The reason emergency contraceptive pills are important is that they provide a woman with an amount of opportunity to address a pregnancy that was not planned, which may result from unprotected sex or protection failure. In a nation like Pakistan, where the majority of individuals would rather talk about contraceptives in private, ECPs must be utilized and recognized for their significance.
The only thing that will enable women to make
an informed decision is awareness, which is essential for the sake of their
reproductive lives. Concerns about what defines emergency contraceptive pills,
why this form is being used, and how and where it will be given are all
important to this article in the context of Pakistan.
What Are Emergency Contraceptive Pills?
Emergency contraceptive pills are those taken orally by an
individual after having unprotected sex. For example, when a person fails to
put on birth control properly or a condom breaks; it is used to avoid pregnancy. These are not the kind of pills a person takes for days
like usual; they are taken after an occurrence.
How Do Emergency Contraceptive Pills Work?
It is effective by one of these three mechanisms: it delays
ovulation, it prevents fertilization, and it prevents a fertilized egg from
attaching to the uterus. The ECP reduces the pregnancy risk by 75% to 89%,
depending on the time taken. One must remind oneself that the emergency
contraceptive pills are not for abortion; neither do they stop or discontinue
an already established pregnancy.
Types of Emergency Contraceptive Pills Available In Pakistan
The main general types available in the Pakistan
market are:
Levonorgestrel-Based Pills
The most common; one should use them within the first 72
hours after having intercourse without protection. Under this type are drugs
like Postinor-2 and Emkit.
Emergency Contraceptive Pills
This is less administered in Pakistan but available. These
tablets are used within 5 days after an unprotected sex, generally up to 120
hours after the presented sex without protection. Examples are Ella One, but it
might be just a bit tricky to get at your local drugstore.
When to Take Emergency Contraceptive Pills?
Timing is everything, and the sooner one takes the pill
after having unprotected sexual contact, the stronger it will emerge to be.
These are effective up to 72 hours, although the Levonorgestrel-based pills are
most effective up to 24 hours. The time limit for ECP, which is based on the
drug acetate, is roughly 120 hours.
How to Use Emergency Contraceptive Pills?
Emergency contraceptive pills are known to be user-friendly.
- Take the Pill at the Earliest: The earlier, the more effective it will be.
- Read What the Pack Says: Some come as a single dose while the other needs to take a second dose after 12 hours.
- Side Affects You May Experience: Feeling nauseous, tired, slightly dizzy, or having changes in the menstrual cycle are quite common.
Availability of Emergency Contraceptive Pills in Pakistan
These ECPs are available at all pharmacies and medical
stores. However, due to cultural reactions to the idea of a birth
control and other things, it can occasionally be difficult for someone to
find ECPs. Some people might feel uncomfortable selling them in a typical store
or pharmacy in some specific places. Furthermore, they can also be out of
stock. Purchasing from reputable stores can guarantee that the item being
purchased is real.
The Cost of Emergency Contraceptive Pills In Pakistan
According to rules, you need take into account that
Pakistani ECPs differ in terms of brand and distribution location. Prices might
range from Rs. 150 to Rs. 500 on average. This may not be out of reach for
many, but for other people living in far away, poor rural locations, it proves
to be too costly.
Myths and Misconceptions about Emergency Contraceptive Pills
There are so many misconceptions regarding ECPs that go around in Pakistan, which may lead a woman not to use
ECPs. Some of them are as
under:
- ECPs Are Abortion Pills: This absolutely is a wrong myth. ECPs prevent pregnancy and do not terminate one.
- ECPs lead to infertility: There is absolutely no evidence for this at all. ECPs do not
interfere in any way with the long-term natural fertility of a woman.
- ECPs promote sexuality: ECPs are just a safe method of protection from unwanted
pregnancies and not a device to promote sexual activities.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Since the ECPs are legal, they can be sold in Pakistan, and
yet people's attitudes toward their usage are based on a mixture of cultural
and religious reasons. In such a scenario, many women would not like to talk
about or purchase ECPs themselves due to the attached social stigma of its use.
It becomes very important that the place of health providers gives
nonjudgmental support along with all information that might be required by the
person seeking ECPs.
Where to Get Emergency Contraceptive Pills in Pakistan?
Although big urban centers have ECPs, including Karachi,
Lahore, and Islamabad, the overall availability in small cities and townships,
excluding the rural areas, is a problem. Only a few non-governmental
organizations and reproductive health clinics where the pills shoot out for
emergency contraception offer an entire solution. If worse comes to worse,
local health care delivery through pharmacies or online pharmacy platforms may
be utilized if one is unaware of the location of the site of access for ECPs.
Some of the Possible Side Effects of Emergency Contraceptive Pills
ECPS are safe, though there are very small numbers of women
who may sometimes experience some of the side effects. Some of the common side
effects that might come about from the consumption of the pills include:
Nausea
This will cause nausea upon taking the pills in some women. The recommendation will be to have food before taking the pill.
Changes in Menstrual Patterns
The next menstruation after these pills may either be
earlier or later than what is usual for you and compared to your usual flow
pattern, it may be heavier or lighter than usual.
Feeling Unusually Tired/Fatigue
This is a common complication of these pills.
Headache
It is seen that generally, the consumption of ECPs in most women produces a headache.
Conclusion
One of the most crucial rights that helps Pakistan avoid
unwanted pregnancies is access to contraception. Although it's not difficult to
find them, there are social and cultural barriers. Women are inspired to take
on leadership roles in relation to their health condition by providing them
with the knowledge and skills necessary to properly utilize ECPs, not merely by
exposing common beliefs. Recall that ECPs are not intended for routine birth
control; rather, they should only be used in cases of extreme necessity.
Consult your doctor if you have any questions.
Please book an appointment with the best Gynecologist in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and all major cities of Pakistan through InstaCare, or call our helpline at 03171777509 to find a verified doctor for your disease.
