Mexico is the country that consumes the most contraceptive patches per year and, paradoxically, ranks first in the Latin American region in teenage pregnancy. Hence, within the framework of World Contraception Day, which was commemorated on September 26, Gedeon Richter, a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Budapest, launched the #HazloVisible campaign in order to promote the use of the patch as an alternative. to avoid unwanted pregnancy and strengthen female empowerment in aspects of reproductive health and sexual rights.
In a meeting held with female influencers and the media, Dr. Mauricio Mendieta, gynecologist and general director of the pharmaceutical company specializing in women’s reproductive health and the second largest producer of hormones in Europe, listed the positive impacts it has on women’s health. women talk about contraception: it reduces morbidity and cases of unsafe abortion or unplanned pregnancies, as well as the possibility of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) and contributes to making correct reproductive decisions.
“Contraception prevents mortality and diseases, in addition to having not only a preventive but also a therapeutic effect; Many very common women’s problems are solved with contraception,” the specialist added.
Mauricio Mendieta, General Director of Gedeon Richter Mexico.
On the other hand, he pointed out that “one of our goals is to reduce unsafe abortions, but for that we need adolescents to have access to planning methods,” and finally he stated that contraception is a right to which they must have free access. of every woman of reproductive age.
Mendieta assured that at this moment Evra is the only contraceptive patch that is available in the national market, and that it has proven to be the best non-oral contraceptive method.
For her part, gynecologist Lourdes Souza revealed that according to statistics, adolescents in Mexico begin sexual activity at the age of fifteen and some at 13, and offered figures on the rate of teenage pregnancy. “Unfortunately, our country is one of the higher, 64 per 1000 young people between 15 and 19 years old, have a pregnancy; United States, 16; We are the highest in Latin America and that reveals that our young people do not know about sexual health, they exercise it but without responsibility, without information and without having control.”
Hence, the gynecologist recommends the use of the patch, because it is comfortable, non-invasive, with an effectiveness level of 99.7 percent, and at an affordable cost, equivalent to other contraceptive methods.
Evra, what it is made of and how it works
Evra is a drug for transdermal use that contains two components “estrogens and progestogens (ethinyl estradiol and norelgestromin), combined in such a way that you can ensure their mechanisms of action,” says Souza.
“It acts at the level of the endometrium that lines the cavity of the uterus, making it atrophic to inhibit implantation. It acts on the cervical mucus, making it thick so that sperm do not penetrate, and thanks to the combination of the two drugs it will inhibit ovulation and reduce ciliary movement in the two (fallopian) tubes in such a way that they do not meet. the sperm and the egg, and thus avoid pregnancy,” summarizes the gynecologist.
The treatment consists of using the patch once a week for a month and then leaving an 8-day break before putting the patch on again.
The specialist adds that other non-contraceptive benefits that Evra has is that it reduces acne, hirsutism (body hair in androgenic areas), cramps, and menstrual flow.
