Unsupervised, over-the-counter use of ‘emergency’ contraceptive and abortive pills is leading to menstrual problems, reports The Times of India.

The paper reports that gynaecologists are encountering increased incidents of menstrual problems among young women who are arbitrarily and repeatedly using these pills as regular forms of contraception.

"They check dosage on the internet, do their own calculations. Not understanding the consequences, they land up with incomplete abortions. They are scared about the uncontrollable bleeding, or not getting their periods," said Dr. Shilpi Tiwari to The Times of India. He also said that more than half of her clients are between 18 and their early 20s, all with pill-related complications.

In a 2002 Medscape interview, American ‘emergency’ contraception proponent Dr. David Grimes asserted that easier access to these drugs would not result in greater reliance upon them as regular birth control.  "There are four studies which suggest that advance access to EC does not prevent use of regular birth control," he said. "When legalized abortion became available we heard the same argument, but going through an induced abortion actually encourages women to use birth control methods subsequently."

Grimes admitted the danger of such drugs to a woman’s menstrual cycle.  "Repeated use of EC wreaks havoc on a woman’s cycle, so the resulting menstrual chaos acts as a powerful deterrent to using this method too often," he said.

Contrary to Grimes’ assertions, however, popular morning-after pills are being used as casual contraception, the paper says.  "When you’re with your boyfriend, you don’t want to use condoms," says 21-year-old D Bina.  Asked whether there are complications, she said, "At times. But you prefer sex without a condom. … Some put on weight, others don’t feel right. But the body gets used to it."

Morning-after pills such as Plan B and I-Pill claim to be effective in preventing pregnancy for up to 72 hours; however, if fertilization has already occurred, they are abortifacient, preventing the newly-formed child from implanting in its mother’s womb.

RU-486, on the other hand, known as ‘chemical abortion’, can be effective in killing an unborn child up to 7 weeks.  According to some reports, however, this drug has a ‘failure’ rate of 15%, normally resulting, then, in a surgical abortion.

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Abortion Pill not ‘Safe’ Despite Media Spin – Study Suggests Pill as Dangerous As Surgical Abortion
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/aug/07081601.html

Canadian Physicians Group Warns of Dangers of "Morning After Pill"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/may/04052005.html

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