By Ali Elias
A Consultant Gynaecologist, Dr. Samuel Egbebi, has cautioned young women against the indiscriminate use of contraceptives, warning that while pregnancy prevention drugs are generally safe and effective, misuse or unsupervised use could expose users to avoidable health complications.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, Egbebi stressed that no contraceptive method is entirely without side effects and advised women to seek medical guidance before choosing any form of family planning.
“Contraceptives are an effective means of preventing pregnancy, but each method has its potential side effects and should be used under appropriate medical guidance,” he said.
According to the gynaecologist, hormonal contraceptives—including oral pills, implants and injectable contraceptives—may trigger side effects such as mood swings, weight gain, nausea, headaches, breast tenderness, reduced libido and irregular menstrual bleeding.
He explained that excessive or inappropriate use could worsen these effects, leading to menstrual irregularities ranging from breakthrough bleeding to the complete absence of menstruation.
“Excessive or inappropriate use of contraceptives may lead to menstrual irregularities, including breakthrough bleeding or the complete absence of menstruation,” Egbebi warned.
He further noted that contraceptives containing estrogen carry a small but significant risk of blood clots, while combined estrogen-progestin pills may, in rare cases, increase the likelihood of stroke and other cardiovascular complications, particularly among women above the age of 35 and those who smoke.
The physician added that some long-acting reversible contraceptives, such as implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs), may cause temporary discomfort, pain or spotting shortly after insertion, although these symptoms often subside with time.
Beyond pregnancy prevention, Egbebi emphasized an important limitation of hormonal contraceptives that is often overlooked by users.
“Hormonal contraceptives do not protect against sexually transmitted infections,” he said, urging sexually active individuals to use condoms consistently where appropriate to reduce the risk of contracting infections such as HIV, gonorrhoea and chlamydia.
His advice comes amid increasing awareness campaigns promoting family planning as a means of improving maternal and child health while enabling couples to determine the timing and spacing of pregnancies. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), access to safe and voluntary contraception contributes significantly to reducing maternal deaths, preventing unintended pregnancies and improving reproductive health outcomes.
Health experts, however, have repeatedly warned against self-medication and the growing trend of obtaining hormonal contraceptives based on peer recommendations or information from social media without proper medical evaluation. They note that underlying conditions—including hypertension, a history of blood clots, migraine with aura and certain cardiovascular diseases—may make some contraceptive methods unsuitable for specific individuals.
Medical practitioners also stress that family planning is not a one-size-fits-all intervention. The choice of contraceptive should be guided by a woman’s age, medical history, reproductive goals and lifestyle, following consultation with qualified healthcare professionals.
Egbebi urged women considering family planning to seek professional counselling before commencing any contraceptive method, saying informed medical advice remains the safest path to protecting reproductive health.
His remarks underscore a broader public health message: while modern contraceptives remain among the most effective tools for preventing unintended pregnancies, their benefits are best realised when they are used correctly, under professional supervision and alongside measures that protect against sexually transmitted infections.