Table of contents:
- What are emergency birth control pills?
- Are emergency birth control pills safe for teens?
- Risks of taking emergency birth control pills for teens
The teenage pregnancy rate is still quite high in Indonesia. Data compiled by the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) in 2015 shows that pregnancy occurs in 48 people out of every 1,000 teenage girls. So, it cannot be denied that some teenagers in Indonesia are already sexually active. From there arises concerns about the use of emergency birth control pills for adolescents. Currently, the emergency birth control pills available in pharmacies or clinics are for adult couples who want to prevent pregnancy. Then, what if teenagers take emergency birth control pills? Read on for the complete information below.
What are emergency birth control pills?
Emergency birth control pills, also known as emergency contraception (condar) or morning after pill, is the last resort for couples who want to prevent pregnancy. Emergency contraception serves to prevent conception, not to abort the fetus or to leach a fertilized egg.
To prevent conception, the emergency birth control pill will hold the egg from being released into the fallopian tube. This pill will also trigger the production of mucus in the uterine wall so that the sperm will be trapped, unable to meet the egg.
To be effective, emergency contraception must be taken within 72 hours of having sex. You can still take these pills for up to 5 days afterward, but the longer you delay, the less effective they will be.
Are emergency birth control pills safe for teens?
Until now, there has been no research that can prove the dangers of taking emergency birth control pills for adolescents in particular. In addition, there are no reports that adolescents are more prone to experiencing side effects from the emergency birth control pill. To note, some of the side effects that may arise after taking emergency birth control pills include nausea, headaches, breast pain, and weakness.
In some cases, emergency birth control pills can cause irregular menstrual cycles, but they will gradually return to normal. Another risk is bleeding approximately 2-3 days after drinking. This is because there are changes to your ovulation cycle. However, if the side effects that appear are serious or have contraindications, immediately contact the nearest health service.
Risks of taking emergency birth control pills for teens
Adolescents under 18 years old should not use emergency birth control pills as the only means of contraception to prevent pregnancy. The reason is, there is no medical evidence about the long-term risks of emergency birth control pills for adolescents. This is because emergency contraceptive methods were only developed recently. Thus, its long-term health effects are not known.
In addition, a concern that is often voiced is that adolescents have not been able to analyze and make important decisions regarding their health. That is why teenagers are not allowed to smoke or consume alcoholic beverages. So, experts also don't recommend teenagers to take emergency birth control pills. The consideration is that teenagers may not think twice before having sex because they feel that as long as there are emergency birth control pills, they will not become pregnant.
In fact, having sex at a young age still has various dangerous risks. For example, the lack of knowledge about the reproductive system and sexual health in adolescents can lead to reckless attitudes such as not using condoms. This can lead to transmission of venereal disease or pregnancy.
Another danger to consider is the abuse of emergency birth control pills. An overdose of emergency birth control pills can cause vomiting and bleeding. Teens also may not be aware that there are contraindications or allergic reactions. Thus, pediatricians and obstetricians believe that the best way for teenagers to prevent pregnancy is not to have sex.
