Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Public Health Department on Thursday launched free injectable contraceptives for women under Antara programme.

Speaking at the inaugural at the government maternity hospital in Egmore, health minister Dr S Vijayabaskar said Tamil Nadu is a pioneer in the implementation of family welfare programme. Having a population of 7.21 crore, the birth ratio in the state is 15.2 per 1000 persons and fertility ratio is 1.6.

TN, he said, excels in the implementation of maternity and child welfare programmes. Services such as vasectomy, tubectomy, postpartum contraception, distribution of oral contraceptive pills and medical termination of pregnancies are being offered under the family welfare programme in 13,882 healthcare centres including government primary health centres and recognised private hospitals across the state.

Under the Antara programme, Medroxy Progesterone Acetate (MPA), a drug approved by the Drugs Technical Advisroy Board, is administered. It is injected subcutaneously or in the muscles, usually buttock or upper arm. Each dose of injectable contraceptive prevents pregnancy for 3 months by releasing progestogen in the body.

The minister said it is a safe and temporary method for maintaining spacing between pregnancies and women from the age of 18 to 45 can benefit by using the injectable contraceptive. A single dose is effective for 3 months and pregnancy occurs between between the fourth and sixth month from the last dose of injection.

In the first phase, the free injectable contraceptives are administered by trained doctors and nurses in government hospitals and government medical college hospitals.

Misconceptions

Injectable leads to infertility in women

Injectables do not lead to infertility. After discontinuation of injectable contraceptive, a woman can become pregnant.. Pregnancy usually occurs 7-10 months from last dose of injection.

Use of Injectable may lead to complete cessation of menstrual blood

Every month a woman’s body prepares for conception. The inner lining of uterus becomes thick and soft as it gets more blood supply. If she does not conceive that month, this inner lining of blood is expelled as menstrual blood flow. With injectables, the monthly preparation for pregnancy in a woman’s body does not occur. There is no release of ovum or thickening of inner lining of uterus. The menstrual cycle gradually comes to a halt after irregular bleeding for some time. When a woman stops using Injectable contraceptive, the body starts preparing for conception and menstrual bleeding is resumed.

Source:

https://humdo.nhp.gov.in/choice_for_planning/antra/