AEGiS-Bangkok Post: Teen girls warned off after-sex pill

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Teen girls warned off after-sex pill

Bangkok Post - July 23, 2008
Apiradee Treerutkuarkul

Teenage girls should avoid using the emergency contraceptive levonorgesprel, sometimes known as the "morning after pill", after having sex as it could lead to menstrual bleeding and ectopic pregnancy, medical experts have warned. Kittiphong Cheng, head of the Reproductive Health Department, yesterday said many young girls were making improper use of the medication in the belief it would prevent pregnancy, instead of using proper preventative contraception.

"It doesn't help at all," he said. "On the other hand, they will be at risk of abnormal menstrual bleeding, ectopic pregnancy and even sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/Aids."

Dr Kittiphong said levonorgesprel is only for preventing unwanted pregnancy caused by rape and condom tear. Taking more than four tablets a month of the emergency contraceptive was dangerous for the user's health.

Niyada Kiatyingungsulee, of Chulalongkorn University's faculty of pharmaceutical sciences, said the problem was partly attributable to the Food and Drug Administration allowing unmonitored over-the-counter sales of the drug.

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