Girls bank on Saturday pills

BANGALORE: The numbers tell the stark story of the morning after.On an average, 40 abortions are conducted every month at the Safe abortion Clinic of Family Planning Association (FPA) India, Bangalore.
The Karnataka State Pharmacists Association sees a spike in sale of emergency contraceptive pills, with a three-fold increase on weekends and rise in college-going customers.Pharmacists have even coined a name for it — ‘Saturday tablet’
The SAHAI helpline now receives many more calls from depressed pregnant adolescent girlsWhere does all this lead to? The abortion clinics.
SAHAI counsellor Anita Gracias says: “Abortion is a social stigma. Young girls who become victims of unplanned pregnancy out of wedlock feel suicidal and depressed. Apart from the burden of pregnancy, being dumped by her partner is even more shocking. These girls need moral and social support. Education will play a significant role.”
G Rekha, branch manager, FPA India, explains the rise in abortion cases: “Most of those who come for abortion are adolescent girls. Often, they don’t consult doctors, and apply the knowledge gained by reading websites or advertisements. They take abortion pills without following the proper protocol which results in incomplete abortion. Frequent intake of emergency contraceptive pills also causes other gynaecological problems. Girls are affected the most due to lack of sex education which is more about values and relationships.”
Despite the rising numbers, the state is reluctant to introduce sex education in schools and colleges. This is a huge worry as Karnataka is leading some neighbouring states in incidence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, be it HIV or cervical cancer. The increasing number of abortions among adolescent girls should serve as a warning. But does it?
Gynaecologist and sexologist Dr Padmini Prasad observes: “We see young mothers bring school-going daughters for abortion. Due to lack of knowledge about their own bodies, girls have been unable to protect themselves and end up victims of sexual abuse and harassment. Repeated abortion scars the uterus.
Taking emergency pills without guidance causes many complications like hormonal imbalance and may affect the menstrual cycle”.