Oral contraceptives and their healing rebound effect. OK for conceiving a child, or What is the withdrawal effect? Rebound effect from a medical point of view

Any planning woman wants to get pregnant as soon as possible, ideally on the first try, that is, in the next cycle. The majority mentally sets certain dates for the desired conception, and if pregnancy does not occur during this period, unpleasant thoughts about possible problems and even infertility creep in. In search of answers to your questions, you can turn to friends who have gone through something similar, to Internet forums, doctors and specialized literature. Often from various sources there is information about the mysterious and healing rebound effect that drugs from the group of hormonal oral contraceptives have.

Does the rebound effect promote conception?:

The rebound effect is essentially a withdrawal effect, that is, the reaction of the female body to the abrupt withdrawal of the drug. While a woman is taking the medicine, her hormonal background is under the control of the medicine, the function of the ovaries and the hypothalamic-pituitary system is turned off. After the cessation of the entry into the body of the medicinal substance, ovulation occurs and, as a result, pregnancy.
Counting on the subsequent rebound effect, doctors prescribe the drugs "Yarina", "Janine", "Jess", "Marvelon" and others. As soon as the drug is discontinued, in most women, the work of the pituitary and hypothalamus resumes, under the influence of a natural burst of hormones, the ovaries are activated. There is a natural stimulation of ovulation. Thus, the rebound effect will be useful primarily for those women who suffer from endocrine infertility.
Couples need several months or even a year to conceive a child. Therefore, the appointment of oral contraceptives with the expectation of a rebound effect is justified only when the period of active planning exceeds a year.
Before treating infertility with this method, you need to be sure of your husband's fertility. Therefore, the delivery of a spermogram is one of the mandatory examinations that are included in the set of tests for infertility. Well, in the meantime, a forced break has formed in the planning business, use this time to the maximum - go through fluorography, do physiotherapy, treat existing diseases, including infections.
The doctor should warn that oral contraceptives have the exact opposite effect on some women. Instead of activating the reproductive system, you can get its inhibition for several months. This is rare, but it does happen.

How to choose a drug to get a rebound effect?:

To achieve a rebound effect, doctors usually prescribe hormonal oral contraceptives of the second and third generation. Their reception continues for 3 months. It is also possible to prescribe third-generation drugs in combination with steroids. This course of treatment lasts 5-6 months. Do not take Diane-35 if you expect a withdrawal effect.
To achieve activation of the female reproductive system after discontinuation of the drug, analogues of the luteinizing releasing hormone can be used. The difficulties of such tactics are due to the practical inaccessibility of drugs in this group - their small assortment and high price.
Which of the combined oral contraceptives (COCs) to choose depends on a number of factors - body weight, age of the patient, estrogen level, the presence of benign formations in the uterus and / or mammary glands, indications of diabetes mellitus, bleeding disorders and other problems.
Gestagen contraceptives are suitable for those women who are overweight, have fibroids or fibroadenomas, as well as elevated estrogen levels. With low body weight or too painful periods, it is better to use combined preparations.
The doctor must be responsible in choosing an oral contraceptive for the treatment of infertility. If your gynecologist advises “to drink any hormonal contraceptive”, do not count on the positive effect of treatment from such a “specialist. It is also dangerous to prescribe COCs to yourself in order to achieve a rebound effect. Due to the wrong choice of drug, an already disturbed hormonal background will aggravate the condition.

Who should not take COCs to achieve a rebound effect?:

In some cases, taking oral contraceptives to treat infertility is not indicated:
- the period of active pregnancy planning is less than 1 year;
- pathological deviations in the partner's spermogram;
- violations of the blood-clotting system: thrombosis, thrombophilia, and so on;
- severe pathology of the heart and blood vessels;
- arterial hypertension (higher than 160/100 mm Hg);
- hepatitis, cirrhosis and other severe liver diseases;
- a long (over 20 years) history of diabetes mellitus, the presence of diabetic angiopathy;
- smoking more than 15 cigarettes per day, despite the fact that the woman's age is more than 35 years;
- the presence of pregnancy (before starting COCs, pregnancy should be excluded again).

The experience of a woman about unsuccessful attempts at conception is quite understandable. If for some time everything does not go according to plan, the search for causes and answers begins. Rereading the numerous information on how to influence conception, you will surely come across the concept of " rebound effect". What is this beast and how effective is it?

What is this?

The rebound effect is called the undo effect. Its essence lies in the use of medications that inhibit the work of the hypothalamic-pituitary system and, accordingly, a decrease in hormone production. After their cancellation, there is a natural release of hormones and thus the onset of pregnancy is stimulated (in approximately 96% of cases). Most often, for this method of stimulation, doctors prescribe hormonal drugs, such as Yarina, Zhanin, etc. but like any method, there are some features that should be discussed with the doctor.

When resorting to the rebound effect

Since the method is associated with the use of hormones and is, in a sense, an enhanced measure, a couple should plan pregnancy for at least a year by the time it is used. And constantly, without interruption for treatment and protection. The partner must and you must. By the time you need to stop using protection, both of you should have completed the necessary treatment. In addition, the doctor must necessarily warn about the possible absence of a rebound effect and inhibition of reproductive function for some time.

For treatment, hormonal contraceptives of the second or third generation are prescribed. The choice of a particular remedy depends on such individual factors as age, weight, sensitivity to drug components, estrogen levels, as well as the presence or absence of extragenital pathologies and diseases. Only a doctor can choose the necessary medicines, you don’t need to try to heal yourself, you can earn yourself even more problems with hormonal disorders.

Contraindications to treatment with the help of the rebound effect

• bad spermogram,
• pregnancy planning less than a year,
• heart disease, thrombosis,
• hypertension,
• diabetes,
• cirrhosis, hepatitis,
• smoking in high doses and age over 35 years,
• pregnancy.

The use of the rebound effect in the treatment of infertility is quite possible, but you should not rely on the advice of those who have already undergone treatment or on your own intuition. Jokes are bad with hormones, therefore such treatment should be carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor.

Every year, this type of protection against unwanted pregnancy, such as taking oral contraceptives, is becoming more and more popular among women of reproductive age. But not many of them know about the existence of the so-called rebound effect. Its essence lies in the fact that after a short reception and cancellation of OK, the reproductive system of a woman can recover and work "with renewed vigor", increasing several times the possibility of natural conception.

Women who have not been able to get pregnant for a long time and have already tried many methods that increase the chances of conception, but have not received a result, begin to think about whether to resort to a method that causes a rebound effect. But is it really as effective and safe as they say?

Rebound effect from a medical point of view

The rebound effect or withdrawal effect is that from the start of taking oral contraceptives, the natural function of the ovaries to prepare the egg for fertilization is inhibited. This is due to the inhibition of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, which, with the help of production, controls the work of the ovaries. At the time of taking OK, the work of the ovaries is suspended, and the sensitivity of receptors to hormones, meanwhile, increases. When you stop taking the pills, the work of the system for the production of female sex hormones is restored, they are thrown out in larger quantities, which significantly increases the likelihood of full maturation and release of a viable egg from the ovary, ready for fertilization. This state can be compared to natural induction. This method is especially effective for women diagnosed with "", when the production of their own hormones is not enough to maintain the normal functioning of the reproductive system.

Drugs with which you can achieve a rebound effect

To obtain a rebound effect, a gynecologist may prescribe one of the following combined oral contraceptives:, or. Other drugs can be used, their choice depends on the patient's condition, the results of her tests. All drugs are not the same, although they perform the main function of preventing unwanted pregnancy, they have slightly different compositions and, therefore, affect the body in different ways. Therefore, only a doctor who has performed a gynecological examination and interviewed a woman can make the right choice in favor of one drug, and not another.

There are certain criteria on the basis of which a choice is made in favor of a particular drug:

• woman's age;
• body weight of a woman;
• the body's response to drugs and sensitivity to them;
• the level of estrogen saturation;
• the patient has such diseases as diabetes mellitus, fibroadenomas in the mammary glands, disorders in the process of blood clotting, and some other diseases.

Combined oral contraceptives are suitable for women who are underweight or have dysmenorrhea - the painful first days of menstruation. If the patient is overweight, has elevated estrogen levels, has uterine fibroids or fibroadenoma, then preparations containing progestogens are more suitable for her. Only a gynecologist can make the right choice to achieve a rebound effect, and taking any oral contraceptive without a doctor's prescription can threaten hormonal failure, disruption of many body systems, and sudden weight gain.

Do you need a rebound effect?

A woman should think about what a rebound effect can help to get pregnant only after a period of 12 months after the start of planning a child. Planning refers to regular sex life without contraception. The couple should have sex every month on the expected days of ovulation. As a rule, a twelve-month period is enough for healthy couples, but if after a year of active “planning” it was not possible to conceive, you can think about using alternative methods and, at least, going to a specialist.

Before experiencing the rebound effect, a woman should familiarize herself with the main contraindications that exist for treatment with this method:

1. The woman is already pregnant.
2. The couple is trying to conceive a child less than 12 months old.
3. men have poor performance.
4. A woman over 35 smokes more than 15 cigarettes a day.
5. Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
6. Liver diseases such as cirrhosis, acute viral hepatitis.
7. Diabetes mellitus that lasts more than 20 years, or diabetes mellitus with angiopathy.
8. Congenital thrombophilia, risk of thrombosis or deep vein thrombosis.
9. Hypertension with pressure over 160/100 mm Hg. Art.

Even if a woman has no contraindications, and she is ready to try taking contraceptives in order to achieve a rebound effect, there is no guarantee that it will work. In many cases where pregnancy has not been successful for more than a year, a more effective course of action would be for both spouses to be screened for reproductive health problems. Timely treatment, precisely aimed at eliminating a specific problem, will be much more productive than other less common methods.

Sometimes a prolonged absence of a desired pregnancy can force a woman and her doctor to turn to the most non-standard solutions to the problem. One of them is the use of the rebound effect, a condition that occurs immediately after the withdrawal of oral contraceptives (OC). It is characterized by increased work of the ovaries, which were at rest while taking such drugs. But is the cancellation of OK a guarantee that pregnancy will occur? And are there any nuances that should be taken into account? Let's talk about it right now.

How to "catch" the moment?

Firstly, not all oral contraceptives are able to cause a violent response in the work of the ovaries. This can only happen after taking combined contraceptives, such as:

• Jess;
• Yarina;
• Jeanine;
• Marvelon;
• Triquilar;
• Tri-Regol;
• Femoden.

Secondly, in order for the withdrawal effect to take place, you need to take OK for at least three months, and in some cases a six-month course is necessary. In addition, there is a category of women whose ovaries continue to work even while taking oral contraceptives, which means that in this case, the drug can be discontinued without any consequences at all.

What happens to the ovaries after the withdrawal of OK?

Tablets are designed to "turn off" the work of the ovaries and thus stop unwanted ovulation. They can also be prescribed in order to bring the hormonal background of a woman in order. After the cancellation of OK, the ovaries begin to function intensively, the chances that ovulation will occur are significantly increased. Moreover, not one, but several dominant follicles can mature at once.

Accordingly, the “boosting” effect is fraught with the conception of multiple pregnancies, since the abolition of combined oral contraceptives can stimulate “superovulation”. It is impossible to predict exactly how many eggs will mature. It remains only to recall that the multiple pregnancies that entered the Guinness Book of Records occurred precisely against the background of artificially provoked hormonal changes in the woman's body.

Opinion of medical specialists

Doctors have different attitudes to the treatment of infertility in this way. As a rule, it is not among the first methods that a doctor can apply for successful conception, and there are several reasons for this:

• Firstly, not all doctors are positive about the use of oral contraceptives, as such. Studies show that in 1/3 of the cases of taking OK, the hormonal background of a woman is so disturbed that it takes several years to restore it.
• Secondly, doctors are afraid to provoke "superovulation" and get pregnant with three or more embryos. In the IVF protocol, by the way, “superovulation” is also stimulated, but there the mature eggs are completely under the control of doctors and only 1-2, in rare cases, 3 fetal eggs from the total number obtained in vitro will be planted in the woman’s uterus. During the rebound effect, it is impossible to control the number of nuclei, since the whole process takes place outside the laboratory conditions.
• Thirdly, the effect of canceling OK is not considered to be particularly effective. Even if he contributed to the beginning of the maturation of the dominant follicle, this does not at all guarantee that the capsule will burst and the egg will be able to come out, or that the follicle, having reached a large size, will not begin to regress.

Therefore, most medical professionals initially prefer to use more traditional approaches to treating infertility. And, of course, you should not start “treatment” with oral contraceptives without consulting a doctor, because uncontrolled use of drugs can lead to hormonal failure instead of a long-awaited conception against the background of their cancellation.

Reviews

Anna: Don't repeat my mistakes! I read two years ago on the Internet about the miracle effect and prescribed contraceptives for myself, then I drank them, then I didn’t. The result - no conception, all the hormones knocked down, the second year I can not restore.

Irina: My daughter turned out in the second month after the cancellation of OK. Only in my case it was not a cure, I just drank them as a protection. Then the doctor advised me to take a break for a couple of months, and now, the result of the “respite” has already gone to the kindergarten.

Galina: I got both pregnancies on the next cycle after I stopped taking OK. Both times they tried to bring my hormones back to normal with these pills, since ovulation did not occur.

Alena: I also took contraceptives, I hoped for conception after the “treatment”, but, alas ... Apparently, not my method.

Valeria: No point. Although I took six months. After the cancellation, even ovulation did not occur, let alone conception.

Maria: Six years ago I decided to get off the OK reception and start planning a child. The doctor warned that we must wait at least three months, and that is the risk of multiple pregnancy. My husband and I did not heed the warnings, hoping that this would not threaten us. We got pregnant in the second month. At 8 weeks I come for an ultrasound, and there are two fetal eggs in the uterus!

Natalia: Nothing happened to me after the cancellation. Ovulation improved after three months.

Olga: On my folliculometry after the cancellation, it was clear how several dominant follicles were maturing. It was in the first month, but my husband and I decided not to risk it - with my ICI, a multiple pregnancy would not be tolerated.

Nina: The doctor advised me to drink OK for three months, and then get pregnant on cancellation. Nothing happened, although the gynecologist said that the effect works in her other patients.

Elena: We didn't succeed. There was no ovulation, the follicular cyst just matured and that's it.

Any woman planning a pregnancy a little longer than the period that she mentally set for herself begins to worry very much. For help and advice, you can contact a doctor, on the forum - to women who measure basal temperature, you can ask your friends who have given birth. Listening to advice on pregnancy planning, you can learn for the first time about the magical and mysterious “rebound effect” and its role in conceiving a child. Let's see if this effect is really so magical and if it will help you open your own pregnancy calendar soon.

What is the rebound effect, how does it treat infertility?

The meaning of the rebound effect, or the effect of withdrawal, is the temporary drug "turning off" the ovaries by inhibiting the hypothalamic-pituitary system, followed by the abolition of drugs to obtain ovulation and pregnancy. In other words, first you are prescribed medications, most often these are combined oral contraceptives (COCs): Janine, Yarina, Jess, and others, when taking which the production of your own hormones is inhibited, and the sensitivity of receptors to hormones is enhanced. After stopping the pills in 95% of cases, the work of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovaries system resumes, natural hormones are released, and thus natural stimulation of ovulation is obtained. It is assumed that in this way the chances of pregnancy in the first cycles after discontinuation of drugs in women are increased.

What Your Doctor Should Warn You About

Before the appointment of such treatment, the couple should plan pregnancy for at least a year. On average, this is the period required for healthy couples who are sexually active without contraception to conceive a child. Taking oral contraceptives, you “take away” these three months from your planning. Twelve months before the start of treatment, you should not have in total, but in a row, without breaks for temporary protection and examinations, with regular sexual activity on the days of the expected ovulation.

During or even before the start of taking COCs, it is imperative to check the husband's fertility - to pass a spermogram. If necessary, treatment should be completed by the partner before contraceptives are discontinued. You can use the time of a forced break in planning a replenishment in the family for testing (not hormonal), treatment of infections, and fluorography.

The doctor should also warn you about the possible reverse effect of COC use - not getting an ovulatory cycle "on cancellation", but inhibition of the reproductive system for a couple of months.

The choice of drugs to obtain a rebound effect

To obtain a rebound effect, oral contraceptives of the second or third generation are prescribed for 3 months or third-generation drugs with small doses of steroids for 5-6 months. The drug is oral contraceptives, the wrong choice of drugs can disrupt the hormonal background, lead to changes in weight and body systems.

Contraindications for infertility treatment using the rebound effect

• Planning for pregnancy less than 12 months;
• Poor spermogram in the husband;
• Deep vein thrombosis, risk of thrombosis, congenital thrombophilia;
• Serious diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• Hypertension with upper pressure above 160 mm Hg. and lower above 100 mm Hg. Art.;
• Severe liver disease (acute viral hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver);
• Diabetes mellitus with angiopathy or duration longer than 20 years;
• Smoking more than 15 cigarettes a day over the age of 35;
• Pregnancy (OCs are prescribed only if the absence of pregnancy is confirmed)