Kolkata, Aug 18 - Are the aggressive television advertisements on emergency contraceptives also encouraging unprotected sex? Some sociologists, gynaecologists and ad industry bigshots seem concerned over this new breed of ads being beamed across many major channels. But there are others who see nothing wrong.

Even in the US, where emergency contraceptives are more liberally used, the advertisements on these products are not shown so extensively on television, said Florida-based Indian Rupam Chowdhury.

'In the US, such ads are shown in some specific channels, not everywhere,' Chowdhury told IANS.

Kolkata-based gynaecologist Manjari Chatterjee is aghast by such ad campaigns.

'The way these advertisements are shown on television is not proper. Emergency contraceptives have lots of side effects. They disrupt the menstrual cycle,' Chatterjee, attached to a city nursing home, told IANS.

Of late, strong ad pitches by two emergency contraceptive brands have made the Indian audience conscious about the usage of these pills, which claim to prevent pregnancy if popped within 72 hours of unprotected sex.

Doctors say those who use these emergency contraceptives have the tendency to hide their usage when they visit doctors, which makes it difficult for the physicians to treat them.

'They often hide the fact that they had taken the pills earlier, which makes it difficult for us to treat them when they come to us with problems,' Chatterjee said.

These pills can even lead to hormonal disorder if taken regularly.

'We used to prescribe emergency contraceptive pills earlier also. But that was after examining the patient. But I don't think it is right to convert them into over-the-counter drugs,' she said.

Chatterjee suggested that these drug strips should at least carry a precautionary line.

'These drugs often do incomplete abortion,' she said, adding that young, unmarried women are more attracted to these drugs, as they do not wish to undergo the hassles of abortion after having unguarded sex.

However, there are gynaecologists who express a different view.

'It's not a crime to have emergency contraceptives. It's better to have it rather than undergoing abortion,' Gautam Khastogir, a leading Kolkata gynaecologist told IANS.