I know you have questions about Heat Repress and what it does exactly.
Or the drugs Avery is taking to let him pass as a beta... I mean, what the hell are they and where the hell did he find them?
So, here's all you need to know about the heat drugs our omegas might or might not be on in my Omegaverse books.
**Note -- if you're interested in reading more about heats in my Omegaverse, check out THIS post.
1. Heat Repress
This is the one most of you are familiar with from His Surrogate Omega. It's the drug that's threatening to stop working for Gray and the reason he feels he has no choice but to become a surrogate -- to give his body a break.
Heat Repress doesn't completely curb an omega's heat. On it, they are still riddled with lust and the desire to be mated, but the urge is contained and prevents an unmated omega from going over the edge, climbing the city walls, and begging ANY alpha to breed him.
Alphas in an omega-in-heat's presence will go into partial rut.
It must be taken twice daily -- morning and evening -- starting on the day before a heat begins (linked to the lunar cycle) through to the end of the heat -- a total of four days.
It does NOT prevent pregnancy.
It does nothing to hide an omega's scent from alphas.
For mated couples, it allows clarity of mind. So things like condoms don't get forgotten in the heat of the moment.
Truly meant to help younger, unmated omegas until they find their mates—as well as mated ones between pregnancies—it isn't made to be on long-term. Hence Gray's issue with it beginning to fail him.
2. Heatex
Illegal in the Eastern Provinces (where His Surrogate Omega takes place) this is basically a much, much stronger version of Heat Repress. Omegas in the Western Provinces have already battled for their rights and use Heatex and Scentex to control their own reproductive rights.
Heatex curbs 80-90% of an omega's heat. There's still a bit of lust, but it can be easily contained and does not bring their world to a complete halt.
Alphas in the presence of an omega on Heatex do not go into rut (unless it's beginning to fail -- then they'll go into varying stages of rut depending on how bad the failure is...)
The pills must be taken twice daily -- morning and evening -- starting on the day before a heat begins (linked to the lunar cycle) through to the end of the heat -- a total of four days -- just like Heat Repress.
It does NOT prevent pregnancy.
It does nothing to hide an omega's scent from alphas.
One con to Heatex, like Heat Repress, it can fail if an omega uses it non-stop without an occasional break. Once every year or two, an omega needs to cycle off. Because it's stronger than Heat Repress, that failure happens faster. If an omega continuously takes Heatex non-stop, it will fail them in 3-5 years.
Sometimes it's difficult for an unmated omega to cycle off. They must be in a safe place, protected, to ensure they can cycle off without the chances of being bred. This sometimes leads some omegas to overuse and less cycling off -- especially those with less financial means.
3. Scentex
Also illegal in the Eastern Provinces, the omegas of the Western Provinces use this drug to mask their scent. It allows them the freedom to move amongst alphas without worrying their alpha could find them and publicly claim them. On Scentex, their alpha could pass by them without an idea their omega was within arm's reach.
It also helps curb their desire for their alpha, as it impacts their own scent glands, too. In other words, an omega knows their alpha at first scent -- but they can control their reaction better thanks to the Scentex.
Scentex is a liquid/injectable. It must be administered once every three months via syringe into a fatty part of the body. Once a dosage is missed, it can take up to three weeks before an omega's scent becomes detectable again.
It does NOT prevent pregnancy.
It does nothing to alter an omega's heat.
****UPDATE TO ADD - Scentex is made to be used in conjunction with Heatex. If an omega is in heat, Scentex might not be strong enough to fully cover the scent of an omega's slick. An alpha nearby could potentially scent him, particularly in close quarters in an enclosed space. ****
4. Birth Control
There are birth control pills in this world, but they're illegal in many provinces. There's also side effects that can cause an omega to become infertile, which has helped cause a bit of a stigma surrounding any omega or couple who uses them in the provinces that do allow them.
Condoms are the prophylactic of choice in most provinces and are very effective if used properly.
Abstinence is also used in some cases, particularly nursing omegas unable to return to their heat blocking drugs. While nursing, most omegas' heats are naturally milder anyway thanks to the higher levels of pregnancy hormones still in their blood, so they tend not to suffer as much on their own.
**Note -- if you're interested in reading more about heats in my Omegaverse, check out THIS post.
