Law governing contraceptive pills impotent

New laws needed to curb liberal sales by pharmacies, says CAP.

GEORGE TOWN: The Poisons Act 1952 governing contraceptive pills is ineffective and is putting women’s reproductive health at risk, said the Consumer Association of Penang.

Its president SM Mohamed Idris called for new laws to replace the existing ones, claiming the current legal mechanism had been ineffective in stopping liberal sales of the pill.

He said CAP survey on oral contraceptive pills showed that they were easily and freely available at pharmacies.

These drugs are controlled by the Poisons Act 1952, which requires seller to record his sales in a register called Poisons Book kept by the pharmacy.

However, a CAP survey revealed that buyers need not give their details to buy these drugs over the counter.

In a survey of 15 outlets, oral contraceptives were sold over the counter without registration of the buyer’s details in the Poisons Book in 14 pharmacies.

Only in one pharmacy was the buyer asked to register but the authenticity of the buyer’s details was not verified.

“This means that false identities can be entered into the Poisons Book,” said Idris. “Of the 14 outlets, five pharmacies asked some questions but eventually sold the pills.”

A male buyer was also able to get the pills for the use of others from several pharmacies.

Moreover, the survey found that contraceptives were sold in loose strips without any information on the use, contra indications or side-effects given to the buyer.

“This makes a mockery of the Poisons Act,” said Idris.

Law openly flouted

The CAP’s survey revealed that the law was openly flouted by pharmacies in Penang and a grocery shop in Kulim, Kedah.

The pills are also sold freely in Kuala Lumpur’s Chow Kit area and in grocery shops in certain rural areas.

Idris said it was frightening that health authorities were unaware of this situation as the easy availability of these pills revealed inept enforcement.

As a result, he alleged that thousands of Malaysian women could be suffering in silence from adverse health effects due to ignorance of the dangers posed by the drugs and ineffective laws.

He said the easy availability of these pills could allow abuse and misuse of the pills by Malaysian women.

“These drugs need to be dispensed under a doctor’s supervision due to its dangers and long-term effects,” said Idris.

He called on the authorities to put a stop to the over-the-counter sales of contraceptive pills and their usage without doctor’s prescription and supervision.

CAP also wants the authorities to launch a campaign to educate women on the dangers caused by misuse of contraceptive pills.

“Young women should be educated on how their reproductive cycles work in relation to their health. They should be educated on safer methods which pose fewer dangers to their health.

“Men should also play their part in the protection of women’s health,” said Idris. “The pill, besides being used as a contraceptive, is used for other off-label uses like for postponing periods.”

Serious side-effects

According to the survey, Malaysian girls seek online consultation for postponing their periods to prepare for university exams, or attend religious, social and family functions.

“The pills are often used by women during the Muslim fasting month, Ramadan and when performing the haj,” he said.

According to a drug insert, the pills should not be used in the presence of certain conditions, including pregnancy, cardiovascular disorders, cerebrovascular disorders, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, anaemia, cancer and many more.

Taking synthetic hormones as in contraceptive pills to control the ovulation process, is suppressing the natural process of ovulation.

This can disrupt the natural process of reproduction in women, causing pain, discomfort, change in moods and depression, and further creating reproductive problems for the woman who may later want to bear children.

The adverse effects of these pills are many and they include depression, breast lumps, heavy vaginal bleeding between periods, hypertension, high cholesterol, blood clot in the leg, chest pains, signs of liver damage, signs of stroke, among others.

Many of these serious adverse effects can be attributed to the estrogen content of birth control pills.

The effect of these oral contraceptive pills on a woman’s reproductive cycle is like binding a child who is naturally active and full of enthusiasm, which will lead to a dramatic counter-productive reaction.

Similarly, the normal ovulating egg which is inhibited will, in the process, change the normal bodily and reproductive functions, and alter the woman’s moods and psychological state.

In a typical female monthly reproductive cycle of 27-29 days, there are seven days of menstruation, 8-10 days of ovulation, and 10-11 days of premenstrual syndrome.

With all these, she is left with only five good days without any stress of pain from her cycle. The pain and distress in the reproductive cycle is common among all women but are aggravated by the pills which controls the ovulation process.

The use and misuse of these pills can totally disturb a woman’s reproductive cycle and leave her body altered.

The hazards associated with contraceptive pills and the reproductive cycle are premenstrual syndrome (PMS), also known as premenstrual tension, ovulatory pain, Dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain that interferes with daily activities) and Menorrhagia (abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual period at regular intervals).

“The conditions may occur in about 80% of women but taking contraceptive pills or misusing these pills for off-label uses will aggravate the conditions,” said Idris.