Silhouette For Endometriosis - How To Take? Pros And Side Effects

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Silhouette with endometriosis

Endometriosis is a disease characterized by the proliferation of endometrioid heterotopies in the tissues of the uterus and beyond. The drugs of choice in the treatment of this pathology are COCs (combined oral contraceptives). Silhouette Pills belong to this group.

Silhouette is an oral hormonal contraceptive that provides an antiandrogenic effect. It is produced by the Romanian pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter. The silhouette can be called a structural analogue of the drug Janine, these tablets have similar properties. However, the advantage of the Silhouette is its more affordable price.

Content:

• The mechanism of action of the drug Silhouette in endometriosis
• Who is indicated for the treatment of endometriosis with Silhouette?
• pros
• Contraindications and side effects
• Important tips and tricks

The mechanism of action of the drug Silhouette in endometriosis

The composition of one silhouette tablet is represented by low doses of hormones:

• Dienogest - 2 mg.
• Ethinylestradiol - 0.03 mg.

The mechanism of action of the drug is due to the active substances that make up its composition. Dienogest has a progestogenic effect, but does not have a pronounced androgenic, mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid effect on the body. In other words, this substance helps to regulate the excessive activity of estrogens, which is the cause of the development of endometriosis, but does not suppress the woman's immunity. Dienogest does not interfere with the metabolic processes of the body, therefore, Silhouette can be taken for a long time (even several years).

With regard to ethinylestradiol, this substance has a high bioavailability when taken orally, allows cellular enzymes to transform into less active forms of estrogens and accelerates their breakdown.

The main effects of the Silhouette on the body, which are important for the treatment of endometriosis:

• Reverse development, degeneration and subsequent atrophy of the foci of endometriosis in the uterus and beyond.
• Blocking the proliferation (possibility of germination) of new endometrioid heterotopies in tissues.
• Creation of the effect of "pseudopregnancy", which leads to the achievement of amenorrhea, and in the future - to the cessation of hormonal activity in the endometriotic foci. Against the background of this state, the ectopic endometrium undergoes regression, and new foci are not able to form.
• Termination of the local inflammatory reaction by blocking prostaglandins such as PG E2 and estrogen-like substances.

• Acceleration of local processes of breakdown of female hormones. Estradiol is converted to inactive estrone. This, in turn, prevents the germination of new endometriotic foci.
• Inhibition of the processes of angiogenesis, which prevents new blood vessels from forming around the foci of endometriosis and nourishing them.
• Suppression of ovulation and follicle formation, changes in the structure of the endometrium in the uterine cavity, a decrease in the peristalsis of the fallopian tubes, thickening of mucus in the cervical canal - all these effects are related to the contraceptive properties of the drug. However, they were the basis for the treatment of endometriosis.

Who is indicated for the treatment of endometriosis with Silhouette?

Gynecologists prescribe Siluete to women at an early stage of endometriosis development. It is possible to carry out therapy when a second stage of the disease is detected. However, in this case, treatment should be considered as a preparatory stage before surgery (laparoscopy).

The silhouette is recommended for women who have undergone surgery to remove endometriotic adhesions and cysts. This greatly reduces the risk of disease recurrence.

Independent use of a hormonal drug is impossible, the duration of therapy must be determined by a doctor.

Possible treatment regimens

The silhouette healing can have various variations. If a woman turned to a gynecologist about the impossibility of conceiving a child, and she was diagnosed with endometriosis at an early stage, then she is recommended the classic treatment option. To do this, she will have to take the drug for 21 days, then take a break for 7 days. During this one week break, she will have menstrual bleeding. This regimen will need to be followed for 3 months. It is possible to extend therapy up to six months if the foci of endometriosis have a slow tendency to regress. Upon completion of the course, a comprehensive diagnostic examination is carried out and the question of further planning of pregnancy is resolved.

When a woman is not going to give birth to a child in the near future, and the goal of treatment is to get rid of foci of endometriosis or to prevent its recurrence after an intervention, gynecologists recommend a prolonged therapeutic course.

Tablets can be prescribed according to the scheme:

• 42 days of admission and 7 days off;
• 63 days of admission and 7 days off;
• 84 days of admission and 7 days off.

At the end of the treatment, diagnostics are carried out, after which the issue of extending therapy is considered. It is possible that the Silhouette can be appointed for several years.

As for the first dose of the drug, doctors recommend starting the course on day 1 of the menstrual cycle.

pros

• Thanks to the use of the Silhouette, you can refuse surgery and get rid of grade 1 and 2 endometriosis.
• While taking the drug, a woman is reliably protected from unwanted pregnancy.
• With proper management of the disease and individual selection of the course, the drug has a minimum of side effects on the body.
• After discontinuation of the drug, the woman retains the function for childbirth. Moreover, the chances of getting pregnant are significantly increased, since endometriosis is cured, which means that nothing interferes with the normal passage of the egg through the fallopian tubes, its fertilization and fixation in the uterus.
• The drug therapy contributes to the fact that the skin becomes healthier, in particular, acne disappears in women. Moreover, it is possible to get rid of acne, not only mild, but also moderate.
• The positive effect of Siluet has been proven in patients with seborrhea.
• Women get rid of severe pain in the small pelvis, which, against the background of endometriosis, are often chronic and of high intensity.
• The signs of dysmenorrhea - an unstable menstrual cycle - disappear.
• Menstrual bleeding becomes less profuse.
• By normalizing blood loss, it is possible to get rid of the signs and symptoms of anemia.
• It was found that taking the drug prevents malignancy of ectopic foci. This reduces the risk of developing cancer.

Contraindications and side effects

The drug is safe and usually well tolerated, however, there are contraindications to its appointment:

• History of thromboembolic diseases.
• Hepatitis A, Gilbert's syndrome, Rotor syndrome, Dubin-Johnson syndrome.
• Pancreatitis
• Sickle cell anemia.
• Diabetes mellitus complicated by vascular diseases.
• Violations of the lipoprotein balance of the blood.
• Smoking (for patients over 35 years old).
• Severe liver pathologies.
• Uncontrollable hypertension.
• Vaginal bleeding, the cause of which is unknown.
• Migraine.
• The presence of tumors (malignant and benign), or suspicion of tumor processes.
• Breastfeeding, carrying a baby.
• Epilepsy.
• Lactose intolerance, its deficiency in the body.

To minimize the risk of side effects, a woman must undergo a quality examination before starting treatment for endometriosis with Silhouette.

During therapy, there is a risk of thromboembolic complications, CNS disorders, and contact lens intolerance. At the beginning of the course, acyclic vaginal bleeding, swelling and tenderness of the mammary glands are often observed. However, as practice shows, after 2-3 months, these undesirable phenomena disappear. Since the drug is taken orally, disorders of the digestive system may occur, for example, exacerbation of gastritis, the development of cholecystitis, and the addition of symptoms of enteritis. The most common side effects are nausea, constipation, bloating, and vomiting.

If any pathological phenomena occur on the part of the body, it is imperative to consult a doctor. Moreover, in some cases they can be quite serious and life-threatening (for example, myocardial infarction or cerebral stroke). This requires the prompt withdrawal of the drug and correction of the woman's condition.

Important tips and tricks

Doctors strongly recommend that a woman quit smoking if a decision has been made to treat endometriosis with Silhouette. The fact is that with the regular intake of nicotine into the body, the risk of such a side effect as thromboembolism of veins and arteries increases many times over.

It should be remembered that Silhouette is a contraceptive, so it will not be possible to get pregnant during treatment. However, the drug does not protect a woman from the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections.

If treatment was started not from the first day of the menstrual cycle, but later, then the effect of contraception decreases. Therefore, you should use additional barrier methods of preventing unwanted pregnancy.

So, if the doctor, after a comprehensive examination, recommends a woman to start treatment of endometriosis with Silhouette, then the prescribed course should be taken. Moreover, in most cases, the drug is well tolerated and gives excellent results in terms of getting rid of the disease.

The author of the article: Lapikova Valentina Vladimirovna | Gynecologist, reproductologist

Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Healthcare and Social Development (2010). In 2013 completed postgraduate studies at N. N. N. I. Pirogova.