Are birth control pills really effective?

There are many common contraceptive measures in our lives, but sometimes accidents happen suddenly, so we can only take some post-coital contraceptive pills. For female friends, contraceptive pills are divided into long-acting contraceptive pills and short-acting contraceptive pills. Long-acting contraceptive pills generally need to be taken for a long time, while short-acting contraceptive pills are particularly effective. So, are contraceptive pills really effective?

In daily life, it is often not easy to take effective contraceptive measures. For example, if women have sexual intercourse without contraceptive measures without prior knowledge or out of ignorance; if there are "malfunctions" in contraceptive tools, ejaculation outside the body, or safe period contraception, such as condom leakage, slippage, or miscalculation of the safe period, these women can also avoid pregnancy if they can take contraceptive measures after sexual intercourse in time. At present, there are mainly the following simple, convenient and effective post-coital contraceptive methods that can be used in practice:

1. Emergency contraceptive drug method:

1. Yuting (levonorgestrel tablets): It is a relatively new emergency contraceptive. The first tablet (0.75 mg) should be taken within 72 hours after contraceptive failure or unprotected intercourse, and the second tablet (0.75 mg) should be taken 12 hours later. The purpose of avoiding pregnancy can be achieved by inhibiting follicle development, inhibiting or delaying ovulation, affecting endometrial development, interfering with implantation and other different links. The effectiveness rate is around 98%. This product is an emergency contraceptive and cannot be taken as a regular contraceptive.

2. Mifepristone: Take one tablet within 72 hours (three days) after contraceptive failure or unprotected intercourse. Taking it in the first half of the menstrual cycle can inhibit ovulation; taking mifepristone in the second half of the menstrual cycle or when the menstruation is overdue can cause the endometrium to fall off, which has the effect of inducing menstruation and stopping pregnancy, with an efficiency of about 99%. However, it must be taken under the guidance of a doctor and can generally be obtained from hospitals and family planning service agencies.

3. Anti-pregnancy tablet No. 53: It is a remedy within 24 hours. One tablet should be taken orally immediately after intercourse (no later than 12 hours). Then, take one tablet the next morning and another tablet at night. After that, take one tablet a day for three consecutive days, for a total of six days. The effective rate can reach 95%.

4. Short-acting oral contraceptives: Take 2-4 tablets immediately after intercourse, and then take another 2-4 tablets after 12 hours.

5. 18-methylnorgestrel: It is a 48-hour rescue contraceptive pill. Specific usage: take one tablet within 48 hours after sexual intercourse, and then take another tablet 12 hours later.

2. Placement of intrauterine contraceptive device:

Generally speaking, it takes 4-5 days for the fertilized egg to reach the uterine cavity and implant. If the intrauterine device is placed within 3-5 days after sexual intercourse, its contraceptive effectiveness is 100%. Its main mechanism of action is to interfere with fertilization and implantation of the fertilized egg. However, this method is not suitable for women who have not yet given birth.

3. Notes:

1. You should always have some emergency contraceptive pills on hand just in case.

2. Do not use expired contraceptive pills.

3. Except for the intrauterine contraceptive ring which can be used as a long-term protective measure, the protection provided by hormonal drugs to women is one-time and should not be used repeatedly. If used repeatedly for a long time, it may cause menstrual disorders or even systemic side effects such as nausea, vomiting, breast tenderness and irregular vaginal bleeding. Therefore, emergency contraceptive pills are only for emergencies and should not be abused. There is currently no emergency contraceptive method that can be used routinely after every sexual intercourse, so regular contraceptive methods remain important. If there is an unexpected pregnancy, other methods should be used to terminate the pregnancy.