COVID-19 and contraceptives: What you need to know
From whether it is safe to use contraceptives during a pandemic and what to do when you cannot access the contraceptive, here is what the World Health Organisation recommends.
The coronavirus pandemic has affected how we live our lives.
It brought with it new health precautions that each one of us need to take.
One of the concerns is how it affects pregnancy and its prevention.
The World Health Organisation has released guidelines on managing contraceptives during the pandemic.
According to the health body, women who want to prevent pregnancy can continue to take contraceptives.
“All modern methods of contraception are safe to use, including during the COVID-19 pandemic,” states the website.
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However, it advises that those who have recently given birth or suffer from chronic illnesses should speak to their doctor.
“If you have had a baby in the last six months or have a health condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or breast cancer – or if you smoke – seek advice from a health care professional to ensure you are using a method of contraception which is suitable and safe for you,” states the website.
One of the recommendations for preventing the spread of the coronavirus is to avoid going out in public. This means going to clinics and hospitals can put one at risk of contracting the virus.
The health site says one should consider using other methods to prevent pregnancy.
“If you cannot access your contraceptive method of choice – perhaps because it requires a prescription, or because it can only be given to you by a health worker – consider using condoms, fertility awareness-based methods, lactational amenorrhea (if you are exclusively breastfeeding), or other contraceptive methods that are recommended for self-care in your country. Depending on the situation in your country, methods recommended for self-care could include the pill or mini-pill, emergency contraception pills, and DMPA-SC (Sayana Press®),” states the website.
The health site adds that it is not necessary to change the contraceptive method just because of the pandemic.
“All modern methods of contraception help to prevent pregnancy. Women and their partners can choose any modern contraceptive method that is acceptable to and safe for them. The best method of contraception is the one that works well for you,” states the website.
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