Taking up the issue of emergency contraceptive pills, the National Commission for Women has written to the Health Ministry and the Medical Council of India seeking their opinion on the matter.
The NCW said in a statement on Monday that it has been brought to the notice of the Commission that wide-scale advertisement campaign in favour of the oral pills known as an emergency contraceptive pill, is being carried out by pharmaceutical companies.
“These pills are gaining popularity among young girls, despite repeated warning from doctors against its use,” it said.
With concern, it is seen that the drug is being projected as an after saviour of unsafe sex. The advertisements of these wonder pills are quite misleading and its side effects as well as efficacy are not at all being disclosed. It is being projected as an alternative to the safe sex method and thus may lead to an everlasting impact on the younger generation and in turn lead to government and the society losing its battle as far as AIDS and STDs are concerned besides putting the women through grave emotional and physical trauma and everlasting effect of hormonal imbalance, the statement said.
The commission said that the pills have been designed for women over 25 and accordingly it is felt that it may have dangerous side effects on teenagers and on women using it too regularly.
The commission has written to the MCI and the Health Ministry seeking their views in the matter.
