避孕藥（參見：“男性避孕藥”）
避孕藥由合成激素所製成，既有單一激素劑型（孕激素），也有複合激素劑型（孕激素和雌激素）。這些合成激素與女性體內產生的激素相似。避孕藥抑制卵巢排卵，而且也可能改變子宮內膜的特性。繼而可能借此使精子更難以進入子宮。其結果是服用了避孕藥的婦女不能懷孕。
避孕藥時興一個月用量的包裝，每天服用一粒，在月經後第五天開始連續口服20天或21天。當一個包裝盒被吃空時，就停止服用，直到過了經期第五天后，又開始新的一輪服藥。（某些容器包裝有28粒避孕藥，則停止服藥七天。）
避孕藥只能有規律地服用才發揮作用。所以，每天在同一時間服用避孕藥才是明智之舉(舉例來說，清晨醒來、早晨刷牙之後、早餐時、晚餐時或就寢前都是服藥的時刻。)這樣的日程安排能防止忘記服藥。如果確實漏服了一粒，翌日在通常的時刻可以服用兩粒，隨後象通常一樣繼續服藥。可是，如果連續漏服了兩粒，則應該在餘下的月經週期裏採用另一種避孕方法。
避孕藥是處方用藥，需要遵照醫囑方能服用；因此，有的婦女就不應該服用。其中，吸煙的女性和未能戒除吸煙的女性不該服用避孕藥；超過50歲的婦女也不應該服用，因為會冒一定的風險。無論如何，開具處方取藥之前始終需要做醫學檢查，然後，必須與醫生一起討論，就自己的各種條件來看，是否合適服用避孕藥。
某些第一次服用避孕藥的婦女會有類似於妊娠的症狀：體重增加、輕度噁心、情緒波動和乳房脹大。這些副作用通常會在數月內消失。可是，如果症狀持續，可建議換用另一種牌子的避孕藥。
避孕有效率：幾乎是100%。 |
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Contraception |
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Methods
of Contraception: Contraceptive
Methods for Women
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"The Pill"
Contraceptive pills are made of synthetic hormones, either alone (progestin) or in combination (progestin and estrogen). These hormones are similar to those produced by a woman's ovaries. The pills prevent any egg from being released from the ovaries, and they may also change the quality of the cervical mucus. This, in turn, may make it more difficult for the sperm to enter the uterus. As a result, the woman cannot become pregnant.
The pills come in packages made to last one month. One pill is taken every day for 20 or 21 days beginning with the fifth day of the menstrual cycle. When the package is empty, the woman stops taking any more pills until the fifth day of her new menstrual cycle. (Some packages contain 28 pills, the last seven without medication.)
The pills can work only if taken regularly. It is advisable, therefore, to take the pill every day at the same time (e.g., when waking up, brushing one's teeth in the morning, at breakfast, at supper, or going to bed). Such a daily routine will prevent a woman from forgetting a pill. If she does forget one pill, she can take two pills the next day at the regular time and continue as usual. However, if she forgot two pills in a row, she should also use another contraceptive method for the rest of the cycle.
Contraceptive pills are available only on prescription, since there are some women who should not take them. Among these are women who smoke and cannot give up smoking. Also women over forty may face some risks. In any case, a medical examination is always necessary before prescribing the pill. Together with her doctor, each woman then has to decide whether the pill is appropriate in her individual case.
Some women who take contraceptive pills at first experience some symptoms similar to those of pregnancy: a weight gain, slight nausea, as well as a tenderness and an enlargement of the breasts. These side effects usually disappear within a few months. However, if they persist, a switch to another brand of pills may be indicated.
Effectiveness: almost 100 percent. |
