Types of Emergency Contraceptives and Their Influence on Female Reproduction
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Types of Emergency Contraceptives and Their Influence on Female Reproduction
Attention Getter
In the recent past, the world health organization through demographic health surveys in various countries has registered a global increase in emergency contraceptives use among women. The recommended emergency contraception methods according to Mittal (2016) are; emergency contraceptives pills (ECPs) and oral contraceptive pills (COCs) containing levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate, combined oral contraceptives pills, and immediate insertion of the copper-bearing intrauterine device (IUCD). Despite regular use of emergency contraceptives having many adverse effects, many have seen it as a second chance for women who experience contraceptive failure, those who are not under any contraceptive method, following unplanned intercourse including coerced sex or rape. The current trends in emergency contraceptives use shows that up to 70% of women have heard about emergency contraceptives (Mittal, 2016). The WHO is struggling to create a 90 % contraceptive awareness; the organization also discourages regular use of emergency contraceptives due to increment of adverse effects.
Establishing the Need
A rise in crime rates and negative influence from social media, among others have led to an increase in exposure to unprotected intercourse necessitating the use of emergency contraceptives. According to Abraha et al. (2019), an individual may also need to use emergency contraception following accidental omission of regular contraceptives. Many females of reproductive age are now able to prevent unplanned pregnancy effects, such as morbidity and maternal mortality following unsafe abortion. In fact, since the introduction of emergency contraceptives, the contribution of unsafe abortion towards maternal mortality has reduced to less than 10% (Abraha et al., 2019) Emergency contraceptives prevent about 85% of unplanned pregnancies but are not supposed to replace regular contraceptives. However, they are only effective a few hours following unprotected intercourse. In the absence of emergency contraceptives, it is evident that cases of unplanned pregnancies are increased leading to increased unsafe abortion, increased maternal and infant mortality, and an increase in street families, especially in developing countries.
The Satisfaction of the Need
Increased emergency contraceptives demand has called for health care sectors creating education programs to women on proper utilization of emergency contraceptives alongside the routine contraception methods. Roy Menon & Sethi (2017) notes that there is a marked reduction in unsafe abortion as cases of unplanned pregnancy has reduced. The impact of emergency contraceptive in meeting the goal of world health organization of meeting zero maternal deaths cannot be ignored. Reduction of unplanned pregnancies has led to a gross reduction in maternal and fetal mortality Roy Menon & Sethi, 2017). Emergency contraceptives cannot be used as a replacement for regular contraceptives. Therefore, the use of emergency contraceptives should be regulated to prevent regular use of emergency contraceptives to minimize their side effects. Since the majority of women have embraced emergency contraceptives, education programs should be integrated to allow correct contraceptives usage.
Visualization
The use of emergency contraception has been beneficial to women as well as their families. Even though these drugs are effective only a few days after unprotected intercourse, there is positive change noted as the global goals fight to reduce to nil maternal deaths. There are various concerns raised by women regarding their health following emergency contraceptive use. According to Vergallo et al. (2017), it is true that emergency contraceptives increase the risk of conditions such as stroke, heart disease, and other cardiovascular problems. To minimize these side effects, women should not consume emergency contraceptive drugs regularly. One-time use, however, does not carry the same risk factors as the regular uses (Vergallo et al., 2017). There is also a concern that emergency contraception causes an early abortion. This is not true as the emergency contraceptive becomes ineffective if the implantation process has begun.
Call for Action
User education on family planning and emergency contraceptives minimize the side effects. Also, it bridges the gap of unmet need for women groups such as adolescents, migrants, urban slum dwellers, and women under the family planning program. Therefore, all girls and women at risk of unintended pregnancy should be routinely included within all national family planning programs (Shen et al., 2017). It should be regularly incorporated into health care services to ensure that women’s reproductive intention concurs with their contraception behaviour.
References
Abraha, D., Welu, G., Berwo, M., Gebretsadik, M., Tsegay, T., Gebreheat, G., & Gebremariam, H. (2019). Knowledge of and utilization of emergency contraceptives and its associated factors among women seeking induced abortion in public hospitals. BioMed Research International, 2019. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2019/7209274/
Shen, J., Che, Y., Showell, E., Chen, K., & Cheng, L. (2017). Interventions for emergency contraception. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (8).
Mittal, S. (2016). Emergency contraception-Potential for women’s health. The Indian journal of medical research, 140(Suppl 1), S45. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/emergency-contraception
Roy, S., Menon, S., & Sethi, N. K. (2017). Emergency contraception in reproductive health care: program introduction guidelines (Strengthening of Overall Contraceptive Programme). Perspectives and Issues 24 (3), 109-136. http://medind.nic.in/hab/t01/i3/habt01i3p109.pdf
Vergallo, G. M., Zaami, S., Di Luca, N. M., & Marinelli, E. (2017). The conscientious objection: Debate on emergency contraception. La Clinica Terapeutica, 168(2), e113-e119.