Doctors warn against frequent use of morning-after pills

NEW DELHI: There may be troubling news for women who rely heavily on morning-after pills to avoid pregnancy. Doctors warn that frequent use of emergency contraceptive pills can disrupt hormonal balance and menstrual cycles, cautioning that the medication is meant only for unexpected situations and should not be used as a routine method of birth control.Gynaecologists say the pill is intended for emergencies such as contraceptive failure or unprotected intercourse, but many women are increasingly using it repeatedly within short spans of time."Emergency contraception is a very useful tool when there is an unplanned situation," said Dr Aparna Sharma, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, AIIMS. "But when it is used regularly it creates multiple problems.

Compared to regular contraception, it is less effective, so the chances of pregnancy are higher if someone relies only on emergency pills."Doctors say one of the most common problems reported by women who use the pill repeatedly is disruption of the menstrual cycle. Periods may be delayed, unusually heavy, or accompanied by spotting between cycles."Emergency pills contain a high dose of hormones. Frequent use can disturb ovulation and lead to irregular menstrual cycles," Dr Sharma said.

Dr Rahul Manchanda, senior consultant in endoscopic gynaecology at PSRI Hospital, said the medication can trigger several short-term side effects."The common short-term side effects include headaches, nausea, vomiting, abnormal spotting or bleeding and menstrual irregularities," he said. "These pills are intended for emergency situations. Frequent or indiscriminate use can disturb menstrual health and hormonal balance."Repeated hormonal exposure may also interfere with ovulation patterns over time, potentially affecting reproductive health, doctors say.Another concern is that emergency pills do not protect against sexually transmitted infections."Barrier methods like condoms remain essential because emergency pills only prevent pregnancy and do not protect against infections," Dr Sharma said.Experts say there is no medically fixed limit on how many emergency pills can be taken in a month. However, doctors emphasise that needing them repeatedly usually indicates a need for a more reliable contraceptive method.