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Women Health

Abortion pills can have harmful side-effects (The Asian Age-19 August 2010)

"Think about those who will just follow the ad and take the pill with- out a doc- tor's pre-
scription."

After emergency con traception pills, it is the advertisement of an abortion pill on national
channels that's upsetting many gynaecologists. An ad that has been put on-air recently says the
pill is "available in India now" and it promotes a five-day "easy" abortion. It has left many
doctors in the city worried as they feel easy access to such pills could put many lives at risk.

Dr Anita Gupta, senior consultant gynaecologist, G.M. Modi Hospital, says that such pills have
been available in India for more than five years now. "But it was never so easy. Most companies
give it to doctors and a very few are available at chemist counters, as they are sold only on a
doctor's prescription. Promoting it through an ad means increasing the consumer base of the pill
and making it accessible," she adds.

Other doctors in the city agree and voice their concern. "Think about those who will just follow
the ad and take the pill without a doctor's prescrip tion. It can be very harmful," says Dr Shivani
Sachdev Gour, a gynaecolo gist at Fortis Hospital.

She further draws attention to the fact that not many are aware that these pills only work within
49-days of the last menstrual period.

"Patients come to us to abort a child even after three months of conceiving, which is really risky.
In desperation some immediately take pills with out thinking about the side effects. And thus I
think it is a bad idea to promote an ad like this," adds Dr Gour.

Dr Urvashi Prasad Jha, director, Obstetrics St Gynaecology, who is shocked to know about such
an ad being on air, says that easy accessibility of these pills can even lead to death. Calling the
entire idea unethical, she adds, "If the pregnancy is ectopic (when the fertilised egg implants
itself outside the uterus), consumption of the pill can be lethal. Or it can cause severe
hemorrhage and bleeding. And if the pill works partly, it can also lead to an abnormal child," she
says.