Utrozhestan often prescribed during pregnancy. As far as is necessary and safe for most pregnant woman and her baby? It is no secret that many women are afraid to take any pills, even if they are prescribed by a doctor. But if you understand the mechanism of action of this drug during pregnancy, all questions disappear by themselves.

Hormonal pregnancy software

During pregnancy begins to actively stand the female sex hormone progesterone. The main task of progesterone is to prepare the uterus for the introduction of the embryo and the preservation of pregnancy.

The walls of the uterus, as is known, consists of three layers: the inner (mucous membrane), middle (muscle sheath) and outdoor. During pregnancy it expands the inner layer, since there is introduced embryo and muscle layer, which increases the number of muscle fibers, and each fiber increases its volume. This process results in involuntary uterine muscles begin to shrink, which may lead to abortion.

But in the body of a mechanism which prevents the reduction of muscles of the uterus - is the impact of progesterone. Progesterone inhibits the activity of smooth muscles of internal organs, including muscles of the uterus. If the progesterone produced in the body is not enough, the uterus is often in a state of hyper - increased muscle tone. In such a case, it may help the additional administration of a progesterone. But the inconvenience of the traditional progesterone is that it can only be administered by injection, tablets did not happen. And as a long course of treatment, sometimes including a first and second trimesters of pregnancy (ie, up to 24 weeks, inclusive), it is, of course, difficult for a pregnant woman.

Utrozhestan - an adequate substitute for progesterone

Today, the threat of termination of pregnancy prescribe utrozhestan Utrozhestan - corrects the deficiency of progesterone   - Natural micronized progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology Which can be taken orally in capsules or introducing the idea of ​​the same capsule into the vagina.

Utrozhestan helps:

• formation of normal mucosa of the uterus, contributing to the transition of cells from the mucous membrane to a simple multiplication secretion first and then to the state required for proper development of the embryo;
• reduce the excitability and muscle contractions of the uterus and fallopian tubes;
• stimulation of the breast, which contributes to its preparation for breastfeeding;
• blocking the secretion of other hormones, including pituitary hormones, the female sex hormones estrogen and male sex hormones androgen suppression of the new egg maturation and ovulation Ovulation - How to determine as accurately as possible? ;
• an increase in urine output - by stimulating the adrenal glands.

Utrozhestan during pregnancy is harmless, it does not cause weight gain, fluid retention, high blood pressure and malformations in the fetus.

The length and shape of receiving sets utrogestan doctor on the basis of examination of women and blood tests for hormones. Most often receive utrogestan limit the first trimester (first 12 weeks) of pregnancy, but in some cases the duration of the course is extended until the end of the second trimester. Cancel the drug gradually since abrupt withdrawal can cause a surge of muscle contractions and miscarriage.

Side effects and contraindications for pregnant women

When receiving utrogestan in pregnant women may experience the following side effects: fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness, after one - three hours after receiving utrogestan; it prevents the implementation of works that require attention, such as driving a car.

Admission utrogestan should be discontinued if there were:

• visual disturbances - double vision, reducing the field of view;
• thrombi anywhere in the body, such as thrombosis;
• severe headache or migraine (pain half of the head).

Contraindications utrogestan are:

• hypersensitivity to the drug;
• which began miscarriage;
• porphyria (intolerance to light);
• suspicion of malignant tumors of breast and sex organs;
• varicose veins, tendency to thrombosis and thrombophlebitis;
• severe liver disease in violation of its functions.

Be wary appoint utrozhestan in diseases of the cardiovascular system, including high blood pressure, kidney function, diabetes, epilepsy, persistent depressed mood (depression), disorders of fat metabolism.

Utrozhestan - safe hormonal drug Hormonal treatments - not only contraceptives , Which is now successfully used in pregnancy to prevent an interruption.

Galina Romanenko

Manufacturer Ursofalk (German pharmaceutical company Dr. Falk Pharma) in a specially designed instructions for use of the drug does not recommend taking it during pregnancy. However, today there are data on the use of the drug in pregnant women when they develop signs of stagnation of bile.

Why during pregnancy may be needed Ursofalk

During pregnancy, under the influence of hormones changes the operation of all organs and body systems. First of all, during this period it produced a large number of the female sex hormone progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology Which inhibits motor activity of smooth muscles of the abdomen and pelvis. It is necessary to suppress the contractility of uterine smooth muscle and prevent spontaneous miscarriage Miscarriage - can you protect yourself from it? . The motor activity of smooth muscles of the rest of inhibited friendly and improve its activity during pregnancy is not recommended, as this may cause an increase in uterine tone.

Therefore, from the first weeks of pregnancy women are concerned constipation Constipation - Watch out for food : Impaired motor activity of the intestine. The increase in the volume of the uterus only exacerbates unpleasant sensations as the uterus backs bowel and immobilize him even more.

Just as is the case with biliary ways: violated their physical activity and output of bile. Therefore, pregnant women may develop the phenomena of cholestasis - bile stasis.

How does cholestasis of pregnancy

During cholestasis is a violation of excretion of bile and its stagnation in the intrahepatic bile ducts. This leads to the fact that toxic bile acids begin to be absorbed into the blood of women.

The main feature of cholestasis of pregnancy is itching. Most often it occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy after the 30th week. But some of the most sensitive women, he may worry from the beginning of pregnancy. Less often there is such a sign, as jaundice. Stagnation of bile can lead to the formation of the biliary tract and gall bladder Gall bladder: structure and function   cholesterol stones. It is therefore possible attacks of biliary colic - sharp cramping pain in the right upper quadrant of the passage of gall-stones of cholesterol pathways.

It has been established that such a condition may affect on the child, lead to stillbirth.

How to treat cholestasis of pregnancy

Today, for the treatment of cholestasis of pregnancy is increasingly prescribe drugs ursodeoksiholovoy acid - ursofalk and ursosan. These drugs belong to the choleretic - they activate the secretion of bile and promote its withdrawal from the biliary tract. Under the action ursofalk decreases blood cholesterol level, since it inhibits the enzyme involved in its formation. Reducing the amount of cholesterol prevents the formation of cholesterol stones.

Unfortunately, adequate clinical studies on the effects on the body Ursofalk pregnant woman and the fetus to date there. The laboratory studies in animals showed no mutagenic (changes in genetic fetus) and carcinogenic (ability to cause cancer) action of this drug.

Theoretically ursodeoksiholovoy acid supplementation may cause increased uterine tone as bile acids (ursodeoksiholovaya acid - is one of the bile acids, moreover, under the influence ursofalk increases the excretion of bile into the intestine), getting into the bowel, increase its motor activity. At the same time may increase and the motor activity of muscles of the uterus. But clinical data on the effect of such Ursofalk today does not exist.

So sometimes obstetricians and internists antenatal still ursofalk prescribed to pregnant women in the development of their intrahepatic cholestasis. But it is conducted under the supervision of a physician and under the control of ultrasound (US).

If cholestasis increases with the duration of pregnancy, the woman is usually recommended to premature delivery is for a period of 35 to 38 weeks, when ultrasound confirms sufficient maturity of the fetus. Such tactics of pregnancy can prevent the toxic effects of bile acids on the fetus in the latest and most dangerous in this regard weeks of pregnancy.

Ursofalk during pregnancy is used strictly on the evidence, weigh the pros and cons. At the same time the anticipated benefits to the mother's body must be less than the potential risk to the fetus, as research on what action ursofalk has on the body of the fetus, have been conducted. And certainly a pregnant woman can not use this drug on their own without a doctor's prescription.

Galina Romanenko