KATHMANDU: Frequent use of emergency contraception (EC) can result in menstrual irregularities, infertilities and unknown health problems in women.
As an oral contraceptive, it was launched in 2007 to prevent women against unplanned pregnancies after unprotected sexual intercourse.
However, women are found to be using it frequently as a means of regular contraception, which is wrong, said senior Obstetrician and Gynecologist Lata Bajracharya.
“Please give me emergency contraception,” a woman, who appears in her early 20s, asked a pharmacist at Thamel-based pharmacy recently.
The pharmacist placed emergency contraception on the table before her. The woman looked around her for a while and kept it into her bag and paid Rs 250.
According to the Department of Drug Administration under the Ministry of Health and Population, 14 different types of emergency contraception are being sold in the drug market.
This pharmacy is making a quick buck out of selling emergency contraception. Many youths and middle-aged people come to this pharmacy to buy emergency pills.
“When evening falls, five to 10 women and 20 to 25 men come to my pharmacy to buy emergency pills,” said the pharmacist requesting anonymity.
“I-Pill is an emergency pill but some women are using it as a regular means of contraception,” said the woman. She has suggested those women coming regularly to her pharmacy not to use it regularly.
“Some women come to buy I-Pills regularly. I have advised some of them not to use it regularly. But they do not listen to my advice,” said she.
This pharmacy is only a representative case. The sale of emergency contraception has soared up in the pharmacists in the capital.
14 types of emergency contraception in the drug market
According to the Department of Drug Administration under the Ministry of Health and Population, 14 different types of emergency contraception are being sold in the drug market.
“We cannot tell the exact figure of the I-Pill users since no research has been conducted on it,” said Pan Bahadur Chhetri, acting general secretary at the Department. “The Department, however, has registered 14 different types of emergency contraception.”
Chhetri admits that emergency contraception is being misused in Nepal. The sale and consumption of contraception are yet to be regulated. It should be used to prevent unwanted pregnancies such as rape, incest, and unprotected sexual intercourse. The excessive use of emergency contraception leads to serious health problems including infertility in women, said Chhetri. He further suggests that it should not be sold without doctors’ prescriptions.
Emergency pill is not the means of contraception
The number of women visiting hospitals for health problems caused by the frequent use of EC is increasing day by day, according to senior Obstetrician and Gynecologist Lata Bajracharya.
Condoms are safer than emergency contraception pills when it comes to preventing pregnancies, said Dr Anup Bastola, chief Consultant Tropical Medicine at Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal.
“The women come to the hospital with complaints of menstrual irregularities, such as bleeding for a month or bleeding between the periods. They do not tell the truth at the beginning regarding the consumption of EC. And, when insisted, they say, “Yes.” Women suffer from menstrual irregularities if they consume EC up to 3 to 4 times a month due to hormonal changes.
The misuse of EC has increased alarmingly of late, said Bajracharya. “This should not be used as a means of regular contraception as it is not a hundred percent safe in preventing pregnancies. It can prevent only up to 95% of pregnancies when taken within 72 hours after intercourse.
“It can be used after unprotected intercourse, possible contraceptive failure, incorrect use of contraceptives, and sexual assault if without contraception coverage. But it is being misused,” said Bajracharya.
The number of unmarried women aged between 20 to 26 years is the highest to use EC, according to Bajracharya.
“The trend of unmarried women having sexual intercourse is increasing day by day, leading to the misuse of the EC. The repeated use of EC can lead to menstrual irregularities, infertility and ovarian cancer, she said
Condom is safer than an emergency pill
Condoms are safer than emergency contraception pills when it comes to preventing pregnancies, said Dr Anup Bastola, chief Consultant Tropical Medicine at Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal.
“The condom is safer than EC when it comes to preventing pregnancies,” said Bastola, adding, “The condom does not only prevent women from pregnancies but also saves them from sexually transmitted diseases.”
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