University students have the most sex, no doubt. They engage in marital games, illegally, yes but regularly. Sex is a vent for pushing out academic and financial frustrations and sex is a need to certain people. Abstinence thus is a myth around Universities. Often in the act of coitus, mistakes happen, the ill worn condom breaks or somehow members ride without helmets.
When such sexual accidents occur, panic sets in and so does desperation. In bid to avoid a very early pregnancy, females tend to swallow emergency contraceptives. Also called emergency post coital contraception or the popular off the counter name; MORNING AFTER PILLS.
Morning after pills is a common companion of sexually active university students. Nyakahuma Robert, a 2nd year pharmacy student at Mulago says “It comes in handy when swallowed within 72 hours. This means, pregnancy can be prevented by swallowing the pills. The pills however are effective when swallowed immediately after sex.”
Jackie, a Gulu university student, says she’s used the pills four times this semester. “Often the condom breaks and you don’t really have a choice. Sometimes you are overwhelmed by emotion and you forget about the condoms. It’s mostly the breakage of condoms that puts pharmacies in business. Most girls contacted were hesitant, but from their faces one could read “morning after guilt.” She tips.
One of the male pharmacists at FIRST PHARMACY in Wandegeya says “Postinor is the most common in Uganda, and he agrees university students are the most buyers. Someday a very young looking girl, came in looking very sad and asked for abortion pills, she had panic in her voice, we gave her postinor for she’d engaged in unprotected sex the night before.”
Most of the pharmacies we visited, postinor averagely costs between 7k to 10k. The effectiveness rate is 7/8.The brand names include Escapelle (Levonelle , Nogestat, Postinor , Plan B). Surprisingly even small drugstores have the pills.
How does it work? Progestein only pills contain 1.5 milligrams of levonorgestrel (This is an intrauterine device (IUD), which is a reversible form of birth control. This type of IUD slowly releases levonorgestrel, a hormone. It is used to prevent pregnancy and to treat heavy menstrual bleeding.), This delays ovulation and interferes with fertilization.
Side effects;
- an earlier or later, heavier or lighter period than usual
- breast tenderness, dizziness, or headaches, and
- nausea or vomiting. If you vomit within two hours of taking the pill(s), it won’t be effective and you need to take it again. Some activists claim the use of the pills is akin to abortion, some suggest postinor has abortive effects .
However, the pills don’t prevent STDs, prudence would require you getting tested. Instead abstain and or tightly use condoms on top of being faithful you might avoid the pregnancy but not HIV. The sale of morning after pills still remains a lucrative business for clinics around universities.
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