By ADRIAN MWANZA –
ZAMBIA Medical Association president Aaron Mujajati has urged women taking contraceptives to be wary, saying some of these could have side effects.

. Dr Mujajati

Dr Mujajati said although contraceptives were good for birth control, some had side effects depending on the person taking them.
He said a number of people had over the years complained of serious side effects as a result of taking contraceptives.
Dr Mujajati said women had a variety of contraceptive methods to choose from ranging from hormonal, barrier to injectables.
It has been observed that the hormonal method is the worst culprit in as far as side effects are concerned.
Dr Mujajati said hormonal contraceptives, which could either be tablets or injections, sometimes caused people to be overweight or develop rash.
“Hormonal contraceptives sometimes make people overweight and some even develop some form of rash,” he said.
Dr Mujajati said some contraceptives such as the loop caused changes in the menstrual cycle and often times, women started experiencing heavy bleeding and at times no menstruation at all.
He said other contraceptives caused hair loss in some women and even long delays in fertility.
Dr Mujajati encouraged women having problems with contraceptives to see a doctor before the problem escalated.
Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ) reproductive health provider Deborah Chikoti said there was a myth and misconception about contraceptives.
Ms Chikoti said there was wrong perception about contraceptives and that it was important for people to get first hand information from healthcare providers.
She said contraceptive pills like Microginon, Oral Con F and Micro Lut did not have any effect on people taking them and that they were safe.
Ms Chikoti said injectables and progesterone contraceptives on the other hand triggered some reactions in people taking them.
She said the loop and other injectable contraceptives caused women to have amenorrhea, heavy and light bleeding.
Ms Chikoti said some contraceptives caused headaches, breast tenderness and mood swings which were normal.
She said some women experienced less sex drive after taking contraceptives.