Expert warns against abuse of infertility drugs

 

A gynecologist, Dr Ado Zakari, on Wednesday, warned against indiscriminate use of pregnancy prevention drugs by young women as he emphasized its effects on fertility.

Zakari, who is also the Director, Public Health, Kaduna State Ministry of  Health and Human Services gave the warning in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said that the effects  of such drugs, also known as emergency contraceptive, could delay conception or damage a woman’s uterus if used wrongly.

The expert also warned against unprescribed use of the drug called misoprostol without medical supervision, which he added could also damage the uterus, cause excessive bleeding and death in some cases.

Misoprostol is a medication used to start labour, cause an abortion, prevent and treat stomach ulcer and treat postpartum bleeding due to poor contraction of the uterus.

“Some women indiscriminately use such drugs to either induce labour by themselves or abort pregnancy,

“It is very dangerous, especially if the pregnancy is beyond 2-3 months.

”The patient might end up in the hands of quack, who might injure the uterus and cause excessive bleeding, which can injure the uterus or cause death,’’ he emphasized.

Zakari, therefore cautioned the public to seek medical assistance from reputable health centres for any kind of ailment.

Meanwhile, some of the women who take such drugs alleged that they prefer to take it as a measure toward preventing pregnancy as it was easily accessible, cheap and had no visible side effect on them.

Mrs Joy Anthony, a mother of two said she had been taking postinor 2 for a while and had never had or observe any visible side effects.

Anthony added that the drug had been very efficient and reliable whenever she had unprotected sex with her husband during her ovulation.

“I was actually introduced to it by a friend.

”I have never noticed any side effects from taking it, rather it works very well for me and prevents me from getting pregnant when I am not ready.”

Similarly, Binta Ishaku, an undergraduate, said even though she had never used the drugs, she learnt that It was used to prevent pregnancy after an unprotected sex, if taken within 24 hours.

Ishaku added that the drugs were cheap and easily accessible.