Have you noticed how in any movie or TV show, characters in the throes of passion, mostly head straight to the sack without stopping to tear open a condom wrapper along the way? Now, unless the premise calls for it like in Knocked Up or Juno, this behaviour is perplexing. Because in the non-fictional world, sex without protection would probably bring about an are-you-crazy-what-are-you-even-thinking-this-is-a-complete-no-no moment. Think I’m exaggerating? Well, you clearly haven’t been on the receiving end of an STI or a pregnancy scare.
What those movies don’t show though, which is well depicted in real life, is women’s use (or abuse?) of emergency contraceptive pills AKA the morning-after pill, after having unprotected sex. So much so that it is a continuous source of worry for gynaecologists everywhere. We reached out to Dr. Amodita Ahuja, Consultant OB Gyn, Laparoscopic Surgeon and Infertility Specialist, and asked her to share her thoughts on the same. Dr. Ahuja says,
A few days ago one girl came to my OPD saying that she took five tablets of I-ill a month ago, then took one a week ago, and yesterday again. She had unprotected intercourse but didn’t know what to do. I was astonished, and in anger, I put my pen down and asked her what she wanted from me. She was clueless.
To save women from this pitiable state, it is very important for everyone to understand what exactly emergency contraceptives are, and what they can do to our body. Are they really magical drugs or a catastrophe?
When emergency contraceptives were launched, they were marketed in such a fabulous way that most people in India resorted to it leaving their tedious regular method of contraception. In a country like ours, where the couple is expected to have intercourse only after the wedding, this was a boon. They were publicised to an extent that couples stopped using even condoms. Peer pressure and the pills’ easy availability in pharmacies without any prescription, made them the first choice of contraception among urban-educated and independent women. Just because they didn’t want to bear the liability of unprotected intercourse, it seemed like an easy way out. Dr. Ahuja says,
These so-called magical pills contains 20 times the amount of hormones as compared to the normal birth control pills. Imagine you are popping 20 pills at once when you are opting for emergency contraception. You can very well understand the kind of hormonal shock you are giving to your body.
Effects Of Emergency Contraceptives
Here are the three major effects of emergency contraceptives on women’s health, as shared by Dr. Ahuja.
1. Irregular Periods
Due to this hormonal shock, the menstrual cycle is completely disrupted leading to irregular or delayed periods. Sometimes there can be continuous bleeding leading to severe blood loss and anemia.
2. Ectopic Pregnancy
The most cataclysmic effect which no one talks about is the pregnancy in the tube, which is also known as ectopic pregnancy. Since the dose of progesterone in the single tablet is way too high, it decreases the tubal motility, hence causing ectopic pregnancy. And the only treatment in this case is surgery.
3. Other Side-Effects
Along with the major side-effects, there are few minor effects as well like continuous nausea and vomiting, abdominal discomfort, and breast tenderness. Despite so many side-effects, there are no regulations in almost 79 countries on the sale of emergency contraceptives. In fact, the World Health Organisation (WHO) also doesn’t discourage the use of these pills.
Unfortunately, the hype is huge as compared to the negative effects of emergency contraceptives. Due to this, no one talks about using a regular method of contraception. Women don’t want to put an effort and take the pain of remembering to use birth control pills.
Final Thoughts
The need of the hour is sex education which starts at home and school as soon as girls reach puberty. The idea is to increase sexual expression so that they are well informed about the effects and side-effects of morning-after pills. Women should be educated about the buffet of contraceptive options which are available in the market, so that they can make an informed decision. Dr. Ahuja says,
I urge everyone to not abuse emergency contraceptives. They aren’t abortion pills. Follow safe sex practices by shifting to a regular and safer method of contraception rather than depending on the morning-after pill and putting yourself in trouble. Wake up, educate yourself, spread awareness, and you can not only save your life but other girls’ who are associated with you too. Stop believing in advertisements and try to understand your body better.
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