Rebound effect when menstruation comes. Oral contraceptives and their healing rebound effect. Contraindications for the treatment of infertility using the rebound effect

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 are aware of the existence of the so-called rebound effect. Its essence lies in the fact that after a short intake and cancellation of OK, a woman's reproductive system 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 it is?

Medical rebound effect

The rebound 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 suppression 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 the 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 released in larger quantities, which significantly increases the likelihood of full maturation and the release of a viable egg from the ovary, ready for fertilization. This state can be compared with 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.

Preparations 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 also 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, have different effects on the body. Therefore, only a doctor who conducted 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 with underweight or dysmenorrhea, the painful first days of menstruation. If the patient suffers from overweight, increased estrogen levels, has uterine fibroids or fibroadenoma, drugs containing gestagens 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 disruption, disruption of many body systems, and a sharp 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 having a regular sex life without contraception. The couple should have sex every month on the expected ovulation days. As a rule, a twelve-month period is enough for healthy couples, but if after a year of active “planning” it has not been 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 a pressure of more than 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, when it has not been possible to become pregnant for more than a year, it is more effective for both spouses to get tested for reproductive health problems. Timely treatment that is precisely targeted at a specific problem will be much more productive than other less common methods.

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

What's this?

The rebound effect is called the undo effect. Its essence lies in the use of medicines that inhibit the work of the hypothalamic-pituitary system and, accordingly, a decrease in the production of hormones. After their abolition, a natural release of hormones occurs 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 "Yarin", "Janine", etc. but like any method, there are features that are worth discussing with your doctor.

When using rebound effect

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

For treatment, hormonal contraceptives of the second or third generation are prescribed. The choice of a particular agent depends on such individual factors as age, weight, sensitivity to drug components, estrogen level, and the presence or absence of extragenital pathologies and diseases. Only a doctor can find the necessary medications, there is no need to try to heal on his own, you can earn yourself even more problems with hormonal disorders.

Contraindications to rebound treatment

  • bad spermogram,
  • planning a pregnancy for less than a year,
  • heart disease, thrombosis,
  • hypertension
  • diabetes,
  • cirrhosis, hepatitis,
  • smoking in high doses and being over 35 years old,
  • 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. With hormones, jokes are bad, therefore, such treatment should be carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor.


Any planning woman wants to get pregnant as soon as possible, ideally on the first try, that is, in the next cycle. Most mentally establish certain dates for the desired conception, and if pregnancy has not occurred during this period, unpleasant thoughts creep in about possible problems and even infertility. In search of answers to your questions, you can turn to friends who have gone through something similar, to Internet forums, doctors and special 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 abrupt withdrawal of the drug. While a woman is taking the medicine, her hormonal levels are under the control of the medicine, the function of the ovaries and the hypothalamic-pituitary system is turned off. After the termination of the intake of the drug into the body, ovulation occurs and, as a result, pregnancy.
Counting on the subsequent rebound effect, doctors prescribe drugs Yarina, Janine, Jess, Marvelon and others. As soon as the drug is canceled, in most women, the work of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus resumes, under the influence of a natural outbreak of hormones, the ovaries are activated. Natural stimulation of ovulation occurs. 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 one 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 analyzes for infertility. Well, in the meantime, there is a forced break in the planning business, use this time to the maximum - go through fluorography, take physiotherapy, treat existing diseases, including infections.
The doctor should warn that for some women, taking oral contraceptives has the exact opposite effect. 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 obtain a rebound effect ?:

To achieve a rebound effect, doctors usually prescribe second- and third-generation hormonal oral contraceptives. 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. You should not take Diane-35 if you expect a withdrawal effect.
To achieve activation of the woman's reproductive system after drug withdrawal, analogs of luteinizing-releasing hormone can be used. The difficulties of this tactic are due to the practical unavailability of drugs in this group - their small assortment and high price.
Which of the combined oral contraceptives (COC) to choose depends on a number of factors - body weight, age of the patient, estrogen level, presence of benign formations in the uterus and / or mammary glands, indications of diabetes mellitus, bleeding disorders and other problems.
Gestagenic contraceptives are suitable for those women who are overweight, fibroids or fibroadenomas, as well as high estrogen levels. With low body weight or too painful menstruation, it is better to use combination drugs.
The physician should be responsible for the choice of 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 the drug, the already disturbed hormonal background will aggravate the condition.

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

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


Today the contraceptive market is filled with various new products of all kinds. Active couples can choose the method of protection against unwanted pregnancies as they wish. But, nevertheless, oral contraceptives in the form of pills are considered the most popular. They are characterized by a high level of protection and have a beneficial effect on the general well-being of a woman.

In pharmacology, this type of protection is abbreviated as OC (oral contraceptives). About 70% of women of childbearing age use them. But few people know that they are also used for treatment due to their unique rebound effect. What is it and what is its role in the process of conception?

Rebound effect: what is it and how does it work?

Rebound effect is a phenomenon in gynecology that is actively used to stimulate pregnancy. It occurs when you cancel the reception OK.

This effect arises as a result of hormonal changes in the woman's body. The fact is that most oral contraceptives inhibit the production of hormones during ovulation. The egg does not come out, hormones are not released, as a result, pregnancy does not occur.

With the abolition of contraceptives, in most cases, there is a surge in hormones, so the chances of getting pregnant increase. The rebound effect occurs in 95% of cases, so it is actively used by couples who have problems with conceiving a child. Before that, they must go through a series of preparatory procedures:

  • For at least a year, the couple should try to get pregnant on their own. This time includes the time of active sexual activity without treatment. If pregnancy does not occur, then we can talk about possible problems.
  • The partner must be tested for sperm quality ().
  • A woman and a man must undergo a complete examination and, if there are pathological factors, undergo treatment.

The physician should warn patients that the rebound effect is individual. This means that the amount of hormones secreted can be different. In addition, this effect may not occur at all.

Scheme of receiving OK for rebound effect

The course of treatment and reception of OK is prescribed by the doctor. You can, of course, use the classic regimen, and stop after 3 months, but it is best to consult a specialist.

For the effect of cancellation, gynecologists prescribe treatment according to two schemes:

  1. 21 days of taking one tablet, then seven days off. Repeat the course at least three times. During a seven-day break, bloody discharge similar to menstruation may be observed, this indicates the active work of the ovary. The probability of getting pregnant is about 95%.
  2. 62 days of taking one tablet daily. After cancellation, menstruation does not start, but intermittent discharge may occur. The likelihood is also about 95%.

You need to choose the course at will, but with the advice of a doctor.

Which drug is better and how much to drink?

Many couples are interested in how long it takes to take OK for the rebound effect to occur. According to experts, this is at least three months. During this time, the body accumulates hormones, normalizes its condition and, when canceled, is ready to activate. The course can be extended, it all depends on the wishes of the partners.

Also an important question is how long does the cancellation effect last? There is no definite answer to this question. Experts say that the highest threshold for activity is observed in the first three months. The first ovulation after discontinuation of the drug occurs in 98%, so the likelihood of becoming pregnant is quite high. In the second month, active ovulation also occurs, but the activity of hormones is about 80%. This is a fairly high rate and many couples managed to get pregnant. During the third ovulation, it is also possible to conceive a child, hormones are still quite active. After three months, the rebound effect lasts only in 30% of cases.

The specific drug plays an important role. On this issue, it is better to consult a doctor, today you can find a lot of funds in pharmacies. A specialist will help you choose the right one, based on several criteria:

  • The age of the patient;
  • Weight;
  • Individual tolerance of the components of the drug;
  • Saturation with estrogen;
  • Detection and character in the mammary glands;
  • The presence of fibroids in the uterus and fallopian tubes;
  • The presence of genital diseases, including sexually transmitted infections.

The following drugs are very popular today:

  • Marvelon;
  • "Jess";
  • « »;
  • "Yarina";
  • "Logest".

These drugs can be taken at any age at the same dosage - one tablet a day. After 35 years of age, the course of treatment increases, for the rebound effect it is necessary to drink OK for about 5-6 months, only after that cancellation is prescribed.

Contraindications

Today, many couples use the rebound effect for the pregnancy process. This is a time-tested and expert method that requires a lot of preparation, but the effect is worth it.

Despite its high efficiency, cancellation has a number of contraindications. It is not taken when hormonal drugs are contraindicated.

  • The woman is in position or is breastfeeding a child;
  • Partners have been trying to get pregnant for several months (up to a year);
  • Abnormalities in the partner's spermogram, if the sperm activity is low, then stimulating therapy for the man is required;
  • The woman has problems with alcohol and smokes a lot;
  • Severe pathological conditions of the liver, namely hepatitis, cirrhosis;
  • Various forms of diabetes mellitus;
  • Thrombophilia;
  • Cardiovascular diseases;
  • Chronic hypertension.

Before using the rebound effect, both partners must undergo a complete examination.

The likelihood of pregnancy due to the withdrawal effect is quite high. But for this it is necessary to follow all the doctor's prescriptions. Trying on your own without consultation is not worth it. And it is very important to be examined before starting the process. In most cases, problems with do not arise as a result of hormonal disorders, but when exposed to other pathological processes. In this case, complex treatment of partners is required, which must be supervised.

The idea of ​​causing a short-term inhibition of the function of the entire annular hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian system (HPHS) with the subsequent restoration of its function is not new. It was first expressed in the 30s, when an experiment showed the ability of testicles to restore spermatogenesis after inhibition of this function with the help of exogenous androgens. This phenomenon is called "rebound effect", which translated from English means recovery.

In domestic clinical practice, EI Quater (1960) was the first to use the rebound effect, conducting cyclic hormone therapy with sex steroids on the principle of simulating a normal menstrual cycle. Subsequently, many modifications of this method of treatment have been proposed.

With the advent of synthetic steroid combined contraceptives, in which the doses of hormones were selected that turn off ovulation by inhibiting the hypothalamic-pituitary system (HPS), in particular to stimulate ovulation by the type of rebound effect. The second-generation combined estrogen-gestagenic oral contraceptives available at our disposal (non-ovlone, bisecurin) also have a pronounced inhibitory effect on HHNP, therefore they are successfully used for rebound-type treatment.

Oral contraceptives of the third generation, containing small doses of steroids (tricvilar, trizistone, ovidone), mainly have a peripheral effect and inhibit the cyclic function of HHNS only with prolonged use (more than 6-12 months).

Analogues of luteinizing-releasing hormone (LH-RH) are still produced by only a limited number of foreign companies; they are expensive and not available for use in wide clinical practice in our country.

Are there any fundamental differences between the use of LH-RH drugs and sex steroids in the rebound effect? What are the benefits of either method? What complications can arise? Both treatments have no species specificity, unlike gonadotropic hormones. Synthetic analogs of LH-RG practically do not give side reactions, since they are polypeptides with a short life span. However, it should be noted that they cannot be used orally, but only intramuscularly, intravenously or endonasally, and due to the instability of these drugs, they should be administered endonasally every 8 hours.

Long-term (more than 3 months) use of releasing hormones in this mode leads to signs of shutdown of ovarian function: dryness in the vagina, atrophy of the uterine glands, decreased memory and performance, bad mood, sleep disturbance, hot flashes, headache.

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