Up to 300 thousand Prescription for emergency contraception in Poland. “Unverified myths block women”
Annually, over a quarter of a million prescriptions for emergency contraception are issued in Poland. At the same time, awareness about the so -called Tablets day after, although it grows, it is still insufficient. The PO campaign experts indicate a number of myths that still repent around this topic and which can even discourage women from reaching for emergency contraception, e.g. regarding the mechanism of its action or long -term effects. That is why they also emphasize the need to educate individual patients' groups, but also their partners. One such educational initiative is the PO Morning campaign.
From May 1, 2024, there is a pilot program in Poland, which allows pharmacists to put prescriptions for emergency contraception. Over 1.3 thousand joined him. pharmacies.
– Thanks to the piloting of reproductive health, which operates in pharmacies, Polish women had a chance to find out that you can use emergency contraception and get advice from the pharmacist. Consciousness is growing, but it is insufficient all the time. While women mostly know about the possibility of preventing unplanned pregnancy after intercourse, they are still not enlarged about when it can be used and what is its mechanism of action. There are many unverified myths, which also sometimes block women from reaching for this form of contraception – says in an interview with Newseria Olga Sierpniowska agency, co -author of the guidelines for pharmacists regarding emergency contraception, educator and expert of the Morning PO campaign.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, that In Poland, a year is displayed and implemented between 250 and 300 thousand. prescription for emergency contraception. The most completed prescriptions are for women aged 18-25 and 25-35 years. In a group under the age of 18, they constitute only about 1-2 percent. all prescriptions. The goal of the PO Morning campaign is to raise awareness about the available emergency contraception. As part of it, among others, guides, leaflets or podcasts, addressed to specific groups of recipients: teenagers, men, patients and all who would like to deepen their knowledge on this topic. The initiators of the campaign want to break the taboo related to the subject of the use of emergency contraception by women and the excretion of the myths around her.
– The absolute number one is the belief that emergency contraception causes the termination of pregnancy, that it is a miscarriage. The mechanism of “PO tablets” is that it inhibits or blocks ovulation, i.e. ovulation does not occur. Simply put, fertilization cannot occur – explains Olga Sierpniowska. – Repeating this myth is very harmful, because for ethical reasons many people consider it an insurmountable barrier. The second myth, also in my opinion, blocking women from reaching for this method of contraception, says that this is a very strong hormonal agent. There is a belief that “PO tablet” may negatively affect long -term hormonal balance and reduce fertility in the future. Oral emergency contraception has no such action. It is only effective in the cycle in which it was used, and fertility returns very quickly.
– contraception is to serve a woman, giving her the opportunity to avoid fear of unwanted, unwanted pregnancy at a given moment. The woman is to be safe, which means that if she planns a pregnancy in two years, she will be able to get into her. But contraception is also to have good non -conceptual effects – emphasizes prof. dr hab. n. med. Violetta Skrzypulec-Plinta, specialist in the field of gynecology-proximity, sexologist, head of the Health Department of the Women of the Silesian Medical University in Katowice.
For us, gynecologists, contraception is like a third hand: in this way we treat cysts, abundant bleeding, painful periods, some small cysts. Contemporary contraception is primarily safe contraception, one that we can use from the first menstruation to 50.-55. year of life.
Another common myth is the belief that emergency contraception is harmful to health. Experts reassure that after taking emergency contraception, as with any drug, side effects may not occur. All observed side effects are described in the patient leaflet, which, however, does not mean that each of them will definitely appear.
– Today we have tablets that move the cycle, i.e. they neither either embryiotoxic or teratogenic. The swallowed tablet moves the cycle and does not allow fertilization at all, because the hormonal game changes. So it's safe? Is. Tested? Is – emphasizes prof. Violetta Skrzypulec-Plinta.
– Surely you need to educate society in a way in accordance with Evidence-Based Medicine, i.e. give reliable facts, emphasize that experts should be trusted. It would be good that emergency contraception and fertility in general, the sphere of sexuality ceased to be a taboo subject in our society, that we would start approaching it normally – adds Olga Sierpniowska.
A study conducted on the Ariadna research panel of February this year. indicates that nearly 37 percent Poles find the subject of sex as shameful, which means that we rarely talk about this subject, even about key issues, such as an emergency concept, and even with a partner.
– If we start to treat it normally, patients dare to ask questions, and if they ask questions and obtain reliable, reliable, given with a simple language of answers, consciousness will grow. Because the educated patient, making informed health decisions, will give this knowledge to his loved ones, friends, he may also be better prepared to talk to his children about it. Step by step, normalizing this, as simply part of our lives, is very important – assesses the expert of the educational campaign Morning after
According to Kantar prepared last year, the study “Exploring Contraceptive Awareness”, 38 percent. Polish women and Poles do not have enough knowledge about contraception. This is the highest result in Europe. Only every fifth respondent knows different methods of contraception than condoms. 23 percent Poles still perceive contraception as a taboo subject. 57 percent respondents admitted that the Internet is the main source of their search for information about contraception, and only 21 percent. He considers the school as such a source.
– Recent studies have shown that teenagers learn about sex matters not from parents, not from teachers, but from their peers. Young people enter adult life to a large extent without reliable knowledge and without preparing for its assimilation. I think that this unfortunately transfers in the future to family planning issues. There has been a lot of talk recently about health lessons, sex education, but this topic cannot break through for various reasons. I think that step by step it may be possible to balance it towards common sense, reliable education – says Olga Sierpniowska.
In 2015, the Institute of Educational Research conducted research, which showed that 87 percent Eighteen -year -olds are of the opinion that classes on psychosexual development and human sexuality should take place at school. 88 percent gave the same answer. surveyed parents. Sex education is to be an important component of the core curriculum of the new school subject, which will be health education. In the new school year, it will replace the extinguished subject of family life. Contrary to original announcements, however, these will not be compulsory classes, which means that the percentage of participating in them, despite the promotional campaign, may not be satisfactory in practice. However, as experts argue, not school but family should play the biggest role in sex education.
– The school should only be a complement to what the child learned at home. It is to complement what parents did not convey, because, for example, for religious reasons at home was not talked about contraception – indicates prof. Violetta Skrzypulec-Plinta.
Pharmaceutical care for women's health, including emergency contraception and pre -employment prevention, were one of the topics of the Women's Health Forum that took place on June 9 in Katowice.
