"Does the pill relieve PMS symptoms?"
“What causes the pill to stop working?”
“Where should I buy the pill? Will it be covered by insurance?”
Do you have questions like these?
In this article, I will explain in detail how the pill affects PMS symptoms and how to take the pill. As you read on, you'll learn:
- Effects of the Pill on PMS
- Advantages and disadvantages of taking the pill
- Reasons why the pill doesn't work
If you are interested in the effectiveness of the pill for PMS symptoms, please read it.
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About PMS and the Pill
PMS is an abbreviation for Premenstrual Syndrome, and the Japanese name is "premenstrual syndrome". It refers to symptoms such as headaches, irritation, and abdominal distension that occur about a week before menstruation. The pill improves PMS symptoms by balancing female hormones .
Types of pills prescribed for PMS
The pill contains two types of female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, and depending on the amount of hormones, there are "medium dose pill", "low dose pill" and "ultra low dose pill" . Low-dose and ultra-low-dose pills are often used these days because the lower the amount of hormones, the lower the risk of side effects.
Low-dose or ultra-low-dose pills are commonly prescribed for PMS relief. A doctor will prescribe a low-dose or ultra-low-dose pill according to how you take it and your individual constitution.
Effects of the Pill on PMS
It is said that one of the causes of PMS is "fluctuations in female hormones", so the pill that stabilizes female hormones is said to be effective in alleviating PMS symptoms.
The pill is also recommended for those who want to reduce the number of times they suffer from PMS and those who have a lot of menstrual bleeding. With the low-dose pill "Yazflex", menstruation can be reduced to once every three months.
How to take PMS pills
The pill is generally taken once a day. You can take the pill anytime in the morning, noon, or night, but make sure you decide when to take it and take it at the same time so you don't forget to take it.
There are two types of pills, one with 28 tablets and one with 21 tablets. The 28-tablet pill has 21 real pills containing hormones and the remaining 7 pills containing nothing (placebo). For the 21-tablet type, start the next sheet after taking 21 tablets and taking a rest for 7 days.
If you are using the pill for the first time, we recommend the 28-tablet pill. Since you take a real medicine and a placebo every day, it is easy to make it a routine and it is also effective in preventing forgetting to take it.
If you forget to take a dose, take the previous day's dose as soon as possible when you remember, and take the next day's dose at your usual time (2 tablets a day). You may continue to take the medicine as usual on the following day. In other cases, if you forget to take a dose, be sure to follow the instructions of your family medical facility.
Advantages and disadvantages of taking the PMS pill
For those who ask, "What are the benefits of taking the pill ?" Here are three drawbacks for each.
merit
The benefits of using the pill for PMS are:
- Relieves PMS symptoms
- decrease the amount of menstrual blood
- Insurance may apply
Relieves PMS symptoms
Taking the pill stabilizes the balance of female hormones and can be expected to alleviate PMS symptoms such as irritability, headaches, and insomnia.
decrease the amount of menstrual blood
Taking the low-dose pill changes your hormonal balance, resulting in less menstrual bleeding.
Normally, when ovulation occurs, the secretion of the female hormone progesterone increases and the lining of the uterus thickens. As a result, the lining of the uterus does not thicken and the amount of menstrual flow decreases.
Insurance may apply
When the pill is prescribed for the purpose of treating PMS, it may be covered by insurance. If you are covered by insurance, you can easily treat PMS with a 30% self-pay. However, if you receive a prescription covered by insurance, you will be charged additional fees such as examination fee and initial examination fee, so be careful.
Demerit
Disadvantages of using the pill for PMS are as follows.
- Daily use is troublesome
- side effects may occur
- at risk of thrombosis
Daily use is troublesome
Low-dose pills are troublesome because you need to keep taking "one tablet every day" at the "same time". If you forget to take the pill, the effect of the pill may be reduced depending on the number of days.
Side effects such as nausea and headache may occur.
You may experience side effects such as nausea and headache within a month or two of taking the pill . However, the severity of the symptoms varies from person to person, and some people experience severe side effects while others do not.
However, these mild symptoms usually subside within 1-2 months from the start of taking the drug. If symptoms do not improve after this period, consult your doctor.
risk of thrombosis
One serious side effect of concern with taking the low-dose pill is thrombosis. However, the probability of developing thrombosis is quite low, about 3 to 9 out of 10,000 people per year if there are no chronic diseases and no health problems1). It is also important to have regular check-ups and blood tests so as not to overlook the initial symptoms of these side effects and changes in your physical condition.
Frequently asked questions about the pill
Below are three frequently asked questions about the pill.
- how to buy pills
- What is the price of the pill? Does insurance apply?
- Does the pill have side effects?
Let's take a closer look at each question.
how to buy pills
In order to purchase the pill, there are two ways to buy it, such as receiving a medical examination at a hospital and receiving online medical treatment. Please note that it is not currently available as an over-the-counter drug at drugstores .
For those who are busy with work and cannot easily go to the hospital, online medical treatment that can be completed on a smartphone is convenient. The reality is that you don't even know if the pills on mail-order sites that don't require a doctor's appointment or prescription are of good quality or even genuine. Be sure to take the pill that suits your body after receiving a medical examination.
What is the price of the pill? Does insurance apply?
The market price of low-dose pills used to improve PMS symptoms is about 2,500 to 3,000 yen for one month (one sheet) . In addition to the price of the medicine, it is common to have to pay the initial consultation fee and consultation fee. The consultation fee is about 1,000 to 2,000 yen, and depending on the clinic, an examination fee may be charged.
If your goal is to treat PMS, you may be able to use insurance-covered pills at the discretion of your doctor. Pills covered by insurance include "Lunabell® Combination Tablets LD", "Lunabell® Combination Tablets ULD", and "Yaz® Combination Tablets".
Does the pill have side effects?
When you start taking the low-dose pill, you may experience mild side effects such as headaches and nausea. In addition, chest tightness and pain, irregular bleeding, and lower abdominal pain may occur.
However, most of these side effects will subside within 1-2 months of continued use. You may be given additional prescriptions for nausea, etc., so be sure to talk about yourself when you visit the hospital.
A side effect to watch out for when taking the pill for a long time is thrombosis. Thrombosis is a disease in which blood vessels become blocked and cause organ damage. Be sure to have regular check-ups and blood tests while on the pill to ensure its safe use.
Why the pill doesn't work for PMS (no longer works)
"I was taking the pill, but it stopped working halfway through."
"The PMS was improving with the pill, but the symptoms are getting worse."
"Symptoms don't change even after taking the pill"
Have you ever experienced something like this?
If PMS symptoms do not improve even after taking the pill, there is a possibility that causes other than "female hormone imbalance" are causing physical and mental disorders. PMS is caused by an imbalance of female hormones, but it is said that psychological factors such as stress are also involved.
If you continue to feel irritable or depressed regardless of your menstrual cycle even after taking the pill, we recommend that you consult a doctor once.
Also read the following articles
How to regulate female hormones?
Incorporating Chinese herbal medicine may lead to alleviation of various symptoms
Taking herbal medicines is also effective for painful PMS symptoms. Kampo medicine comprehensively reviews various things such as the person's constitution and lifestyle, and gradually improves symptoms from the inside of the body. There are various herbal medicines, but the herbal medicines that are effective for the symptoms of PMS are as follows.
- Kamishoyosan: Dizziness, headache, anxiety, irritability, sweating, etc. caused by stress
- Toki Shakuyakusan: Dizziness, stiff shoulders, lower back pain, cold legs, heavy head, etc.
There are individual differences in the symptoms of PMS, and it is necessary to take Chinese herbal medicine that matches the symptoms . Kampo medicine gradually improves the symptoms, so it is easy to incorporate it into your life, so if you want to alleviate the symptoms little by little, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
▼ You can consult Kampo on LINE
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summary
Every month, it is very painful to suffer from mental and physical disorders before menstruation.
If you can relieve PMS symptoms by taking the pill, you can spend your daily life easier.
This time, I explained the following contents.
- The pill improves PMS by stabilizing female hormones
- One pill should be taken daily at the same time
- If the pill doesn't work, factors such as stress may be causing your symptoms.
Incorporating the Pill into your daily routine can help ease the pain of PMS symptoms.
[I can understand you in just 3 minutes]
Click here for a free medical interview supervised by a doctor that can be done on LINE
References
1) March 2015 Low-Dose Oral Contraceptives, Low-Dose Estrogen/Progestogen Combination Drugs Guideline (Draft) CQ40 What is the explanation of VTE risk? 73 https://www.jsog.or.jp/news/pdf/CQ30-31.pdf
