We all remember the commercials for Pastillas Para Abortar, those ubiquitous spots during school break. As soon as the word “Abort” was uttered, women around the world would take out their birth control pills to prepare for safe sex or emergency contraception. The commercial presents young people interested in exploring these options with one message: “Pastillas Para Abortar are still relevant.”
But is pastillas para abortar still relevant? There isn’t any other type of contraception that offers the same benefits as this once-popular contraceptive does. What has happened to the contraceptive pill? Why has there been a surge of popularity for other forms of contraception?
The contraceptive pill is controversial because it comes with health risks. These include, but are not limited to, irregular bleeding or spotting, mood swings, headaches, pain or nausea during sex, acne breakouts and weight gain.
The pastillas para abortar made its way into women’s medicine cabinets in Mexico in the 1960s when it was initially introduced by Grasilandia Brand Laboratories SA. They appeared very similar to the popular birth control pills that were being used before then. People started using them after they realized that they don’t just stop having their period after they stop taking the pill. The users used them to plan pregnancy.
The pastillas para abortar were sold through the drugstore, the pharmacy and the grocery stores. They made their way into Mexico with World Health Organization purchases of contraceptives from other countries, including China. At first they were only available in the central part of our country, but gradually they came to be distributed throughout Mexico.
During this time, women were emerging from misconceptions about contraceptives that had been handed down for generations, especially the myth that taking three pill a day will prevent pregnancy. This is not true because there are no pills that have this effect on women’s hormonal balance. Because of this myth many women stopped taking their birth control pills or switched brands without consulting their doctors.
We can’t forget that this is a medication that effectively prevents conception. It does not prevent infection, but it is also not an abortive drug. For this reason, many people are using it to get rid of an unwanted pregnancy. They are taking three or more pills at once, which can cause serious complications for the woman who takes the medication.
Nowadays there are more options for contraceptives available on the market. The birth control pill is no longer the only contraceptive option available. The world has changed and women’s needs have changed with it.
The contraceptive pill must be taken every day, but alternative methods of contraception are available that require less doses to be taken per day. Alternative methods include an intrauterine device (IUD), which is inserted into the uterus after implantation; male or female condoms; spermicides; the pill; hormonal implants; intrauterine devices (IUDs); hormonal implants (IUs) and contraceptive sponges. All of these alternatives are safe, effective and inexpensive.
Contraceptives come in different formats. The pill comes in 28 or 21 days, IUDs come in three- or five-year cycles and hormonal implants come with different dosing schedules. Prior to the invention of contraceptive implants, women were diagnosed with irregular periods because they didn’t know that there was another option available.
Contraceptives are also easily reversible. It is possible to stop using them on one day and resume the following day without any ill effects on one’s health. Contraceptives are not an abortive drug because they do not terminate a pregnancy unless there is a medical problem with the pregnancy itself.
Years ago some women started using the pill to plan pregnancy; this is not recommended, and some users will tell you that they did this to get pregnant. However, if a woman is ready to have a baby she will most likely use other forms of contraception because the pill only prevents the possibility of getting pregnant.
If a woman decides to have a baby it’s best to talk about her options with her doctor. The doctor can also recommend an appropriate method of contraception or ask her if she wants a child or wants a child at all. It is natural for women who don’t want children to choose methods of contraception designed exclusively for birth control.
