HAVANA, Jan 21 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) – The adequate and advantageous use of emergency contraception (ACE) during adolescence was debated by participants to the fifth Cuban Congress on Education, Orientation and Sex Therapy currently on here.

President of Child and Youth Section of the Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Cuba, Dr. Jorge Pelaez Mendoza indicated ACE was a group of strategies that women can use in the first hours or days after a non-protected sexual relation to prevent an unwanted pregnancy.

He explained some of the most used methods, action mechanisms as well as the effectiveness of each one.

Pelaez defended the use of ACE because the estimated number of abortions carried out every year in the world is more than 50 million and two thirds are carried out under dangerous conditions – something that is more frequent in developing countries.

He claimed that 90, 000 women died annually from causes associated to abortion complications in risky conditions and other 585, 000 died from pregnancy and labour complications.

Emergency contraception could help to save the lives of women, he assured.

However, despite the fact that the method is included in the regulations of family planning of many countries of the region, the pills are only accessible in a few nations.

Adolescents are a group that should have easy access to ACE due to their special vulnerability in society even when orientation and education are needed to facilitate a right decision, reduce anxiety and give support and information regarding the alternatives.

The ACE guarantees the right to live (reduces the possibility of death related to labour and abortion), to health (includes sexual and reproductive health), to freedom and personal safety and integrity, added Pelaez. — NNN-PRENSA LATINA

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