A pregnancy scare can be frightening and can lead you to take drastic measures to try and prevent any possibility of an unplanned pregnancy. At times girls turn to homemade emergency contraceptives, like mixing aspirin with cooldrinks (like coke) believing that it will get rid of pregnancy. The question is, do these homemade emergency contraceptives really work? Read this to find out.

What are DIY emergency contraceptives?

DIY emergency contraceptives are homemade mixtures that are used to try and prevent pregnancy after having unprotected sex. They usually include mixing harmful substances or douching to try and flush out the sperm from your vagina. Some people even try to go as far as taking laxatives, blood cleaning mixtures and traditional remedies to try and prevent pregnancy.

What are the dangers of DIY emergency contraceptives?

Since homemade emergency contraceptives are not medically proven to work, they can be harmful to your health. Some of these contraceptives require the use of harsh substances that need to be inserted into your vagina. This can cause vaginal infections amongst other health problems.

Unlike medically proven emergency contraceptives (the morning after pill), DIY emergency contraceptives can be dangerous to your health and that of your unborn baby, since you may already be pregnant and not know about it.

Do they work?

The effectiveness of homemade emergency contraceptives has not been proven. So, it’s safe to say that they don’t work, instead they are a health risk. Don’t compromise your health, Choma, rather go to your nearest clinic or pharmacy if you are in need of emergency contraceptives.

What can I do to prevent unwanted pregnancy?

Although the morning after pill is a safer option (when taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex), it doesn’t always work and it should not be used frequently. That’s why I advise  the use of contraceptives, like the pill, IUD or injection to prevent unwanted pregnancy. However, these contraceptives don’t protect against STIs and HIV, so it’s better to use a hormonal contraceptive and condoms at the same time. This gives you maximum protection against STIs and pregnancy. It’s also important to do your research and find out about how different contraceptives may affect your body before choosing to get one.

There are lot of myths about contraceptives and emergency contraceptives out there. Instead of using homemade mixtures that can be harmful to your health, rather rely on medically supported and proven ways to prevent pregnancy and make sure you are protecting yourself from STIs and HIV, too.

If you or a friend need advice or help, you can contact me here on Ask Choma, send me a Facebook Message, a Twitter DM, or a WhatsApp Message (071 172 3657).