i Pill

The subject of contraception isn’t really something meant for dinner time, especially when it’s an Indian family seated around the table. But one can’t really help it if the television switches to an i Pill advertisement. Leaving the Indian inhibitions with sex aside, it’s time for young and old women to understand the important of this tiny wonder drug.

The typical Indian family isn’t accustomed to the idea of premarital sex, so much so that the very thought of accidental pregnancies and requisite abortions is a very alien, and “western” concept.

But facing the truth is part of every culture and country that hopes to solve the problems that its society and people suffer with. Unwanted pregnancies happen, and there’s are methods to deal with it; sweeping such facts under the rug isn’t going to help anyone, individual and society included.

Moving beyond the societal norms and constructs, let us try to understand the functions of emergency contraceptives, with a special focus on one of the most popular ones – i Pill, manufacturer by pharmaceutical giant Cipla.

Many young women confuse the intended purpose of such pills with other forms of contraception. Emergency contraception methods are only used once another method has failed.

Understanding Emergency Contraceptives

In case other methods of contraception have failed, you can prevent a pregnancy by taking an emergency contraceptive, which in India, is only found in the form of a pill.

Popular brands of this drug include the i Pill and Unwanted 72. Such pills are also referred to as the “morning after pill”, or are abbreviated simply as ES.

The next logical question is to understand how the i Pill actually works. Upon consuming it orally, this pill gives your body a high, though-lived, burst of synthetic hormones, which disrupts the hormonal patterns necessary for a successful pregnancy to develop.

It targets the ovaries, along with the development of the uterine lining, thereby greatly reducing the odds of a pregnancy. When we say “greatly”, it is advisable to note that this method of contraception, much like all others, does not come a 100% guarantee of preventing a pregnancy.

There are a few ways by which this pill can work towards preventing you from getting pregnant. It helps to prevent ovulation, during which the egg leaves the ovary to move into the fallopian tube.

It also blocks the hormones vital to the fertilization process of the egg. It may also affect the lining of the uterus, thereby providing to be an hindrance for the sperm and the egg meeting.

Side effects

There are a handful of side effects that women should be aware about before consuming this drug. Since all such contraceptives contain a concentrated burst of female hormones that prevents the fertilization of the egg, there are is always the problem of residual effects.

Nausea, vomiting, headaches, lower abdominal pain and fluctuations in the timing of your menstrual cycle are among the adverse effects that consuming this drug can have on you. Rest assured, for those who wish to avoid a pregnancy, these are comparatively a better choice.

In some rare cases there is also the chance of excessive vaginal bleeding, in case of which, you are advised to visit a gynecologist immediately.

Instructions

It is advised that women only consume this drug when required. Do not make opting for this method your regular choice for contraception. There are far safer and cheaper methods available that don’t have the side effects of this EC.

Following are some of the situations for which it is highly recommended that you consume i Pill:

• In case of unprotected sex, this method is the only one available, and should be taken advantage of within 72 hours. There’s no reason to feel guilty or ashamed about it; passionate moments where some feelings are uncontrollable is, in many ways, part of being human. Don’t make it a regular practice though!

• If you’ve been a victim of forced intercourse, an EC is something that can at the very least keep away an unwanted pregnancy. Don’t forget to undertake testing for STDs though; always remember – prevention is better than cure.

• At times, condoms are known to break or rupture during sexual acts.

• There are times one may be confused and/or doubtful about the effectiveness of their chosen method of contraception. In case of any confusion or doubt, consuming an i Pill will help keep your body away from undesired consequences.