Postinor - all the pros and cons from the grandfather of postcoital contraception

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

What is Postinor?

Postinor is a drug with pronounced antiestrogenic and progestogenic activity. These properties of the drug complicate the process of conception at an early stage and help prevent pregnancy.

Pharmacodynamics

It is not known exactly how Postinor works. The levonorgestrel contained in the tablets prevents ovulation and fertilization of the egg if UPC (unprotected sexual intercourse) occurs before ovulation (when the likelihood of fertilization is highest).

Levonorgestrel also causes changes in the endometrium, which make it difficult for a fertilized egg to penetrate the mucous layer of the uterine cavity. In cases where the attachment of the fertilized egg has already begun, the drug does not give the expected effect.

Wikipedia states that the mechanism of action of levonorgestrel is most successful when the size of the dominant follicle is 17 mm. The drug best suppresses ovulation no later than three days before it.

Efficacy of tablets

The probability of pregnancy after using Postinor tablets is 15-42%. The effect after administration is better, the less time has passed after NPC.

If the drug was taken within 24 hours, its effectiveness is 95%, in the next 24 hours it decreases to 85%, on the third day - to 58%. There is no point in taking the drug later than 72 hours.

Is Postinor harmful?

Levonorgestrel in the dose recommended by the manufacturer does not have a significant effect on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as on the coagulation system.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption in the digestive canal when taken orally is rapid and complete. In the body, the drug binds to SHBG and albumin: approximately 65% ​​of the dose taken is associated with SHBG, only 1.5% is in free form.

96 minutes after taking the tablet, the plasma concentration of levonorgestrel reaches 14.1 ng/ml. Then there is a 2-stage decrease in Cmax.

The drug is well distributed in tissues and organs.

Its biotransformation occurs in the liver. The resulting metabolic products (conjugated glucuronates) are pharmacologically inactive.

Levonorgestrel is excreted from the body exclusively in the form of metabolic products. About half of the dose taken is excreted in the urine, the rest in feces. The value of the T1/2 indicator varies from 9 to 14.5 hours.

When Postinor is taken by a nursing woman, about 0.1% of the dose enters the body of an infant with milk.

Composition and mechanism of action

The drug contains levonorgestrel. This is a synthetic progestogen that is part of oral contraceptives. It also has an antiestrogenic effect.

How does Postinor work?

It inhibits the gonadotropic function of the pituitary gland. Under its influence, the concentration of gonadotropins - luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones - decreases. Therefore, if ovulation has not yet occurred, it will slow down.

Levonorgestrel affects the endometrium, changes its properties, which prevents the implantation of an already fertilized egg. It also increases the viscosity of cervical mucus, which makes it difficult for sperm to penetrate the fallopian tubes.

The active substance is rapidly absorbed when taken orally, its bioavailability is almost 100%. Maximum serum concentration is reached after 1.6 hours. The half-life is 26 hours. Levonorgestrel is excreted in equal proportions by the kidneys and through the intestines.

Side effects of Postinor: why is the drug dangerous?

In the annotation for the drug, the manufacturer reports that the most common reaction to the use of levonorgestrel is nausea .

In addition, the following side effects of Postinor were recorded during the studies:

• dizziness;
• headache;
• diarrhea and vomiting ;
• pain in the lower abdomen;
• nausea;
• uterine bleeding not associated with the menstrual cycle ;
• disruption of the menstrual cycle (namely, a delay in menstruation after taking the pill for more than a week);
• increased fatigue.

Post-marketing observations have shown that sometimes (rather rarely) the use of the drug may be accompanied by: hypersensitivity reactions ( urticaria , skin rashes, itching), dysmenorrhea , pain in the pelvis and/or abdomen, facial swelling.

Why is Postinor harmful?

Reviews of side effects allow us to conclude that, according to women, the most unpleasant phenomena after taking Postinor are:

• bleeding (some reviews mention that, not knowing how to stop bleeding after Postinor, the woman was forced to seek medical help);
• severe hormonal imbalance and severe cycle disorders (many cases have been described when, after taking Postinor, there are no periods for several cycles; for some, it takes up to a year to restore the regularity of menstruation).

This list can include the appearance of “male” characteristics, metabolic disorders and acne .

Sometimes the consequences of taking the Postinor tablet manifest themselves in the form of miscarriage of subsequent pregnancies and infertility.

To minimize harm to the body, the drug should be used no more than 3-4 times a year.

Which is better: POSTINOR or Zhenale

Contraceptive pills Zhenale.
Photo: stopz.ru The drugs are not analogues of each other. Active ingredient of POSTINOR: Levonorgestrel. Release form: tablets. Active component of Genale: Mifepristone. Produced in the form of tablets for single use (1 tablet per package). The drug POSTINOR is produced in a package of 2 tablets, the second tablet must be taken 12 hours after taking the first (but no later than 16 hours). Both drugs are intended for emergency contraception within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse. Birth control pills POSTINOR can cause ectopic pregnancy, but the drug Zhenale does not. The maximum concentration for Zhenale is achieved after 1.3 hours, for the drug Postinor after 1.6 hours. Both drugs are available with a doctor's prescription!

The country of origin of POSTINOR is Hungary. Zhenale is produced in Russia. Postinor is cheaper in cost than Zhenale. Price per package from 410 rub.

Postinor tablets: instructions for use

How to take Postinor?

The instructions for Postinor indicate that the contraceptive effect is ensured by taking two tablets (provided that the first tablet is taken in the first 3 days after NPC). A twelve-hour interval is maintained between doses 1 and 2.

If within 3 hours after the drug has been taken (regardless of dose 1 or 2), you should immediately take another 750 mcg of levonorgestrel (3rd tablet).

The product can be used in any phase of the menstrual cycle. A prerequisite is that the woman does not have a delay in menstruation.

After taking the pills, it is recommended to use barrier contraception (cervical cap or condoms) until the start of your next period.

Taking the drug is not a contraindication for continuing the use of hormonal agents for regular contraception.

How can you tell if the drug has worked?

The tablet begins to act immediately after dissolution and absorption in the intestinal tract.

Evidence that the drug has “worked” is menstruation.

Bleeding after use rules out pregnancy in approximately 95-85% of cases if it begins 3-6 days after taking the pill.

What might a delay after Postinor indicate?

If there is no bleeding after using the drug, or bleeding begins later than the specified period, the woman is recommended to do a blood test for hCG and undergo an examination by a gynecologist to rule out pregnancy.

You should consult a doctor not only if your period is late, but also if, after taking Postinor, the consequences are expressed in the form of bleeding that is unusually heavy for a woman. The reasons for such bleeding may be exceeding the recommended dose and the negative effect of levonorgestrel on the endometrium of the uterus .

Sometimes women note that they have brown discharge after taking it. The phenomenon is considered normal if the discharge appears within a few days, thus ending the menstruation artificially induced by the pills. However, for some women, spotting may continue for up to a month.

Most likely, this is an individual reaction to severe stress on the reproductive system, but only a doctor can accurately diagnose the cause of the discharge.

Causes for concern are menstrual bleeding lasting more than 14 days, lack of full periods, the appearance of clots or heavy brown discharge, and pain.

When should I get my period after taking the pill?

It is impossible to say exactly when your period will begin after using Postinor. The tablets contain a large amount of levonorgestrel , so even a single use of the drug does not leave its mark on the body.

In most cases, after taking the drug, the menstrual cycle remains the same. Sometimes bleeding may begin earlier or slightly later. Normally, the delay should not be more than 5-7 days. Otherwise, pregnancy should be excluded.

After taking levonorgestrel, a woman is advised to visit a doctor who will help her choose the most appropriate method of regular contraception.

Is it worth taking Postinor if NPK occurs during menstruation?

Women with irregular cycles are more likely to become pregnant even during menstrual bleeding. The advisability of using “urgent” contraception if UPC occurred during menstruation can be determined by a doctor.

How often can you take Postinor?

To the question “How often can you take emergency contraceptive pills?” Doctors answer that drugs like Postinor are not intended for systematic use. They are used only in emergency situations and no more than 3-4 times a year.

What is post-natal contraception

The effectiveness of trying to prevent pregnancy depends on the day of your menstrual cycle and when you start treatment. In women with a normal cycle, conception has a short period of 12 hours - the time when the egg leaves the follicle and moves through the fallopian tubes. If during this time there is no meeting with a sperm, then an embryo will not form.

For its successful implantation, it is necessary to adhere to a clear time frame. The age of the embryo should not exceed 3-5 days. Only at this time does the endometrium have the properties necessary for implantation. Therefore, under natural conditions, the number of pregnancies that successfully progress after conception is only 30%.

High risk of pregnancy during sexual intercourse that occurred three days or less before ovulation. Sex one day after the release of the egg cannot lead to pregnancy.

Therefore, before deciding to take hormonal medications, it is necessary to assess the risk of becoming pregnant. If a woman knows exactly the time of ovulation (methods of determination), the duration of her cycle, then this is as simple as possible. A day or two after the follicle bursts, unprotected sex will not lead to pregnancy. Therefore, there is no need to take hormones that can disrupt the menstrual cycle.

Emergency contraception is used within 1-3 days after sexual intercourse. The sooner this is done, the higher the effectiveness of Postinor and other drugs.

Interaction

In combination with liver enzyme inducers, there is an increase in the metabolism of levonorgestrel .

The effectiveness of drugs containing levonorgestrel may be reduced when used simultaneously with:

• barbiturates;
• preparations of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum);
• rafibutin;
• carbamazepine;
• ritonavir;
• phenytoin;
• griseofulvin;
• rifampicin.

Women taking these drugs should consult their doctor before taking Postinor.

Levonorgestrel-containing drugs may cause an increase in the toxicity of cyclosporine , which is associated with a possible suppression of its metabolism.

How to deal with the consequences of taking Postinor

If the instructions for taking the drug were followed, then no significant consequences for the reproductive and reproductive systems usually occur. If you have problems with the circulatory system, this drug is not recommended for use, but if you do take it, you need to regularly have your blood tested to determine the degree of clotting.

An increase in this indicator is fraught with the formation of blood clots , which over time clog blood vessels, leading to deterioration of blood flow to organs and tissues and, as a result, a stroke, and in the worst case, instant death.

If the examination shows excessive blood thickening, you should immediately contact a specialized specialist who will prescribe blood thinning medications. Postinor (reviews and consequences for those who have serious health problems can be severe) is prohibited for use if you have liver problems.

If admission cannot be avoided, the patient should be prepared for a deterioration of the condition and exacerbation of the disease.

In case of severe overdose of the drug and the appearance of severe side effects, gastric lavage is recommended. If the dose is exceeded slightly, but there are pronounced side effects, then symptomatic treatment is prescribed, because There is no antidote for this drug.

special instructions

“Emergency” contraception is intended for occasional use and does not replace a regular method of birth control.

Due to the possibility of hormonal imbalance, it is not recommended to use the drug repeatedly during one cycle.

“Emergency” contraception does not always prevent pregnancy. If there is doubt about the timing of NPC, or if unprotected intercourse occurred more than 72 hours during the same cycle, the possibility that a fertilized egg has already implanted in the uterine wall cannot be ruled out.

In this regard, the use of tablets during the next sexual intercourse may be ineffective. If the cycle is delayed by more than 5 days, if atypical bleeding develops on the day of the expected menstruation, as well as if there are other reasons to suspect pregnancy, the fact of pregnancy should be excluded.

There is a risk of developing ectopic pregnancy after taking levonorgestrel . The absolute likelihood of this is low, since the drug interferes with ovulation and fertilization.

Ectopic pregnancy may persist despite the occurrence of uterine bleeding.

Ectopic pregnancy is most likely in women who have experienced fainting or severe abdominal pain, or who have a history of tubal surgery, ectopic pregnancy , or PID .

Based on this, patients at risk are not recommended to take Postinor tablets.

Taking the pills may slightly change the pattern of bleeding, but in most cases the next menstruation begins a maximum of a week after the usual date.

If menstrual bleeding is delayed by more than 5 days, it is necessary to exclude the fact of pregnancy.

The drug should not be used by women with serious liver pathologies. The effectiveness of the tablets may be negatively affected by severe malabsorption (eg, granulomatous enteritis ).

Women suffering from such diseases are advised to consult a doctor emergency contraception

Postinor tablets contain lactose, which should be warned about in patients with lactase deficiency and impaired absorption of glucose and galactose .

The drug is ineffective as a means of regular contraception and is not an alternative to it. It should also be remembered that this remedy does not replace the necessary precautions associated with protection against STDs .

If a woman applies for repeated use of Postinor, the doctor should recommend that she use long-term methods of birth control.

studies have been conducted on the effects of levonorgestrel on the ability to drive or operate machines, but the possibility of dizziness should be kept in mind.

Peculiarities

The effectiveness of contraception with levonorgestrel depends on the time when the first pill was taken. The sooner after sexual intercourse this is done, the higher the likelihood of a successful outcome. For example, if you use it during the first day after unprotected sex, in 95% of cases or more the promised effect occurs. When using the first tablet during the second day, the effectiveness decreases to 85%, and on the third day it is only 58%.

After using the drug, it is necessary to mark the date of unprotected sex and the day of administration in the women's calendar. From this time, a countdown is taken for the appearance of possible signs of pregnancy or its successful prevention.

How to understand that Postinor has worked?

Menstruation should begin on time according to the calendar. Its duration and volume of blood loss should not differ significantly from normal days.

You should consult a doctor in the following cases:

• heavy periods;
• scanty discharge;
• delay more than 7 days;
• combination of discharge with pain in the lower abdomen.

Painful sensations can be cramping, but more often aching in nature. Sometimes this condition is accompanied by weakness and dizziness. If acute abdominal pain occurs, urgent hospitalization is necessary. This is how an ectopic pregnancy usually manifests itself. An interrupted pregnancy due to a ruptured tube is characterized by the appearance of acute abdominal pain and signs of internal bleeding (low blood pressure, tachycardia).

The effectiveness of a drug can be affected not only by other drugs, but also by pathological conditions. When Crohn's disease spreads to the upper intestines, it leads to impaired absorption of nutrients. Therefore, with this pathology, as well as other inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract, absorption may be impaired and, as a result, contraception may not be effective enough.

It should also be remembered that hormonal drugs do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. To protect yourself from infection, you must use a condom correctly. If sexual intercourse carries the risk of not only an unwanted pregnancy, but also the development of an infection, emergency protective measures should be used. To do this, the woman must urinate and treat the urethral opening with an antiseptic solution: Chlorhexidine, Miramistin. In some cases, preventive antibiotics are effective.

Postinor and its analogues: what to replace the drug with?

Level 4 ATX code matches:
Eskinor-F

Microlute

Exluton

Escapelle

Implanon NKST

Charosetta

Lactinet

Analogs of Postinor with the same active ingredient: Escapel , Eskinor-F .

Similar drugs with a similar mechanism of action: Implanon , Laktinet , Charozetta , Mifepristone , Exluton , Genale , Ginepristone .

The price of drug analogues is from 186 rubles. If price is a decisive factor when choosing a substitute, it is better to give preference to the drug Eskinor-F .

Which is better - Escapelle or Postinor?

Escapelle and Postinor are synonymous. The basis of both is levonorgestrel . Only in the first case its concentration is 1.5 mg/tablet, and in the second - 0.75 mg/tablet. That is, Escapel in the case of NPC should be taken once, and Postinor - in 2 doses with an interval of 12 hours.

Which is better - Zhenale or Postinor?

The active substance of Zhenale is the synthetic antiprogestin mifepristone . The substance is a derivative of norethisterone and is used to terminate early pregnancy. Its content in each tablet is 10 mg.

Mifepristone is a non-hormonal agent that reversibly and transiently blocks exclusively peripheral PR ( progesterone ). Depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle, the drug interferes with the release of luteotropin , delays or blocks ovulation and causes disturbances in the transformation of the endometrium, which, in turn, complicates the implantation of the egg.

WHO data indicate that the use of low-dose mifepristone is more effective and safe than emergency contraception using levonorgestrel .

In addition, it was experimentally proven that the contraceptive effect of mifepristone does not decrease when the interval between NPC and taking Genale to 120 hours. This is also a significant advantage of the latter over Postinor.

If you need “urgent” contraception, of Zhenale during the first 72 hours . The drug is used 2 hours before meals.

What is better - Postinor or Ginepristone?

The active substance of Ginepristone is also mifepristone at a concentration of 10 mg/tablet. Thus, the drug has the same advantages over Postinor as Zhenale .

The drug is highly effective, characterized by the absence of significant side effects and can be used for occasional contraception in women with irregular sex life.

In addition, the drug is more affordable compared to Postinor. Its price in Russian pharmacies is approximately 100-120 rubles lower than the price of Postinor.

Price for Postinor

Advice from a gynecologist on the use of postinor and the cost of clinic services in an emergency

Postinor and alcohol

Is it possible to combine Postinor tablets with alcohol? There are no recommendations in this regard in the manufacturer's instructions.

However, it should be remembered that alcohol is not compatible with the vast majority of pharmaceutical products.

Drinking alcoholic beverages in combination with Postinor can cause a sharp dilation, and then an equally sharp constriction of blood vessels, which in turn will complicate the woman’s condition when the drug provokes rejection of the uterine mucosa.

In addition, alcohol increases the level of liver enzymes, thereby speeding up metabolism. And since the biotransformation of levonorgestrel occurs in the liver, the contraceptive effect of Postinor while taking alcohol can be very questionable.

Reviews of the use of the drug with alcohol indicate that side effects when using it in this case develop with approximately the same frequency as in cases where the woman did not drink alcohol, but the likelihood of becoming pregnant does increase.

Indications for taking the drug

Postinor (reviews and consequences vary depending on the woman’s health) is used when there is a need for emergency contraception (unprotected coitus, unreliability of the contraceptive method used). The effectiveness depends on the time during which it was taken.

It is advisable that this be the first 24 hours after unprotected sexual contact.

The later the pill is taken, the less effective it will be. If the implantation of the egg has already taken place, then there is no point in taking it. It also plays a role in what period of the cycle sexual intercourse took place - if before ovulation, that is, when the chances of getting pregnant are highest, then the drug will have an effect.

Postinor and pregnancy

During pregnancy, the use of Postinor should be avoided.

Is it possible to terminate a pregnancy using the drug?

The pills do not cause abortion and cannot be used to terminate an early pregnancy.

If the use of Postinor does not give the expected result, and pregnancy nevertheless occurs, this will not affect the development of the fetus. Levonorgestrel does not have a teratogenic effect.

clinical data on the possible consequences of pregnancy after taking levonorgestrel in a dose exceeding 1.5 mg.

Is it possible to get pregnant after taking Postinor?

The effectiveness of the drug is 58-95%. It depends on when the pill was taken. If a woman takes Postinor after ovulation, the drug may not work at all. It is also impossible to completely exclude the possibility that pregnancy could have begun to develop even before taking the drug.

Women who are planning to have a child in the future, but have now been forced to resort to the help of Postinor, should not be afraid, since, as a rule, it is possible to become pregnant after taking these pills without difficulties or delays.

Use during breastfeeding

Levonorgestrel is excreted in milk. The potential effect of the drug on the child's body can be reduced if the woman takes it immediately after feeding. Next time you can breastfeed your baby after 8 hours.

Contraindications

The use of Postinor is contraindicated for use in the following cases:

• liver dysfunction, severe liver disease
• teenage girls under 16 years old
• During lactation, the drug passes into breast milk, so it is contraindicated during breastfeeding.
• with uterine bleeding of unknown origin
• for individual intolerance
• for herpetic infections and other infectious diseases of the genitourinary system
• in diseases associated with enzymatic deficiency - impaired absorption of glucose, galactose (lactase deficiency)
• for malignant neoplasms of any location
• with a genetic predisposition to thrombosis
• with predisposition to Crohn's disease

Use with caution for ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, diseases of the biliary tract.

Reviews about Postinor

Reviews on forums about Postinor are quite varied. In most cases, the drug really helps to avoid unplanned pregnancy, but it often causes significant side effects: it happens that a woman takes the pills but does not have her period, severe bleeding begins, or her lower abdomen hurts afterwards.

Reviews of gynecologists about Postinor allow us to conclude that levonorgestrel is better tolerated by women than the Yuzpe method (an alternative to the use of the drug; a method that involves taking a high dose of pills for regular contraception ). In addition, Postinor has proven itself to be a more effective remedy.

However, these pills should be taken only in cases of extreme necessity: if a CPD has taken place, if a woman has a spontaneous prolapse of the IUD or a condom breaks during sexual intercourse, if a woman has forgotten to take a contraceptive pill, as well as in case of forced sexual intercourse.

It should be remembered that the consequences of taking the drug are often serious and unforeseen, and that each woman’s body reacts to a high dose of levonorgestrel in its own way.

Reviews from doctors about the consequences of Postinor are confirmation that if used thoughtlessly, this drug can cause serious (and sometimes irreparable) damage to health. In the worst case, the woman may remain infertile.

The main recommendations are that:

• the drug can be used occasionally;
• if repeated use is necessary, a woman should seriously consider the possibility of using regular contraception, which has a much gentler effect on the body.

In addition, if a woman was forced to take the pill, she should stop drinking alcohol.

How does Postinor work during unprotected sex?

Nature has implanted in us the instinct of procreation. Children are a great joy if they are desired. Every child should receive the love and care of their parents, and for this, pregnancy must be planned. Untimely conception will entail a whole mountain of problems: from moral and ethical to banal financial.

What to do? Previously, the only way to terminate an unplanned pregnancy was surgery; now it is possible to use medications. One of them is Postinor, but it is suitable for terminating a pregnancy only in the very early stages, when days, even hours, are counting.

If intercourse was unprotected or there are doubts about the quality of contraception, you should take the first tablet of the drug before 72 hours (three days) have passed from the moment of intercourse. The second tablet is taken 12 (maximum 16) hours after the first. But even if the medicine is taken on time, it does not guarantee the absence of pregnancy.

And the more time passes after sperm enters a woman’s body, the less hope there is for success.

The mystery of conception in the language of science

To understand how Postinor works and whether it will help terminate a pregnancy, you need to understand what happens after sexual intercourse. Every month, under the influence of hormones produced by the pituitary gland, ovulation occurs in a woman’s body. It all starts with the formation of a hollow formation in the ovary - a vesicle (follicle) containing an egg.

The membrane of the vesicle produces female hormones (estrogens), due to which the follicle enlarges, and by the middle of the cycle it is destroyed, releasing a mature egg. Upon exiting the ovary, the finished egg is picked up by the villi lining the fallopian tubes and travels to the uterus itself.

About a day after maturation, the egg is ready to receive a sperm.

With the male “contribution” to conception, everything is a little different. Sperm need at least 75 days to fully mature. During sexual intercourse, hundreds of millions of sperm enter the vagina.

Not everyone gets to the cervix, then they have a difficult journey through the space of the uterus to the fallopian tube. And only then do they have a chance to win.

The entire journey from the vagina to the fallopian tube takes up to two and a half hours.

And then the fun begins. Do you think the fastest sperm gets the prize? No, it's all about luck! It is necessary to overcome the barrier surrounding the egg. A single sperm cell cannot do this. All sperm that reach the finish line (and there can be up to several million of them) attack the protective barrier according to the principle “a drop wears away a stone.”

At some point, there are too many attacks on one area of ​​defense, and the egg gives up. The sperm remains viable (can fertilize) from 2 to 7 days (scientists themselves are not sure), and all this time a battle rages around the egg.

As a rule, luck smiles not on the fastest sperm, but on one of the slow spermatozoa - its brothers have already managed to weaken the defense, all that remains is to be kind and penetrate inside.

Effect of Postinor at the very beginning of pregnancy

So, the winning sperm got inside the egg. After this, it will take about 12 more hours for the sperm and egg to unite into one.

A one-cell embryo moves along the fallopian tube to the uterus, growing new cells along the way due to the process of division. Having reached the target, the embryo “dives” into the mucous membrane of the uterine walls.

This is called implantation (introduction), and it occurs 11-12 days after conception.

Thus, after sexual intercourse for 2 days (we take the minimum value), conception occurs, then another ten to twelve days are needed for the embryo to advance to the uterus and penetrate into the wall. All this time, right up to implantation of the embryo, Postinor seriously reduces the likelihood of getting pregnant. But it only reduces the likelihood, and does not guarantee the complete absence of conception!

How does the drug prevent conception?

Abortion pills Postinor contain a substance that can suppress fertilization and cause changes in the lining of the uterus such that the embryo cannot “catch” onto the walls. Postinor contains the synthetic active substance levonorgestrel, used for hormonal contraception. What does this synthetic hormone do:

• affects the pituitary gland, causing it to reduce the activity of the gonads;
• reduces the level of hormones responsible for the formation of vesicles-follicles in the ovary to create an egg;
• reduces the secretion of the hormone that triggers the ovulation process;
• increases the viscosity of mucus in the cervix, which makes it difficult for sperm to move;
• changes the lining of the uterus so that the embryo cannot implant (introduce) into it.

Doctors are not entirely sure of the ability of levonorgestrel to prevent embryo implantation. Recent research data does not support this. Therefore, you can get pregnant after taking Postinor.

After the embryo is implanted into the wall of the uterus, the drug can no longer affect it. Doctors say that after pregnancy, Postinor has virtually no effect on the fetus.

Therefore, using Postinor for medical abortion is at least useless.

This difficult procedure (abortion without surgical intervention) should be carried out only under supervision and strictly on the recommendation of a gynecologist! Don't risk your health and future motherhood!

A little math

If we assume the fastest scenario, a woman has only the time it takes for the sperm to reach the egg, that is, a couple of hours of travel from the vagina to the fallopian tube and the time to overcome the egg barrier.

It is not known exactly how long the “bombardment” of sperm lasts before conception occurs. Doctors even differ in terms of sperm viability (from two days to a week). Therefore, the situation “drank Postinor and became pregnant” occurs much more often than we would like.

The likelihood of a positive effect of Postinor directly depends on the time that has passed since unprotected or poorly protected intercourse:

• in the first 24 hours – up to 95%;
• on the second day (up to 48 hours) – 85%;
• on the third day (up to 72 hours from the moment of intercourse) - 58%.

And these numbers are just estimates. Thus, the likelihood of pregnancy after taking Postinor exists and is quite high if the drug is used literally in the first minutes after intercourse.

How to use Postinor tablets correctly

No matter how beautiful the phrase “medical pregnancy prevention” may sound, in fact, it is an intervention in a natural process, the same abortion. The consequences of the pills on a woman’s health cannot be accurately predicted. It is wiser to take care of reliable protection than to frantically search for a way to protect yourself from an unplanned pregnancy.

The drug package contains only two tablets. To prevent (not terminate!) pregnancy, you need to take both Postinor tablets as early as possible. In the first minutes/hours after the act, take one tablet, then, with an interval of 12 hours, the second.

How much does Postinor cost in pharmacies in Russia, as well as in Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan?

The difference in the price of birth control pills for pregnancy is due to the pricing peculiarities of a particular pharmacy chain and the cost of transporting the drug.

The price of Postinor tablets in Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov, Odessa and Kyiv varies from 140 to 280 UAH.

The average price of Postinor in a Russian pharmacy is 360 rubles.

The minimum price in Belarus for tablets is 143.6 thousand rubles. The average cost in pharmacies in Minsk is 156.25 thousand rubles.

The average price of Postinor in Kazakhstan is 1.65 thousand tenge. (you can buy tablets for 1,585-1,728 thousand tenge).

• Online pharmacies in RussiaRussia
• Online pharmacies in UkraineUkraine
• Online pharmacies in KazakhstanKazakhstan

ZdravCity

• Postinor tablets 0.75 mg 2 pcs. JSC Gedeon Richter
  417 rub. order

Pharmacy Dialogue

• Postinor (0.75 mg tablet No. 2) Gedeon-Richter

  RUR 466 order

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Pharmacy24

• Postinor 0.75 mg N2 tablets VAT "Gedeon Richter", Ugorshchina
  168 UAH. order

PaniPharmacy

• Postinor tablets Postinor tablets 0.75 mg No. 2 Hungary, Gedeon Richter

  192 UAH order

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Which is better: POSTINOR or ESCAPELE

POSTINOR and ESCAPE.
Photo: vchemraznica.ru Both drugs are analogues of each other. Active ingredient: Levonorgestrel. Release form: tablets. The difference between the drugs is the number of tablets in the package and, accordingly, the dosage of the active substance. POSTINOR contains 750 mcg of Levonorgestrel, 2 tablets per package. The drug ESCAPEL, dosage 1.5 mg, 1 tablet in a package. Both drugs are available with a doctor's prescription.

The drugs are produced in Hungary. In terms of cost, ESCAPELE is more expensive than POSTINOR. Price per package from 422 rub.

What should I do if bleeding starts after taking the pills?

Sometimes women are faced with a situation where bleeding begins after taking emergency contraception. However, not every case is dangerous. Often the first menstruation is stronger and more abundant than usual.

Up to 80 ml is considered normal. discharge for the entire period of menstruation. A larger volume of discharge may be associated with an imbalance in hormones. This is a temporary phenomenon, everything will return to normal in about a month. You should pay attention to the duration of bleeding. It is acceptable when the duration of critical days increases by 2-3 days.

If by 5-6 days the bleeding becomes weaker and does not cause discomfort, then there is no reason to worry. If the discharge is as strong and abundant by day 6-7, then you need to urgently seek medical help. If bleeding lasts more than 10 days, then, regardless of whether it is severe or not, you need to consult a doctor.

When is it necessary to call an ambulance?

Calling an ambulance is necessary in the following cases:

• gaskets are changed once an hour or more often;
• gaskets are changed even at night;
• bleeding does not stop for more than 24 days;
• bleeding is so severe that it prevents you from doing normal things, such as going to work or going to the gym;
• there are clots in the blood;
• shortness of breath, lethargy, drowsiness appeared - the first signs of anemia.