More than 200 Lankan doctors say there's no 'wanda pethi'
Debunking the canard about or infertility pills, a powerful group of medical specialists reiterate that no such medicine has been developed in the world so far.
“The pharmaceutical industry has been searching for a medicinal drug that can cause temporary infertility so that it can be used as a male contraceptive agent, similar to oral contraceptive tablets taken by women to prevent pregnancies. Such a medicine has not been developed yet,” the group comprising more than 200 specialists from across the country said in a statement to the Sunday Times on Friday.
The group came together to provide an authoritative medical opinion on a recent controversy surrounding infertility pills allegedly used by some restaurants which triggered an attack on a restaurant in Ampara on February 26.
Taking into consideration the current situation in the country, these medical professionals of various specialties have come forward to dispel the myths about the so- called "infertility pill" said to be mixed with food served in eateries.
They state that fertility in both males and females is influenced by many factors and medicinal drugs are only one factor which can potentially affect fertility. Male fertility depends on the presence of adequate numbers of active spermatozoa which are normal in structure and function in seminal fluid. When either the number of spermatozoa is reduced or their function and mobility are impaired , the ability to impregnate a woman is reduced and this results in sub- fertility ( difficulty in conceiving a child) and , in extreme situations, infertility ( the inability to conceive a child) . Similar factors may affect the fertility of women.
Explaining that some medicines taken for other purposes may reduce the sperm count in men or affect fertility in women as a side- effect of their use, the doctors point out that such a reduction in fertility by these drugs can be
“There is no medication or ‘pills’ currently known or available that can permanently make a human being sterile. The information on the use of an ‘infertility pill’ or ‘sterilization pill’ mixed with food is baseless with no scientific evidence,” said World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Sri Lanka, Dr. Razia Pendse.
Referring to the Ampara incident, which stemmed from inaccurate information relating to reproductive health, the WHO and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) clari- fied the misconceptions through a joint statement issued this week.
UNFPA Sri Lanka Representative Ritsu Nacken, meanwhile, said, “The need to ensure increased access to accurate reproductive health information, especially among youth, is so apparent. Wrong information on reproductive health is being used to ignite hatred and create tensions between ethnic communities. This should not and cannot happen.”
WHO and UNFPA, within the UN System in Sri Lanka, work-
reversed in most instances.
“All such drugs can be obtained only with a valid prescription from a doctor and their sale and administration are tightly controlled by the authorities,” they say, reiterating that a single dose or a few doses of these medication s are not adequate to cause significant changes in sperm counts or sperm function.
There are currently no easily available drugs or compounds, in western medical practice, which can significantly affect fertility if they are administered once or for a short period to an individual. There have also been no documented instances of the use of such drugs aimed at reducing fertility in the population anywhere in the world, they add.
The specialists include the Immediate Past President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), Prof. Chandrika Wijeyaratne who is an Endocrinologist and Specialist in Reproductive Health; the President of the Ceylon College of ing towards the good health and wellbeing of all Sri Lankans, urged the authorities and all citizens to ensure that action is taken to counter misinformation and ensure that the rule of law is upheld, human rights are protected and security and safety is ensured for all.
In the communiqué, the WHO and UNFPA also echoed the statement issued by the UN in Sri Lanka regarding the recent incidents of communal violence and condemned these actions in the strongest possible terms.
WHO, UNFPA dismiss 'infertility pill' as baseless with no scientific evidence
Physicians, Dr Panduka Karunanayake; Professor in Medicine at the Colombo Medical Faculty, Prof. Senaka Rajapakse; Professor of Pharmacology at the Sri Jayewardenepura Faculty of Medical Science, Prof. Chandanie Wanigatunge; Professor of Medicine at the Sri Jayewardenepura Faculty of Medical Science, Prof. Saman Gunatilake; Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Castle Street Hospital for Women, Dr. U.D.P Ratnasiri; Consultant Paediatrician at the Negombo Hospital, Dr. LakKumar Fernando; Consultant Physician at the Angoda Infectious Diseases Hospital, Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama; Consultant Physician at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Dr. Upul Dissanayake; and Consultant Physician at the De Soysa Hospital for Women, Dr. Priyankara Jayawardena and also the Clinical Immunologist of the Royal Free Hospital and University College London, United Kingdom, Prof. Suranjith Seneviratne.