This archive report was first published on 29 October 2019.
Alarm Raised Over Misuse of Morning After Pills in Coast ¶
Published on October 29, 2019
Gynaecologists at the Coast have sounded the alarm over the misuse of contraceptives, particularly morning-after pills, among university students and commercial sex workers.
According to the specialists, seven out of 10 young women in the region are abusing these pills, which can lead to the destruction of the womb and even infertility.
Dr. Ramadhan Marjan, the Chairman of the Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society Coast, said many young women and commercial sex workers are using the pills as a form of contraception, not for emergency purposes.
"They use the pill for the wrong reasons. Majority who have unprotected sex take these pills to cover for their mistakes, which definitely prevents one from getting pregnant but cannot stop sexually transmitted infections," Dr. Marjan cautioned.
He associated long-term use of the contraceptives with depression, ovarian cyst enlargement, gallbladder disease, high blood pressure, respiratory disorders, increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, and death.
Dr. Marjan emphasized the need for learning institutions to educate their students on sex and contraceptives to protect the well-being of future generations.
"There is need to increase awareness on the work of emergency pills and when they should be used," Dr. Marjan said.
Dr. Rukiyah Abdulwahab, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa, also highlighted the misconceptions surrounding the use of emergency pills.
"This is merely a lie. Emergency pills such as P2 do not prevent sexually transmitted infections. They only prevent ovulation, hence prevent pregnancies," Dr. Abdulwahab explained.
The specialists advised sexually active women to visit medical professionals to get advice on long-term contraceptive methods to avoid negative reproductive health effects and risking their lives.
