Anti-Fertility Drugs

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These are the chemical substances used to control the pregnancy. These are also called oral contraceptives. The basic aim of antifertility drugs is to prevent conception or fertilization.

Oral contraceptives belong to the class of natural products known as steroids.These control the female menstrual cycle and ovulation. The birth control pills are essentially a mixture of esterogen and progesterone derivatives which are more potent than the natural hormones.These common pills are used for a combination of progesterone, norethindrone and estrogen ethynylestradiol.

Antifertility drugs are actually synthetic hormones. When progesterone pills are taken, the mucus in the cervix gets thickened. This makes it very difficult for sperm to enter the uterus and fertilize the egg and hence chances of pregnancy are reduced. Progesterone is a hormone which suppresses ovulation in women. The synthetic progesterone derivatives are more potent as compared to natural progesterone. Norethindrone is an example of synthetic progesterone which is one of the most commonly used antifertility drugs. Ethynylestradiol is a combination of derivatives of estrogen and progesterone.

Benefits of antifertility drugs

Antifertility drugs generally do not have many side effects, weight gain is the only issue known to be reported. These drugs are very useful if taken in proper dose, following are its significant benefits:

1. They cause no interference in sexual activities and risk of pregnancy is reduced.

2. They might cause reduction in menstrual bleeding.

3. They can be taken immediately after childbirth.

Fertility drugs side affect

The followings are most common side effects by taking fertility drugs :

1. Headache,

2. Breast tenderness,

3. Bloating,

4. Upset stomach,

5. Conceiving a multiple pregnancy and

6. Developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).

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