Consult doctor on emergency contraceptive use, expert advises

OLONGAPO CITY — A medical doctor on Thursday urged women to consult healthcare professionals about emergency contraception in order to use them correctly. 

Emergency contraception (EC) refers to birth control measures—including emergency contraception pills (ECPs)—used or taken after sexual intercourse in the case of unprotected sex or if other contraceptive measures were not used or taken correctly. 

In a media conference, Dr. Rosalyn Panao, medical officer from the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital's Comprehensive Family Planning Center, explained that emergency contraception is usually given to patients who were victims of sexual assault, who had unprotected sex, or who used the wrong contraceptive method.

According to her, government hospitals do not give out these emergency contraceptive pills, but doctors may provide them as needed. 

“Dapat talaga nagpapa-consult sa healthcare provider na galing sa family planning or sa mga medical specialists. Kasi ‘yung paggamit po ng emergency contraception, kaya nga siyang sinabing ‘emergency,’ as needed,” she said. 

(People should consult a healthcare provider from a family planning center or medical specialists. It’s called ‘emergency’ contraception because it is used when needed.) 

“Pero hindi dapat gawing routine, kaya nga po siya emergency contraception. Walang guarantee na magiging protected pa rin po ang ating client after 24 hours of using the emergency contraception,” she continued. 

(Using this shouldn't be made routine because it's only emergency contraception. There is no guarantee that our client will still be protected after 24 hours of using the emergency contraception.) 

Panao said patients should already drink emergency contraceptive pills within 24 hours after engaging in unprotected sex. After that, she said, doctors will usually provide their clients with other family planning methods to reduce the risk of pregnancy. 

She also said there are no studies that show yet what the possible health risks of using emergency contraception are, but there are warning signs to watch out for. 

“May possible na warning signs na in-emphasize ko katulad ng [there are warning signs I like to emphasize such as] jaundice, severe abdominal pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, eye problems, severe leg pain,” Panao said. 

“Kung ang gagamitin niya is ‘yung may estrogen content tapos hindi naman natin alam kung paano niya ini-implement, pwede rin naman magka-effects sa kanya or may further complication. Pero study regarding that matter, wala pa naman,” she added. 

(If she drank the pill with estrogen content and she didn’t know how to use it properly, it could have an effect on her or she could have further complications. But there are no studies regarding that matter yet.)

The World Health Organization says all women and girls who are at risk of unintended pregnancy have a right to access to emergency contraception. "Moreover, emergency contraception should be integrated into health care services for populations most at risk of exposure to unprotected sex, including post-sexual assault care and services for women and girls living in emergency and humanitarian settings," it said. — BM, GMA Integrated News