Oral contraceptives (OC) in the form of tablets are now so common that about 70% of women of childbearing age take them. Moreover, in some cases, the need for contraceptive hormonal drugs is not due to their direct purpose (protection against unwanted pregnancy), but for the treatment of any diseases caused by hormonal imbalance. When the reasons that caused the need to take OCs disappear, many women wonder what consequences to expect after stopping birth control. Therefore, we will next consider the natural processes in the body and the negative side effects that occur when stopping drugs, how to properly stop taking them, and why the ovaries hurt after stopping them.

In order to understand the consequences of discontinuing OCs, it is necessary to find out how these drugs act and what effect they have on the female reproductive system.

Oral contraceptives are synthetic hormones that suppress ovulation and change the ratio of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormone. When the amount of these hormones changes, the structure of the uterine endometrium and cervical mucus changes, due to which the sperm either does not connect with the egg at all (that is, fertilization does not occur), or the fertilized sperm does not attach to the walls of the uterus.

Also, when taking OCs, the functions of the ovaries are switched off; artificial hormones do all the work for them. Therefore, if the ovaries hurt after stopping OCs, this indicates that the organs are restoring their natural activity. You should wait a few cycles for the appendages to begin producing their own hormones, after which the pain will stop.

In what cases and how to properly stop using a contraceptive?

You can stop taking OCs voluntarily or if there are medical indications. In the first case, the reasons may be:

• the woman is planning a pregnancy, so protection is no longer required;
• another method of contraception was chosen (condom, cap, coil, etc.);
• reluctance to take hormones for a long time, etc.

Sometimes there is a need to urgently stop taking OCs, for example in cases of the following diseases:

• diabetes;
• renal and/or liver failure;
• oncological diseases;
• phlebeurysm;
• hypertension II or III degree;
• during surgical interventions (hormones can have a negative effect on anesthesia or the course of the operation).

If one of these diseases is diagnosed, you should stop taking the drug within the time frame prescribed by your doctor.

What to expect when stopping the drug

1. Reproductive function is restored in several directions: the body’s own hormone production and endometrial structure are restored, the viscosity of cervical mucus is reduced, and the chemical composition of the vaginal flora changes.
2. Menstrual irregularities are possible due to the fact that throughout the entire period of taking OCs, the body’s own reproductive abilities were atrophied, they were replaced by drugs. Therefore, it takes some time to restore normal functioning of the organs.
3. Bleeding in the middle of the cycle occurs when the drug is abruptly discontinued. In order to prevent this unpleasant consequence, it is necessary to finish the package of OK until the end, that is, before the start of the next menstruation.
4. Changes in libido are related to hormone levels. Moreover, changes can be either towards an increase in sexual desire or its complete absence. This symptom is temporary and should not cause concern.
5. The appearance of acne is also related to hormones. Contraceptives contain hormones that suppress the production of androgens. Namely, they cause skin rashes.
6. A change in the state of the nervous system, which manifests itself in mood swings, depression or irritability, and sometimes fatigue or weakness.
7. Gain, or vice versa, weight loss. There may be slight weight gain when taking birth control pills. This is due to the fact that under the influence of hormones, glucose is broken down faster in the body, therefore appetite increases. OCs are also capable of retaining water in the body. If after stopping the drug your weight has decreased, this is a natural process. If you have increased, you need to check the ratio of sex hormones and the thyroid gland. There may be some kind of endocrine disease.

One of the common consequences of stopping taking OCs is pain in the ovaries. They occur after discontinuation of the following drugs.

Duphaston

This hormonal drug is a synthetic analogue of progesterone and can be prescribed for various diseases caused by a deficiency of this hormone (myoma, dysmenorrhea, etc.). After stopping Duphaston, many women notice aching pain in the ovaries, which usually lasts until the start of the next menstruation.

In some cases, single cysts appear that do not require specific therapy and resolve on their own in 1-2 cycles.

Byzanne

This contraceptive is also used for treatment. After stopping the drug, many women note that their ovaries ache. If during Vizanne there was pain in the area of ​​the ovaries or uterus, and this pain does not go away within a week, this may indicate either a natural recovery of the body or some kind of pathology, so in this case a consultation with a doctor is advisable.

Metformin

The drug is not a contraceptive; it is used to treat diabetes mellitus of the first and second types. However, in some cases it is prescribed for the treatment of polycystic disease (under the strict supervision of a doctor).

If the ovaries become ill while taking Metformin, this may indicate that the ovulatory cycle is being restored, since with polycystic disease this process is disrupted until there is a complete absence of menstruation. Usually, unpleasant sensations in the ovarian area disappear during the first week of use, and after discontinuation of the drug they occur infrequently.

Hog queen

It is not a synthetic contraceptive and does not contain hormones, but its properties are such that it can correct the body's hormonal levels and is used in the treatment of many gynecological diseases, including infertility caused by lack of ovulation.

If, when taking boron uterus, the ovaries are pulled and there is aching pain in the lower abdomen, this is a normal reaction of the body to the folk remedy, even if the symptoms are present in the first half of the cycle. Since ovulation begins from the uterus, the ovaries begin to function more actively, hence the unpleasant symptoms. Over time, the pain will subside as the body adapts.

In the treatment of infertility, this plant shows excellent results; moreover, it is not a synthetic agent (that is, safe), therefore it is very popular in gynecological practice.

Pregnancy after discontinuation of OK

After stopping taking oral contraceptives, you cannot immediately plan a pregnancy.. It is necessary to wait until the hormonal levels are completely restored, the pain in the ovaries subsides, and they begin to function properly.

Recovery usually takes 2-3 months, but sometimes this process can last up to six months. Pain in the ovaries, of course, subsides quite quickly (provided that it is natural pain and not caused by any pathologies), but it takes a little more time to restore hormone production.

In order for the recovery process to proceed quickly and without unpleasant complications, you need to follow several rules when stopping the drug:

1. You should consult with your gynecologist whether it is advisable to stop drinking OK at this particular moment. The patient's health and potential risks should be assessed.
2. You should finish the pack to the end in any case, otherwise a sharp hormonal surge may occur, causing bleeding in the middle of the cycle and subsequent delay of menstruation.
3. You can stop taking the drug in the middle of the cycle if unpleasant side effects appear: pain in the mammary glands, acne, nausea, etc.
4. If the drug was taken not for the purpose of contraception, but for the treatment of any hormonal disease, then after discontinuation it is necessary to take tests to determine the amount of hormones and subsequently carry them out regularly.

Considering the unpleasant consequences of taking oral contraceptives, you should not be afraid of them. This is not only a reliable method of contraception, but also a means for treating many gynecological diseases, as well as infertility. Pain in the ovaries after stopping the OC goes away quite quickly, in most cases it is not a pathology, so you just need to endure it.

For example, a 2009 study of nearly 60,000 women found that 21.1% achieved a planned pregnancy after the first cycle and 79.4% within one year (13 cycles). Hormone type, dosage, duration of use, and age had little effect on fertility (Data taken from the study “Ability to Get Pregnant After Use of Oral Contraceptives Containing Drospirenone and a Progestin,” which was conducted by Cronin M., Schelschmidt I., Dinger J., and published in Obstet Gynecol in 2009).

However, women who take oral contraceptives are still concerned about how they affect fertility in the long term and whether fertility improves after a long period of time without them. Perhaps the answer to this question has been found. New research presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Munich by Dr. Kathrine Birch Petersen of the University of Copenhagen shows that oral contraceptives have a markedly detrimental effect on two known markers of ovarian reserve that are considered strong predictors of aging. female reproductive gland and the onset of menopause.

In recent years, the term "follicular reserve" has been used to describe the ability of the ovaries to produce follicles and mature eggs for fertilization. This reserve is checked using two tests: the level of anti-Mullerian hormones (AMH) in the blood and the number of antral follicles in the ovary, which can be counted using a vaginal ultrasound. Today, it is believed that the combination of these two tests best reflects ovarian reserve and is therefore an indicator of the current state of the biological clock. Since both of these parameters change with age, the tests also indicate aging of the ovaries.

A study in Denmark found that AMH and ultrasound measurements were 19% and 16% lower, respectively, in those on the pill compared to those not taking it. In addition, the volume of the ovaries was also smaller by 29-52%. The greatest changes occurred in the age group from 19-29.9 years.

How to determine obstruction of the fallopian tubes? You can learn about diagnostic methods for this disease by following this link /neprohodimost-matochnih-trub

833 girls (aged 19-46 years) took part in the analysis. From August 2011 to April 2014, they attended the Fertility Assessment and Counseling Clinic at Copenhagen University Hospital. There they compared AMH levels, vaginal ultrasound results and ovarian volume between those taking oral contraceptives and those not taking them. But, in general, almost 30% of all participants previously resorted to them. The study was part of a larger project that tried to establish whether lifestyle, biological and medical factors could influence fertility and predict the length of a woman's reproductive capacity. The project aimed to reduce the need for fertility drugs and provide more information about what determines pregnancy.

“We knew that oral contraceptives had some effect,” notes Dr. Birch Petersen, “But we were very surprised by such a huge effect on ovarian reserve parameters.” Even after statistically adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking habit, age at first birth, smoking during pregnancy, and preterm birth, girls taking hormonal contraceptives still had on average 30% lower AMH and ultrasound 20%.

“However,” she added, “we do not believe that the effects of oral contraceptives on the ovaries are irreversible. However, we still have to study the recovery phase of the body's former functions after stopping their use. They are unlikely to modify the natural biological processes of ovarian depletion, but they do affect its volume and the release of anti-Mullerian hormones.”

However, she said that such results do not necessarily reflect the ability to carry out future pregnancies. To make sure that your biological clock is in order and you are fertile, she advises taking a follicular reserve test three months after stopping taking the pill.

Hello, I have been taking ok Dimia for six months, according to med. Indications. I periodically go for a TV ultrasound because I’m afraid that a cyst will grow, although this has never happened while taking this drug. I was confused by the last ultrasound - large follicles on the right ovary. Left 18*18*20mm, follicles d4-6mm, right 32*30*27, follicles d7-12mm, dominant 13.5mm. In 3-5 days you should have your period. There is slight pain in the right ovary. I'm worried about this house. The follicle has not grown into a cyst, is this possible? And at the same time they diagnosed bilateral adnexitis. How is adnexitis expressed by ultrasound?

Marina, Zlatoust

ANSWERED: 03/30/2017

Hello, adnexitis according to ultrasound is determined by an increase in the size of the ovary, sometimes a changed fallopian tube or its tumor formation is visible, the presence of fluid in the abdominal cavity. If follicles begin to grow while taking a contraceptive drug, this is an indication for examination by a gynecologist and treatment. Normally, taking contraceptives blocks ovulation. Lack of effect may occur if the drug is taken incorrectly (omissions, starting on the first day of the menstrual cycle), when using counterfeit medication, or when using drugs together that reduce the effect of COCs. In addition, ultrasound examination is not 100% (paraovarian cyst should be excluded).

Clarification question

Related questions:

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Hello, dear readers of the blog site.
I continue my story about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and how it is associated with taking hormonal contraceptives.

Today I will talk about one of the complications of OC, which can trigger the formation of PCOS in a woman’s body. In addition to the well-known complications that occur with OCs, there is one that is little known and poorly understood by women.

While taking OCs, the body's sensitivity to its own hormones decreases.

This complication is called “decreased sensitivity of cell receptors to hormones.” It is the most important reason why a woman, after taking OK, has signs of PCOS - anovulation, excess hair growth and everything else that I wrote about in the previous article.

Why does the sensitivity of cells to their own hormones decrease?

The endocrine system is integral. Its integrity ensures our health and adaptation to all stress, problems and circumstances of our lives.

How does the endocrine system ensure its integrity? Imagine that the entire endocrine system, consisting of many glands, regulates itself. This is called a "system of forward and backward connections."

An increase or decrease in the work of one gland affects the work of all other glands. The entire system works automatically, responds to changes in the external and internal environment, stress, and helps the body adapt.

Each gland reacts to the slightest changes in the concentration of hormones to which it is tuned. Changing these concentrations completely changes how it works.

Each gland is a very sensitive tuning fork; it reacts sensitively to any impact. It (the gland) changes its “sound” (the synthesis of its hormones) depending on mood, health, physical or emotional stress, stress, nutrition, daily routine, and much more.

Turning off any gland disrupts the entire functioning of the endocrine system.

When a woman starts taking OCs, the work of the ovaries is inhibited, over time until complete atrophy. The ovaries are turned off, the pituitary gland does not stimulate their work. Analogues of ovarian hormones are constantly introduced into the blood, so the pituitary gland does not stimulate the ovaries.

Synthetic hormones enter the bloodstream constantly, in the same dosage; they do not respond to changes in circumstances, are not their own hormones, and are administered in a very large dosage.

What from the point of view of doctors is a “low-dose drug”, for the body it is a huge dose of a synthetic hormone, which completely turns off the functioning of the entire reproductive system. Maybe, of course, not right away, but it will definitely turn it off. The action of all contraceptive drugs is based on this.

If the functioning of the reproductive system is disrupted, then all other organs will definitely react to this. It cannot be otherwise, because the entire endocrine system is an integral structure. Violations, once they begin, increase. I often see this - a woman, immediately after stopping OCs, seems to be feeling well, but then the symptoms of PCOS increase.

The body is under deep stress while taking OCs.

It will adapt to new conditions, reduce the complexity of its functions, become simpler, and will turn off entire “unnecessary” systems and organs.

All this is needed to survive. Survive at any cost. All resources will be directed towards this – just to survive, that’s all. There is no talk about anything more, about happiness, about creativity, about having children. The quality of life will sharply decline, health resources will be quickly spent. For some it is faster, for others it is slower, but it is always inevitable.

Reduced tissue sensitivity to insulin.

Returning to cellular receptors. Do you think they will be able to maintain the same sensitivity and sensitivity when foreign, synthetic hormones are constantly introduced into the body in large doses? Of course not.

Ordinary, normal changes in the concentration of one’s own hormones become secondary. They will no longer affect the functioning of the endocrine glands. All self-regulation of the endocrine system is disrupted.

In order for the body to survive, the cells of all organs and tissues become less sensitive to hormones. To all hormones, in particular to insulin.

Why is tissue sensitivity to insulin necessary?

It is very important for organs and tissues to be insulin sensitive. The supply of glucose and other nutrients depends on this. Without insulin and glucose, hunger sets in.

This is especially important for brain tissue, they are the main consumers of glucose. Without it, our head will not work normally, this is an absolute fact.

It is known, for example, that with a sharp decrease in glucose levels (in patients with diabetes), the cerebral cortex can die in a few minutes. This is called a hypoglycemic state; all patients with diabetes are afraid of this state and constantly carry a piece of sugar or candy with them.

To prevent brain death, the pancreas will try its best to produce insulin around the clock and on an industrial scale. This is a possible onset of type 2 diabetes. This situation is dangerous in itself, even if you do not consider other consequences of taking OCs, because diabetes is a serious and complex disease.

The effect of insulin on the ovaries.

Insulin, in addition to its main functions, has many other effects. We won't look at them today. We are only interested in what concerns the functioning of the ovaries.

In the ovaries, androgens are synthesized, from which estrogens are then formed - and this process is stimulated by insulin. If there is a lot of it, then all ovarian hormones will be actively synthesized in the ovaries.

Estrogens are the end product of the entire chemical chain (steroidogenesis). Intermediate products are progesterone and androgens of various types. They are the ones that cause a lot of unpleasant symptoms in PCOS.

When there is a lot of insulin, more androgens are produced in the ovaries.

The amount of androgens synthesized in the ovaries increases sharply if insulin synthesis increases. In this case, the woman begins to have skin problems, hair loss, and hirsutism. That is, all manifestations of hyperandrogenism.

The adrenal hormone testosterone (T), the main “male” hormone. In the female body, 99% of it is inactive and is associated with special proteins.

Testosterone is converted to its active form, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), by insulin and the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. Normally, DHT should be no more than 1%. It is this substance that has “peripheral effects” - that is, it acts on a woman’s skin and hair and accumulates in the hair follicles. As insulin levels increase, the percentage of DHT increases. And then the woman has a lot of problems with her skin, hair, cycle, etc.

Thus, high levels of insulin in the blood increase the level of androgens in a woman’s blood. Moreover, active androgens. Androgens are synthesized both in the ovaries and adrenal glands, in the liver, kidneys, and adipose tissue. But the most important link in the development of PCOS is the ovaries.

Taking OCs can lead to the development of PCOS

So, to summarize, we can say the following: when you took OK, the sensitivity of cells to insulin and other hormones decreased. This led to an increase in insulin synthesis by the pancreas.

Excess insulin leads to disruption of the synthesis of ovarian hormones and a great variety of hyperandrogenic conditions, ranging from a slight increase in skin oiliness, to amenorrhea and infertility, alopecia and the growth of coarse hair throughout the body. Of course, the risk of developing diabetes and many other diseases increases.

I get a lot of letters asking for advice. After stopping hormonal contraceptives, women find themselves in a vicious circle of problems.

For example, here is a typical story:

Hello, Elena! I am 37 years old and was on Diana-35 for 1.5 years. After the diagnosis of cystic mastopathy, I stopped (sharply) taking the pills. and here (like many on your site) problems began: I haven’t had my period for the 3rd week... hair is coming out with terrible force, oily and pimply skin (I haven’t suffered from this for a very long time), and there’s also something strange about the intestines, and I’m gaining weight.. I’m scared for the future... Help me find the right treatment...

This story is absolutely typical. A woman after OC has cycle disorders, hyperandrogenism, infertility and all other symptoms of PCOS.

Excess androgens in PCOS.

To better understand what to do when there are symptoms of hyperandrogenism, you need to understand what androgens are, where they are formed, what affects them, etc.

What androgens are in a woman’s body?

There are several of them, and they are all synthesized from cholesterol.

• Testosterone (T). Main androgen. Almost all testosterone is in a bound state. In an unbound, active state there should be no more than 1% testosterone.
• Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S, DHEA-S),
• Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA, DHEA),
• Androstenedione (A), (as well as androstenediol glucuronyl, which is similar in structure to androstenedione). Both of these hormones are derivatives of DHEA, and precursors to testosterone.
  DHEA-S, DHEA, and A are testosterone precursors and exhibit androgenic activity.
• Dihydrotestosterone (DHT, DHT). DTH is a product of testosterone metabolism, produced in body tissues. Has very high androgenic activity.

In the female body, androgens are primarily produced in the adrenal glands. Androgens are also synthesized in the ovaries; they are precursors of estrogens.

The most active testosterone precursor, DHEA-S, is not produced in the ovaries. Therefore, based on its level in the blood, we can conclude - where does a woman have hyperandrogenism - does it have ovarian causes, or adrenal ones? In PCOS, the synthesis of ovarian hormones is impaired.

DHEA is produced by the adrenal glands and ovaries, and is also formed from DHEA-S in adipose tissue, bones, and kidneys.

Androstenedione (A) is produced by both the adrenal glands and the ovaries.

Testosterone is synthesized by the adrenal glands and ovaries, and is also formed in tissues from testosterone precursors.

Most testosterone is bound to a protein (sex-hormone-binding globulin, SHBG).

This protein is produced in the liver, and that is why liver problems reduce its amount - which means testosterone binding decreases. And in its unbound form it exhibits high androgenic activity.

Also, there is another protein, albumin, which also binds free testosterone. In total, approximately 99% of testosterone is bound.

In women with hirsutism, free testosterone levels can reach 3%. This is a very active form of testosterone.

As I already said, DTH (DHT) is formed from testosterone under the influence of insulin and the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. And it is even more active than free testosterone! And it is because of DHT (DHT) that a woman has a lot of cosmetic problems, acne, hair loss, excess body hair, etc.

Therefore, a vicious circle results - the liver does not bind testosterone, an even more powerful androgen is formed from it, which has a special tendency towards peripheral tissues, accumulates there, and acts for a long time.

DHT acts primarily on the skin, hair follicles and genitals.

So we get cycle disorders, hair loss, acne, increased hair growth. In essence, we get acquired polycystic ovary syndrome. Of course, it is not PCOS, which is inherited, but, in fact, it is the same disease.

In the next article, I will talk about the necessary examinations and treatment strategies for PCOS.
I wish you happiness! :)

Sincerely, Elena Volzhenina.

If you create a book of absurd medical statements that have passed into the category of rumors, myths, prejudices, but are then perceived by people as the truth, you will get a publication in several volumes. And if “all doctors say so” (meaning all post-Soviet doctors), then a completely different opinion of a knowledgeable and thinking doctor will cause distrust and surprise rather than save a person from false beliefs. It is difficult to explain something progressive in the darkness of the obscurantism of illiteracy.

One of the common myths was the statement, invented by doctors, that while taking hormonal contraceptives, the ovaries “rest”. Simply saying that this is not true, that the ovaries do not “rest” at all, just as the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and other organs do not rest, is usually not enough. “Give links to articles and research results that say that the ovaries do not rest, because all our doctors say that they do! All doctors can’t lie!” - this is an ultimatum demand from some women. But the expression “ovarian rest” itself is not scientific, not medical, and is not mentioned in the professional literature. And then I would like to ask a counter-question: give a scientific, medical definition of the concept of “resting ovaries.” So, how do you imagine it? And then the counter-offensive: cite at least one article, written not at the request of contraceptive manufacturers, but based on serious clinical studies, where such an unscientific term as “ovarian rest” is at least briefly mentioned. There are no such articles and never have been.

If you have logic, then rest means not doing the main work, and not forcibly, right? For organs and organ systems, the concept of “doing work” means functioning. In other words, organs perform a specific function. Violation of this function can lead to disruption of the functioning of the entire organism, and we often call such deviations in functioning specific diseases.

From the moment organs are laid down and their gradual development and maturation, they perform a specific function. Without this, the life of a fetus, then a child and an adult, is impossible. Of course, you can live without some organs, and if they are paired, then the absence of one may not have too negative an impact on a person’s health. People live with one kidney, and with one lung, and without a spleen, and with part of a liver. However, life without a number of organs is impossible.

Now let's talk. What is their function? The ovaries are the reproductive organs or gonads. Without them, there can be no reproduction of offspring, therefore one of the functions of the ovaries is the maturation of female reproductive cells - eggs. In parallel with the maturation of germ cells, the process of producing hormones occurs - primarily progesterone, which is used to produce male sex hormones (androgens), and from them - female sex hormones (estrogens). The maximum production of sex hormones is observed in the growing vesicles (follicles) during the maturation of germ cells. Therefore, the follicular apparatus of the ovaries is the most important part of these organs.

However, it must be remembered that they are produced not only by the follicle in which a full-fledged egg matures, that is, by the dominant one. These hormones are also produced in other types of follicles that do not grow, grow slowly and are very small in size. This means that in a woman’s body (the vast majority of women) there is always a certain amount of hormones, which are sufficient for the normal function of the reproductive system and the entire female body, from the newborn period to the menopause. It does not happen that hormone levels are at zero. If only because there are also adrenal glands and a number of other cells and tissues that produce sex hormones. Even if one ovary or part of the ovaries is removed, a lack of hormones will not be observed in all cases, but there will never be compensation for lost follicles.

Who or what controls ovarian function? The relationship between the ovaries and those parts of the brain that produce certain substances with hormonal properties that stimulate or suppress ovarian function will improve. First of all, this is the hypothalamic-pituitary system. The process of improving the mechanism for regulating ovarian function is completed by the age of 21-22, and for some women even later. Without delving into the depths of this relationship, it is important to understand that the rising and circulating levels of ovarian hormones during follicle maturation include the production of certain substances in the brain, also hormones, that will inhibit follicular growth. And, conversely, a decrease in hormone levels will stimulate the production of those hormones of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland that will stimulate the maturation of eggs. There are also a number of relationships between the ovaries and other organs, and the ovaries themselves use some of their hormones to support their own function.

Now let's talk about what the contraceptive effect of hormonal drugs is based on. All, without exception, contain synthetic progesterone (progestin), because their action is based on progesterone action. If you ask doctors what “progesterone action” or “progesterone property” is, most will have no answer or the answer will be false. Progesterone action is determined by the amount of progesterone (or progestin) that is sufficient to suppress the maturation of reproductive eggs, that is, suppression of ovulation. Of course, progesterone and progestins may additionally have other properties that may also enhance the contraceptive effect.

When a woman starts taking hormonal contraceptives, an artificial hormonal background is immediately created, and at the same time a cycle. In this case, the growth and maturation of follicles stops, although not always completely (depending on the dose and regularity of taking the drug), there is no ovulation, and the natural menstrual cycle stops. If hormonal contraceptives are taken continuously (without a 7-day break or dummy pills), there will be no menstruation, although breakthrough bleeding may sometimes occur. It must be remembered that women who take hormonal contraceptives not only do not have their own natural menstruation, but also natural menstruation. After taking 21 hormonal tablets and taking a break, withdrawal bleeding occurs. This regimen of taking hormonal drugs was created for the convenience of women.

An artificially created cycle with a new level of hormones taken suppresses the maturation of follicles and the ovaries’ production of their own hormones. The ovaries do not rest - their function is suppressed, and forcibly. After all, they did not ask the woman to take hormones.

Now imagine, for comparison, that one day someone appeared in the family and locked the woman-wife-mother in a dark closet without any warning. And this someone, obviously another woman, began to do all the work of the housewife, including the role of wife and mother. The housewife herself sits in the dark and does not understand what is happening in her house. It's clear that it doesn't work. But can such a withdrawal from work be called rest? The same thing happens to the ovaries when their function is artificially suppressed.

How will the ovaries react after this suppression is removed? How will a woman react when she is released from a dark closet to freedom? Women are different, so the reaction to what happened will be different: some will return to normal work quickly, others will need several months to come to their senses, and others will be in such shock that they will not be able to begin their routine worries and responsibilities for a very long time. The same can be said about the ovaries - each woman’s reaction is individual.

Thus, when taking hormonal contraceptives, the ovaries do not rest. It is also necessary to get rid of other myths on this topic: taking hormones, including contraceptives, does not rejuvenate the ovaries, does not preserve the ovarian reserve, generally does not save against old age and menopause, does not improve the quality of reproductive cells, and even more so does not lead to conception child. Therefore, it is absurd to take hormonal drugs supposedly to “even out” the menstrual cycle and at the same time plan pregnancy. This is not only a waste of money, but also of time (and for women over 35, such a waste of time can result in a loss of chances of getting pregnant). This is also a life of deception, because they hope for one thing, but have no idea that they are getting something else.

So that they get rid of the false beliefs with which their thinking is stuffed. And I want to believe that my explanation of how the female body works and functions will help at least some of them understand the absurdity of a number of myths, unfortunately spread by doctors.