NCW concern over emergency contraceptive pills

Oral emergency contraceptive pills gaining popularity among young girls
Advertisements quite misleading and its side-effects are undisclosed

NEW DELHI: Concerned over the indiscriminate use of emergency contraceptive pills sold across the country, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has written to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Medical Council of India seeking their opinion in curbing the promotion of these pills.


In a statement issued here, the NCW has said that it had been brought to their notice that wide scale advertisement campaign in favour of oral emergency contraceptive pills was being carried out by the pharmaceutical companies.
These pills are gaining popularity among young girls despite repeated warning from doctors against the use, the statement said.
“With concern, it is seen that the drug is being projected as an after saviour of unsafe sex. The advertisements of these pills are quite misleading and its side-effects as well as efficacy are not at all being disclosed,” the statement said.
It is being projected as an alternative to the safe sex method and thus may lead to an everlasting impact on the younger generation and in turn result in the government and the society losing its battle against AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases besides putting the women through grave emotional and physical trauma and everlasting effect of hormonal imbalance, the Commission said.
Over-the-counter drug
Pointing out that these pills were designed for women over 25 years and accordingly it is felt that it may have dangerous side-effects on teenagers and on women using it too regularly, the panel has further said that this is an over-the-counter drug and hence did not require any medical prescription.
It is dangerous because emergency pills do not prevent sexually transmitted disease like HIV/AIDS, the statement added.

The Hindu online edition 23.03.2010
http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/23/stories/2010022358442000.htm

What is child prostitution?

Child prostitution is the practice whereby a child is used by others for sexual activities in return for remuneration or any other form of consideration. The remuneration or other consideration could be provided to the child or to another person. A child abuser or a pimp can be the organizer.

According to World Forum of Child Labour Convention, 1999, of the International Labour Organization, the use, procuring or offering a child for prostitution is one of the worst forms of child labour and exploitation.

Child prostitution is a Taboo theme for the normal public and they also know less about this. But the customers or the abusers also come from all the societies. The children are the victim mostly because they are physically weak and helpless to defend themselves.

The estimated number of sex-workers in India is more than a million and 30% are believed to be children. It is increasing around 10% every year. The situation in Mumbai is extreme but it is prevalent in all the big cities. It may be different in Hyderabad than in Chennai and depends on various factors.

The police are in a position to crack down child prostitution in India without any problem. It does not materialize because of the lack of places everywhere for the victims. Place to live, school education, social security and a fair chance for the integration is the urgent need. Here, politics, industries and the society must have the will and courage to arrange to realize this.

It is not mainly sex tourism which creates child prostitution in India like in many developing countries. It is mostly gender discrimination and trafficking of children as well as selling children from various sources, may be from parents or husbands. Incest also plays a role here.

The myth that a man can get rid off HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases if he sleeps with a virgin has increased the demand for virgins and children. This is particularly worst in Africa. The result is an increase in the number of HIV infected women as well as their infected children. They pay this high price although they are innocent.

Child prostitution is not only a problem of big cities but it is present everywhere including rural areas in the world. In most of the countries there are very strict laws against child prostitution or trafficking but in reality it sees entirely different. Unfortunately, the men who have to guarantee these rights are also the men with weakness. It is applicable to developed countries also in every field. They are not weak men; I would rather say they are mentally sick men with less chance to have a normal relationship with women or old. There are several examples throughout the world for this.

Poverty, lack of love and affection in the family, loneliness, problems at school and alcohol and drug addiction are the main reasons which push children to this evil. The average age of a child prostitute is 13 years. We do not go in detail to their health damage physically as well as psychologically, but these are very serious. A child prostitute becomes a whore when she becomes an adult and mostly the fate of her girl child is also the same.

In Africa this problem has the following grounds:

The myth about virgin and HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases
Pornography and everything extreme connected to this
Demand for black children from North American and European men for sexual purposes. Here, most of the victims are girl-children but there are also male-teenage victims who serve women.

Not to forget the poverty or civil war connected crimes to children, the weakest member of the society.

Moreover, we should not forget the age of consent for sex in many countries is 13 years old and 13 year old is for me a child. It is a shame.

For further details read my book “Sexual Abuse of Children and Sex Health Education” published in Aaron Verlag Publishers Private Limited. The original is in English and the Tamil translation is also available. It is also available as e-book. For further particulars visit www.aaronverlag.com.

What are the evils of sex tourism?

Imagine one books his holidays, two to three weeks, mostly in a developing country and at the same time he books also a virgin child for these weeks.

This child is a sex slave, so to speak, to this person for this time without any rights. This is an inhuman evil in the sexual abuse of a child. If he has HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases, child might get that too.

Some countries like Germany punish their citizens if the issue comes out in the open, and the local police could also take action. If one observes such things it is better to inform the police immediately. But many hotels tolerate this to get guests and a regular unannounced control will help here to control this evil. The black market is flourishing and poverty and big quick money make it possible for such worst decisions of the families to send their daughters and sons for this horrible work.

This evil damages the body as well as the mind of the child for its rest of life. It is very difficult for them later in their life to develop normal contact to their better half.

Yes, boys are also sexually abused in sex tourism. When I asked a person known to me how it is possible in her country, the straight answer was that many families think it is better to send the son than spoiling the daughter.

To stop this evil every individual can do his best. Keep your eyes open and if something unwanted happens inform the police immediately.

Children are the wealth of our earth and it is our duty to prevent this evil.

For further details read my book “Sexual Abuse of Children and Sex Health Education” published in Aaron Verlag Publishers Private Limited. The original is in English and the Tamil translation is also available. It is also available as e-book. For further particulars visit www.aaronverlag.com.

Is circumcision necessary?

Till 2005 it was not considered medically necessary. But in recent times, the practice of newborn circumcision is going up. 60 to 75% of males are circumcised in the United States. The percentage varies depending upon the ethnic groups and religion.

The main reason for this change is that several large studies showed that a 60% decrease in HIV transmission in circumcised males compared to uncircumcised males. This has influence in the decision of parents for newborn circumcision.

The circumcised penis is easier to keep clean. An uncircumcised boy must be taught properly how to clean his penis gently but thoroughly. This must happen mostly when the boys are three years old. Before that the retraction may not be possible and this is normal. Uncircumcised boys get more urinary tract infections. This is significant in infants. The reason is that circumcision prevents the growth of bacteria under the foreskin.

Uncircumcised men have higher risk of sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis, herpes simplex type-2 and human papillomavirus. It is the case with HIV infection also. Gonorrhoea and inflammation of the urethra are less common in circumcised men.

Less infection with human papilomavirus means the partner is also partially safe from cervical cancer. Penis cancer comes exclusively to uncircumcised men.

Circumcision increases the risk of the inflammation of the opening of the penis.

Female Infertility

Primary infertility is the inability to conceive a child after regular intercourse for at least one year. Secondary infertility is defined as the inability to achieve a second pregnancy. Women and men are equally affected here.

For woman’s fertility, her reproductive organs must be healthy and functional. The causes of infertility in women may be physical or emotional. Healthy egg and sperm must be there in the fallopian tubes for a possible union to conceive a child.

The causes of female infertility include:

• Ovulation disorders
• Fallopian tube problems
• Endometriosis
• Cysts in the ovary
• Pelvic infection
• Poor nutrition
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Egg quality
• Hormone imbalance
• Tumour
• Uterine problems
• Fibroids – tumour in the uterus
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Life style – smoking, alcohol and drugs abuse
• age

The failure to produce ripe eggs is the most common cause of female infertility. Excessive weight loss, stress, even slight hormone imbalances, thyroid problems. Irregular menstrual periods or no periods are the signs of this problem.

Inflammation or any other of the fallopian tube makes it blocked and the egg cannot move from ovary to the uterus.

Endometriosis is a condition when the tissue of the uterine lining grows excessively outside the ovaries or in the lining of the abdomen near uterus and fallopian tubes. This can prevent the period and inflammation is the result. Women with endometriosis have usually pelvic pain and infertility. Other symptoms are painful menstrual cramps, pain during sexual intercourse, heavy bleeding and unusual spotting.

Ovarian cysts may indicate advanced endometriosis and it affects fertility.

Excess androgen hormone production can produce many tiny cysts in the ovaries which prevent the production of mature egg. Here the symptoms include acne, irregular or absent periods and weight gain.

A woman’s peak fertility is in her early 20s. After the age of 35 the ability to produce eggs declines. After the age of 40, the chance of conceiving decreases.

Life style must be changed first with healthy food and less stress. There must be enough physical activity.

With personal interviews of both partners taking into consideration of the health history, sexual habits and menstrual cycle your doctor has to diagnose infertility.

Measurement of basal body temperature each morning over months is important to know exactly about ovulation.

Along with normal blood parameters the levels of the hormones luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin, 17beta-estradiol and progesterone should also be estimated.

Fertility drugs and surgery are the possible treatments apart from other techniques.

Multiple pregnancy, low birth weight, birth defects, infection, bleeding and enlarged ovaries may be the possible complications.

Next: The role of food in fertility