for about 1-2 months, but we both felt it wasn't very good, and I had allergic reactions to certain brands. So, we have been taking Mifeprex for contraception. We're getting married in about 2-3 years, and we won't have children that early. I want to ask, is it okay to take Mifeprex long-term for 3-4 years? Will there be any adverse effects?Doctor's answer:
Most people rarely change their method of contraception once they adopt one. For example, with birth control pills, some women continue to use this method for contraception. However, long-term use of birth control pills may lead to a decrease in menstrual flow or cause amenorrhea.Amenorrhea is a common symptom of gynecological diseases and can be classified as physiological or pathological. Physiological amenorrhea refers to the absence of menstruation in women before puberty, during pregnancy, during lactation, or after menopause due to normal changes in sex hormones in the body. It is a normal physiological phenomenon. Pathological amenorrhea is further divided into primary and secondary types. Primary amenorrhea refers to women who are over 16 years old (with regional variations) and have developed secondary sexual characteristics, or those who are over 14 years old but have not developed secondary sexual characteristics and have never experienced menstruation. Secondary amenorrhea refers to women who previously had normal menstruation but have stopped menstruating for various reasons for 6 months or more, or have missed 3 or more cycles according to their original menstrual cycle.
The female hormones in birth control pills differ greatly from those secreted by the ovaries in terms of quantity, type, and timing. Under the effect of birth control pills, the endometrium cannot grow to normal thickness, and the glandular development of the endometrium is also immature. Typically, menstrual flow is related to the thickness of the endometrium. If the endometrium grows thin, menstrual flow will naturally decrease, which is the reason for the gradual reduction in menstrual flow.
The changes in the uterus mentioned above are generally more significant the longer the medication is used, leading to a more severe decrease in menstrual flow or even amenorrhea. If menstrual flow decreases after starting the medication, it is important to stop taking it immediately and switch to another method of contraception. Do not delay.