Did you know that contraceptives are used for other health purposes apart from preventing pregnancy? In this write up, you will know 10 of them and why it is important to know this.
Why is it Important to know this?
It’s for the simple reason of helping you get more aware and in turn, avoid the misuse of contraceptives.
I’d advise you to read this without a rush or bookmark for later
This information may appear new to you considering that the term “ contraceptives” means such drugs are likely to only prevent pregnancy .
Here is what to note ; those drugs are first hormonal medications before they got classified as contraceptive.
Medications often possess more than one effect and this can easily be achieved by how they are administered or what they are combined with
For hormonal medications especially, when given in a pausatile manner they can easily trigger their actual effect.
However, when given continuous manner, some of some of them to tend to trigger the effect opposite to their actual effects.
Before we go deep into this, take minute to ponder and why estrogens are used to improve fertility and yet combined with progesterone in combination oral contraceptive.
This is possible through the ability of the hormones to trigger negative feedbacks signals to the brain when necessary.
When you take them just the way you like, you may be doing yourself the opposite of what you desire to achieve.
Another reason to always allow experts handle your medical needs.
The 10 conditions Includes:
1. Acne; this is an inflammatory disease condition of the hair follicles and the sebaceous gland of the face, chest, and back.
It can also be non inflammatory or present as a combination of both.
The factors that triggers development of Acne include;
- Plugging of hair follicular pores
- Excessive sebum (oil) production
- Presence of certain bacteria
- Other forms of inflammation
- Genetics
2. Dysmenorrhea: Painful menstrual cramps that is usually severe, regular and could interrupt daily activities in some cases.
It could be primary and secondary.
The primary form happens without an underlying disease.
It can start as early as less than 6 months after the onset of first period (monarche)
Secondary form is associated with an underlying disease condition like fibroid, endometriosis.
It starts suddenly, after series of painless periods.
3. PCOS: PCOS means Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
It is a hormonal disorder where a woman possesses higher than normal male hormones.
When this happens it can make a woman experience unusual features like;
- Cysts in the ovaries
- Irregular menstruation
- Androgenic signs like; beards on the face, deeper voice, larger muscle mass, darker armpits and neck, enlarged clitoris, weight gain, and Acne
- Infertility as a complication
4. Amenorrhea
This means the absence of menstruation. In pregnant women and postmenopausal women, this is normal.
However, in women of child bearing age, this calls for medical concerns.
Just like Dysmenorrhea, Amenorrhea could also be primary or secondary
5. Pre-mentrual Syndrome (PMS); this is described as a combination of recurrent physical, psychological, and behavioral changes that show up before a woman’s period.
The severity of these changes is significant enough to negatively impact your relationships and normal activity.
Some of them include; anxiety, food craving imbalances, depression, sleep disorder, pain Acne breakout, diminished social interest, and others.
6. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD); this is the advanced form of PMS. The symptoms are usually more intense and severe compared to PMS.
7. Endometriosis; this is an estrogen-dependent condition in which tissues that look like tissues of the uterus (womb) grow out outside the uterus.
It is known to cause painful heavy periods, Painful sexual intercourse, and infertility.
8. Hirsutism; This can be described as undesired male-pattern hair growth in women that usually appears on the face, chest, and back.
9. Anemia; the ability of oral contraceptives to blood loss has made them beneficial in reducing iron deficiency anemia.
This does not mean you should take them to prevent Anemia.
This is just an obvious advantage for those who are on contraceptives, especially for a long time.
If you are anemic, see a doctor to the make the right decision on what therapy to use.
10. Lower risk of ovarian cancer; this is usually attributed to combination oral contraceptives.
They also have a similar influence on endometrial cancer.
These are the other uses of contraceptives other than contraception.
Kindly stick to taking them only when recommended by a qualified healthcare provider.
Take as instructed, not as you wish
By Pharm.Unique @Celebritypharm
