Morning-after pills may get 4 boxed warnings

NEW DELHI: Morning-after pills containing levonorgestrel may soon carry four prominent boxed warnings. Govt has proposed that the pills should be labelled clearly as meant only for emergency use, not as regular contraception, not as abortion pills and not as protection against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections.The proposed warnings will also caution that frequent use may lead to side effects and advise users seeking regular contraception to visit a health facility or a registered medical practitioner.Dr Megha Tiwari, Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kailash Hospital & Neuro Institute, said emergency contraceptive pills are an important and safe option when used appropriately, but concerns arise when they start being treated as routine contraception.