FEROZKOH (Pajhwok): While health specialists consider a two-year interval between births essential for protecting the health of mothers and children, some women in western Ghor province say certain contraceptive methods have caused problems such as headaches, dizziness, weight gain and insomnia.
According to doctors, birth spacing is one of the key methods of family planning and safeguarding the health of both mothers and children.
They say an appropriate interval between pregnancies can reduce health risks for mothers and newborns and provide a better opportunity for child care and development.
Various contraceptive methods are used to create this interval, including birth-control pills, monthly or three-monthly injections and some natural methods.
However, specialists emphasise that the choice of method should be made in consultation with a doctor and according to an individual’s health condition, as some methods may not be suitable for all women and can have side effects.
Gul Afroz, Parwin: Two women in Ghor share experiences of contraceptive side effects
Gul Afroz, 35, a resident of Ferozkoh, the provincial capital, and mother of four children, said that she has been using contraceptive pills for the past year and has experienced problems including weight gain, dizziness, lack of sleep and stress.
She said: “Before I started using the contraceptive pills known as ‘Khushi’, my physical and mental health was good. But since I began taking them, I have suffered headaches, do not sleep peacefully, am constantly worried and stressed and have gained weight.”
She has now decided to stop using the pills.
Gul Afroz is not the only woman complaining about the side effects of contraception.
Parwin, 29, also a mother of four from Ghor province, said she had a similar experience.
She said she used a three-month contraceptive injection, but about 24 hours after receiving it, her legs became numb and painful, making it difficult for her to move.
She added that she also experienced dizziness and, after visiting a doctor, was told that her blood pressure was irregular.
According to her, despite receiving treatment, she did not fully recover and eventually decided to stop using the method.
Doctors: Contraceptive methods should be chosen in consultation with a doctor
Dr. Gulali Wardak, a gynaecology and obstetrics specialist at the French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children, told Pajhwok Afghan News every mother should maintain at least a two-year interval between births because breastfeeding during this period provides significant health benefits for both mother and child.
She stressed that repeated pregnancies can lead to physical weakness and anaemia in mothers, while a subsequent pregnancy may increase the risk of bleeding during childbirth.
She added that the foetus may not grow and develop properly in the womb and premature birth may also occur.
She also identified mental health problems and psychological disorders during pregnancy as possible consequences of closely spaced births.
Dr. Wardak emphasised that maintaining an interval between births can help prevent serious illnesses, including breast cancer.
According to her, women over the age of 35 who do not maintain adequate birth spacing are more likely to develop high blood pressure and diabetes.
She added: “Some mothers believe they cannot become pregnant soon after giving birth, but that is not true. Around 40 to 45 days after delivery, a mother’s menstrual and ovulation cycle resumes, making pregnancy possible again.”
She advised mothers to use medically recommended short-term or long-term contraceptive methods to maintain birth spacing.
Dr. Wardak described awareness programmes on the importance of birth spacing and methods of contraception as essential and called on the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to pay greater attention to the issue.
Meanwhile, Latifa Hakimi, a doctor at the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) health centre in Ghor, told Pajhwok: “Different contraceptive pills may have different side effects. Combined pills can cause hormonal changes and cardiovascular problems and may even lead to blood clotting.”
She added that contraceptive pills may also cause mood changes, sleep disturbances and weight gain.
Hakimi warned that women with a history of blood clots, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, liver disease or advanced diabetes should use such pills with caution.
She stressed that safe contraception can be achieved through commonly used methods such as intrauterine devices (IUDs), contraceptive injections, condoms, hormonal methods and natural family-planning methods.
Both doctors recommended that women consult healthcare professionals when choosing an appropriate method for birth spacing and family planning.
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