The tablet can have many disagreeable unintended effects. Cause for an increasing number of girls to decide on one other contraceptive. However that is probably not obligatory, as researchers have now proven that the tablet additionally works with 92 % much less estrogen.
The unintended effects of the tablet should not essentially severe, however they aren’t negligible both. For instance, the danger of breast most cancers, coronary heart assaults and strokes will increase barely and the danger of thrombosis is even 4 occasions larger in the event you take the tablet. These probabilities enhance particularly in girls over 40. However there are additionally lighter complaints, comparable to nausea, complications and temper swings, which youthful girls undergo from. It’s not for nothing that using the contraceptive tablet is declining. In 2014, greater than 38 % of ladies nonetheless used the tablet, in 2020 this was solely 32 %, based on figures from Statistics Netherlands.
A lot much less hormones
The quantity of hormones within the tablet has decreased significantly in latest a long time, however that may be improved, researchers conclude based mostly on a mathematical mannequin. They state that 92 % much less estrogen must be within the tablet. If solely progesterone is used, the dosage might be lowered by 43 %. For those who mix each hormones (the so-called mixed tablet), the dose might be lowered even additional. With these minimal doses of hormones, pregnancies would nonetheless be prevented. The large benefit is that you just now not must take a tablet every single day, however solely at one time throughout your menstrual cycle.
mathematical mannequin
Researchers Brenda Lyn Gavina and Aurelio de los Reyes, biologists on the College of the Philippines Diliman, used an current mathematical mannequin of the menstrual cycle. They added actual knowledge from 23 girls between the ages of 20 and 34. The mannequin was capable of establish the advanced interaction of hormone ranges within the blood, which come from three totally different sources: the pituitary gland, the ovaries and the tablet. They then calculated the minimal quantity of estrogen or progesterone wanted to cease ovulation.
The outcome was outstanding: solely 8 % of the standard dose of estrogen stopped ovulation eleven days after the beginning of the menstrual cycle, so simply earlier than the egg is launched. The dose could possibly be delivered with a shot or an implant, the researchers speculate. This works rather more effectively than a each day tablet that constantly releases hormones into the physique.
A significant achievement: “We have now not solely lowered the dose enormously, but additionally decided the second at which the contraceptive ought to be administered,” explains De los Reyes.
Fewer unintended effects
Such a low dose of estrogen will undoubtedly eradicate lots of the unintended effects. Nonetheless, there’s little likelihood {that a} tablet with a lot much less hormones will quickly be available on the market, thinks gynecologist Alison Edelman of the Oregon Collegeresponding to the inquiry. She mentions a potential disadvantage: the mannequin assumes that the tablet’s estrogen stays at a relentless stage and doesn’t take into consideration how the physique absorbs the hormone. This could fluctuate and thus have an effect on how effectively the medication works.
Nevertheless, the Philippine researchers assume in any other case. They’re satisfied that their mannequin could make an vital contribution to analysis right into a tablet with fewer hormones. “These outcomes present physicians with perception into the optimum dosage and timing of administration to suppress ovulation,” it says. And a variety of girls can be completely happy about that.
