Hyderabad: 536 birth control pills made over-the-counter drugs

Hyderabad: Some 536 oral contraceptive drugs are going to be removed from the prescription schedule and be made available as over-the-counter drugs.  

Contraceptive pills decrease the number of unwanted pregnancies and septic abortions in women but the side-effects of prolonged use are a concern. If contraceptives are to be made easily available, and without a doctor’s prescription, then the users must be educated about these side-effects of prolonged use.

Gynaecologist Dr Srilatha Gorthi says oral contraceptives must be given to women after a counselling session “as it will help them understand what they are taking and why. What is available is the first generation of drugs which have very high levels of oestrogen and it is important that women understand what it will do to their bodies.”

She said that studies in India conducted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences have shown that “women tend to become sexually active due to the use of the pills. This means that they are risking themselves to human papillomavirus which can lead to cervical cancer. The other side-effect is that less bleeding makes the diagnosis of polyps delayed and it can be easily missed.”

Other side-effects noted in hospitals due to improper counselling and follow-ups are severe migraine attacks, blood clots in the brain and limbs which could lead to amputation.

Gynaecologist Dr Manjula Anagani cautions that the pills cannot be taken by those who have liver disease. “The efficacy of the pills comes down when antibiotics are taken. Evaluation of the patient along with proper counselling is very important. Contraception is a wom-an’s right and choice but she2 must be equipped to make an informed choice.”

With the right information, the problem of heavy uterine bleeding, cramps, pain and other risks can be minimised.

Dr Revathy Ramaswamy, senior consultant gynaecologist at Apollo Hospitals, considers allowing contraceptives to be bought without a prescription to be a double-edged sword where the education through schemes, follow-up and implementation will decide whether it has been used wisely or not.

Prescription of oral contraceptive pills is not a doctor’s bread and butter but it will do away with a major part of their counselling process and the consultation fee that they charge for it. Consultation charges vary from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 per patient. With more than 100 countries offering these pills over-the-counter, the onus will now be completely on the consumer.