Duphaston, 10 mg, film-coated tablets, 28 pcs.

The state of a woman's reproductive health is indicated by a regular menstrual cycle. Each of the fairer sex has experienced a delay in menstruation at least once in her life. To resolve this issue, you should visit a doctor who will carefully analyze the situation and recommend one or another drug to induce menstruation.

Briefly about menstruation

The menstrual cycle is the time period counted from the first day of the last menstruation to the first day of the first one. Normally, its duration is 21–35 days, and menstruation lasts 3–7 days. There are two phases in the menstrual cycle:

• in the first (controlled by FSH and occurring under the auspices of estrogen), endometrial proliferation occurs (proliferative phase).
• during the first phase, the endometrium begins to thicken (up to 4–5 mm) and grow, and follicles mature in the ovary.

When estrogen levels reach their peak, the main follicle ruptures and a mature egg is released - which is called ovulation. In place of the main follicle, under the influence of LH, a corpus luteum is formed, producing progesterone. From the moment the pituitary gland begins to secrete LH and produce progesterone, the second or secretory phase of the cycle begins. During this phase, the uterine mucosa loosens and becomes swollen, that is, it prepares to receive, what is called implantation, a fertilized egg. If conception does not happen, then by the end of the second phase the production of LH, and, accordingly, progesterone decreases, and then stops, and the uterine mucosa begins to be rejected - this is desquamation or menstruation.

Dosage of Duphaston during pregnancy

Duphaston can only be prescribed by a doctor during pregnancy. The correct dosage and regimen of use of the drug is selected individually. If the drug was taken before conception, then it is worth continuing to do so during pregnancy. Dosage – 1 tablet twice a day. By the 17-18th week of pregnancy, the placenta is already fully formed, so you can stop taking Duphaston, but you should consult your doctor before doing so.

The dosage of the drug Duphaston during pregnancy is used individually according to the doctor’s instructions. The course of taking the drug is divided into several doses at equal time intervals, which do not depend on the number of meals. The drug is taken with large quantities of water.

Indications for use

Duphaston contains synthetic progesterone, the restoration of the concentration of which is extremely important not only during pregnancy, but also for gynecological diseases that arise against the background of a deficiency of the female steroid hormone.

There are a number of main diseases and conditions for which the use of hormonal drugs is indicated:

• The patient has a history of pregnancy with primary abortion.
• Placental abruption due to lack of progesterone.
• Endometriosis (a disease in which tissue grows outside the uterine cavity).
• Risk of spontaneous miscarriage.
• Menstrual irregularities that are caused by a lack of progesterone (low concentrations of the hormone must be laboratory confirmed). Duphaston is effective for dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and severe premenstrual syndrome.
• Menopause.

  

• Carrying out hormone replacement therapy after surgery followed by removal of the female reproductive system organs.
• Infertility, which is caused by luteal insufficiency.
• Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (a sign of ovarian dysfunction syndrome).

Duphaston is in great demand among pregnant women, as this drug does an excellent job of preventing spontaneous miscarriages. During pregnancy planning, in the presence of estrogen deficiency, routine replacement therapy is indicated.

After successful conception, the use of estrogens should be discontinued, but progesterones continue to be used.

Possible side effects

Some women may experience headache, dizziness, and possibly nausea. In some cases, fever increases and bleeding occurs. An allergy may occur if a girl is intolerant to certain components of the product. However, in 93% of girls, taking Duphaston during pregnancy does not provoke virtually any negative symptoms.

Main side effects:

• allergic reactions (rash, irritation, urticaria, Quincke's edema);
• headache, migraine;
• high sensitivity of the mammary glands, spotting;
• hemolytic anemia;
• liver disorder;
• fluid retention in the legs.

Special Recommendations

Before starting treatment, it is important to read the instructions. In some cases, diffuse uterine bleeding may develop. If bleeding does not stop after increasing the dose of medication, further gynecological examination should be performed to determine the cause.

When combined treatment with products containing estrogens, their side effects and contraindications should be taken into account.

Before starting hormonal replacement treatment using the pharmacological drug Duphaston, a comprehensive examination is carried out to determine adverse reactions, features of the functionality of the organs of the reproductive and urinary system and other pathological processes, including medical history.

According to indications, it is possible to use the medication during pregnancy under the supervision of a specialist.

If necessary, during lactation the child should be switched to artificial milk formula.

In the case of progesterone-dependent tumors (benign or malignant), it is important to conduct clinical studies of their reaction to the intake of the main component of this drug into the body.

It is not recommended to prescribe the drug to patients with congenital, hereditary lactase deficiency.

The tablets do not affect the speed of mental and motor reactions, as well as concentration.

Duphaston when planning pregnancy

One of the actions of the drug is aimed at getting rid of infertility. The instructions for the drug indicate that it should be taken in doses of 10 mg. You should drink it from day 14 to day 25 of your cycle. To achieve the required effect, the drug must be taken for six months.

The progress of treatment should be monitored by a gynecologist. He must be informed about the pregnancy. It is necessary to discontinue the drug only after the doctor’s permission, so as not to disrupt the course of pregnancy. A sharp reduction in hormone levels significantly increases the risk of miscarriage. If necessary, the gynecologist will change the dosage and set the period for which you need to continue taking Duphaston during pregnancy.

Pharmacological properties

The main active element - dydrogesterone - in its chemical formula and clinical actions is similar to its own (endogenous) progesterone, synthesized in the female body. Therefore, when taken orally, this hormone has similar biological effects. Due to the fact that dydrogesterone is not a derivative of testosterone (male sex hormones), it does not have androgenic (testosterone effect), estrogenic (clinical estrogen effect), glucocorticoid (glucocorticoid effect) effects. It also does not affect the processes of carbohydrate metabolism in the body and does not change hemostasis (blood clotting).

After taking the drug Duphaston, body temperature does not change. Dydrogesterone helps stabilize the blood lipid profile (the ratio and level of essential fats, including cholesterol). The active element of Duphaston tablets has a direct effect on the condition of the endometrium (the mucous membrane of the uterus) and prevents the development of its hypertrophy (pathological increase in size).

After oral administration of the drug, the active substance is absorbed from the intestinal lumen into the blood. It is distributed in tissues and undergoes a metabolic process in the liver with the formation of breakdown products, which are excreted from the body through the kidneys in the urine. The half-life of the substance (half the dose of the drug) is 18 hours.

Women want to get a doctor's answer to the question of whether Duphaston makes them fat.

Analogues of the drug Duphaston

1. Duphaston. This drug is an analogue of Duphaston, which was released later. The drugs differ only in price. There may also be minor differences in composition in the form of additional components.
2. Dydrogesterone. It is the most reliable analogue. It costs slightly less than Duphaston.

Drugs with similar effects:

• Utrozhestan . This analogue is produced in Thailand. The active component is natural micronized progesterone. Its source is animals or volunteers. The consequence of this is a low likelihood of allergic reactions and high effectiveness of the product. Hormones do not contain an antigenic structure. They work equally well regardless of the type of animal. Contraindications: bleeding of unknown origin from the birth canal. The drug may cause drowsiness, so it is not recommended for people leading an active lifestyle or driving vehicles.
• Progesterone . This Russian analogue of Duphaston contains gestagen, the hormone of the corpus luteum. The active components of these two drugs differ, but they are prescribed in the same cases. Another difference is that progesterone is available only in dosage form, which can be introduced into the body by injection. Because of this, it is difficult to use independently, so it is most often used for inpatient treatment. However, due to this, it allows you to achieve the necessary therapeutic effect much faster than tablets. In this regard, in case of severe spontaneous abortion, progesterone is prescribed.

Compound

Duphaston is a white coated tablet. They represent a biconvex circle, divided in the middle by a line. The numbers 155 are marked on both sides of the mark.

The main active ingredient is dydrogesterone. It is an analogue of the natural female secretion – progesterone. As excipients:

• Lactose monohydrate – 111.1
• Hypromellose - 2.8
• Corn starch – 14
• Colloidal silicon dioxide - 1.4
• Magnesium stearate - 0.7
• Opadry white - Y-1-7000 4 (shell composition)

Reviews of the drug Duphaston during pregnancy

1. Marina: My husband and I tried to conceive a child for two years. When I went to the antenatal clinic, I was prescribed vitamins. Naturally, they did not bring a positive effect. After changing doctors, I was prescribed Duphaston. I followed the prescribed dosage. I took the pills from days 15 to 26 of the cycle. And after 2 months I managed to get pregnant. Taking Duphaston lasted 20 weeks. I feel great after withdrawal. My husband and I are waiting for a new addition to our family.
2. Svetlana: I took Duphaston for six months. I am 27 years old and during this time I have never managed to get pregnant, but I really want a child. The gynecologist advised me to start taking the drug. As a result, six months later I saw two stripes on the test. I didn’t even believe it right away. I ran to the pharmacy and bought three more tests - all positive. I decided to go to the doctor. It turns out that I am already 4 weeks pregnant. The gynecologist advised not to stop taking Duphaston. I took the pills until week 15. My baby is already 2 months old, which I am very happy about. At the same time, I have never been in conservation.
3. Zhanna: Every time I tried to give birth to a child, it ended in miscarriage in the early stages. The diagnosis is “miscarriage”. That's what they told me at the hospital. After another 2 years, the doctor suggested that I start taking Duphaston. I want to say thank you for such good advice. I finally had my first child. I took Duphaston until the 16th week of pregnancy, one tablet every morning and evening. Experts do not recommend continuing to take Duphaston in later stages of pregnancy. They explain this by saying that after 16 weeks the body produces the required amount of progesterone. No complications were observed during the period of taking Duphaston. I even did maternity fitness. I just recently became pregnant with my second child. Moreover, I no longer used Duphaston. During the first pregnancy, he adjusted the hormonal system, so the second pregnancy proceeded without the use of medications.

Contraindications

Not all categories of women can take Duphaston, which is why self-medication of gynecological diseases is fraught with the development of concomitant pathologies and a rapid deterioration in the woman’s well-being.

Before undergoing drug therapy, the patient must undergo a comprehensive examination of the body so that, based on the collected history, the doctor can prescribe safe treatment.

The annotation for the drug Duphaston indicates the following contraindications:

• Diagnosed progestogen-dependent oncological neoplasms.
• Increased sensitivity of the body to the components of the drug.
• Chronic liver pathologies.
• Vaginal bleeding of unknown etiology.
• Galactose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome.
• The period of breastfeeding a child.
• Children's age (up to 18 years).
• Porphyria.

Only a gynecologist can prescribe hormone replacement therapy , since you first need to make sure that the patient does not have venous or arterial thrombosis or thromboembolism.

Lack of menstruation

The delay in menstruation after Duphaston in a normal situation should not exceed five to seven days. When there is no bleeding for only a week, you should not suspect a pathological disorder. At the beginning of therapy, the cause of the disorder may be the body's adaptation to the drug.

If bleeding does not appear, the woman should contact her doctor. Only with the help of a specialist and modern examination methods can the provoking factor be accurately determined.

The delay may be caused by:

• the onset of pregnancy;
• hormonal disorder not associated with a lack of progesterone;
• prolongation of the luteal phase (delayed ovulation);
• pathology of hormone-producing organs;
• scar on the uterus;
• poor absorption of the drug by the body.

No periods in a cycle without taking Duphaston

If there are no menstruation in the first month after the end of therapy, it is necessary to undergo an examination, which will include:

• checking hCG levels;
• gynecological examination;
• visiting additional doctors (endocrinologist, etc.);
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
• blood test for other hormones.

Probability of conception

Many women mistakenly attribute Duphaston to birth control pills. In fact, it gives a contraceptive effect only if it is used in the first half of the monthly cycle. Using this method, you can delay ovulation. But in case of menstrual irregularities, the drug is prescribed for use already in the second phase. Therefore, there is a high probability of conception if a woman had unprotected sexual intercourse during treatment.

When the patient has been taking Duphaston for about 10 days, but there is no menstruation, first of all it is necessary to exclude pregnancy. After synthetic progesterone enters the body, the required amount of fluid accumulates in the mucous layer of the uterus. This has a positive effect on reproductive function, which creates favorable conditions for the attachment of the fertilized egg.

A woman can take several home pregnancy tests to get a more reliable result. But only a blood test for hCG content provides a 100% guarantee of reliability.

Abrupt interruption of treatment

Gynecologists recommend that their patients gradually stop taking the drug. A proper course cancellation plan prevents:

• miscarriages (in pregnant women);
• long delays;
• uterine bleeding of unknown origin;
• subsequent hormonal imbalance.

How to stop drinking Duphaston to induce menstruation

It is necessary to cancel the course based on a reduction in the daily dose. First you need to take the usual number of tablets per day (1 or 2). The next day, the dosage is reduced by half and so on. However, before you stop taking the drug, you should consult your gynecologist. The specialist will take into account the duration of treatment, existing disorders, check the level of progesterone and then select the optimal regimen.

If you arbitrarily stop treatment, a woman runs the risk of further harming her hormonal balance, which is why menstruation may be absent for a long time.

Hormonal imbalances

Lack of proper examination and an incomplete list of tests can negatively affect the effectiveness of treatment with Duphaston. In this case, the drug brings progesterone levels back to normal, however, other disorders cannot be treated, and as a result, the menstrual cycle cannot be established.

When there are no periods after Duphaston with a negative pregnancy test, the gynecologist will first of all assume the presence of low estrogen levels. After treatment, your own level of progesterone may increase, and the content of estrogen in the blood, on the contrary, may decrease significantly. As a result, late ovulation or its complete absence (anovulation) is noted.

Girls and women with underweight or excess body weight are at risk. A similar phenomenon is also observed during menopause. In the absence of menstruation after treatment with Duphaston, the following symptoms should be a reason to visit a gynecologist:

1. Systematic headaches.
2. Severe hair loss.
3. Increased dryness of the skin.
4. Insomnia.
5. Painful sensations during sex as a result of lack of natural lubrication of the vagina.
6. Decreased libido.
7. Intermenstrual discharge with blood.
8. Joint pain.
9. Problems with thermoregulation (chills, fever).

"Immature" endometrium

One of the reasons for the absence of menstruation when pregnancy is excluded is the lack of proliferation of the mucous layer of the uterus in the first phase of the cycle. In this state, the endometrium “does not mature” at the right time, which is why there are no monthly bleedings.

Diagnosis of the disorder should include studying estrogen levels in the first phase of the cycle and checking progesterone in the second. If the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment will be combined, i.e., involve the administration of both synthetic hormones. Problems with organ function

When there are no critical days after Duphaston for a long time (more than 10 days), it is imperative to check the organs of the neuroendocrine system:

• ovaries (sex glands);
• thyroid gland;
• adrenal glands;
• pituitary;
• hypothalamus.

Any disturbances in these organs provoke improper functioning of the reproductive system, disruption of the menstrual cycle and the development of serious pathologies. The absence of menstruation is one of the first symptoms of these disorders. But accurate diagnosis is possible only after laboratory and instrumental examination of the female body.

The drug is not suitable

In some rare cases, Duphaston is simply not suitable for the patient due to individual intolerance or other factors. Then the treatment will not have the desired effect, and menstruation may never begin. Therefore, with a long delay, there is a need to replace it with an analogue one. The replacement drug is chosen by the doctor, and it can be one of the following medications:

• Utrozhestan.
• Prajeesan.
• Iprozhin.

Find out about the peculiarities of taking Utrozhestan if your period is late.

Not all women have to wait a long time for their period after treatment with Duphaston. Long delays are rare, but they require immediate discussion with your doctor and subsequent adjustment of therapy.

Nature of bleeding

Menstruation after Duphaston can be either heavy or scanty. A lot of blood provokes a thicker mucous layer (uterine mucosa), and a small amount of secretion can act as a reaction of the body to hormonal destabilization. But after just a few cycles, the discharge should take on its usual characteristics relative to its intensity.

Reading reviews on forums, you can come across many complaints about painful menstruation. But this phenomenon is not listed among the side effects of the drug, so the hormonal drug should not be blamed. Most often, severe pain is provoked by the disease that Duphaston fights.

How do your periods go when taking Duphaston?

The following signs of normality exist:

1. They begin two or three days after the end of the course. The maximum permissible deviation is a delay of a week or ten days. In other situations, medical advice is necessary.
2. The duration of menstruation after Duphaston should be less than usual. But longer periods are not excluded, which is also the norm.
3. The daily amount of blood secreted most often decreases - scanty brown periods occur. The volume of menstruation will largely depend on the duration of therapy and the specific disease. It is important not to confuse rejected endometrium with uterine bleeding.

Stabilization of the cycle is possible as early as next month with minor disturbances. A longer recovery period is allowed for problems with the endocrine system and pathologies of the reproductive organs.

Diagnostics before appointment

Diagnostic measures consist of the following procedures:

• general blood test, urine;
• biochemical testing;
• vaginal smear;
• determination of drug tolerance;
• hCG test in the first trimester;
• Ultrasound;
• gynecological examination.

Based on the results obtained, the specialist draws up a therapeutic regimen.

Perhaps, in addition to this drug, vitamin complexes containing folic acid and other components will also be prescribed.

In the later stages

The risk of premature birth occurs against the background of increased uterine tone. We are talking about the birth of a premature baby. If your doctor has prescribed this drug, you should stop taking it before 36 weeks.

Other appointment cases:

• preparation for IVF;
• spontaneous interruption of pregnancy;
• prevention of miscarriage;
• child planning.

To the question: why is Duphaston prescribed? Taking it will help prevent adverse risks in the early stages of fetal development.

If a woman keeps a pregnancy planning calendar, and if she had to have an abortion, and also has problems with the genitourinary system, she must undergo a full examination.