Myths About Preventing Unwanted Pregnancies
A medical doctor addresses widespread misconceptions among young Cameroonians about emergency contraception, distinguishing folk remedies and ineffective practices from evidence-based methods. The piece explains the biological requirements for pregnancy prevention and recommends the combination of douching and morning-after pills as a reliable approach.
The other day, while travelling out of town, I couldn't help but overhear some young Cameroonians boasting, to each other, about their knowledge of and skills in the various methods of preventing unwanted pregnancies. They suggested that the following methods could prevent an unwanted pregnancy immediately after unprotected sexual intercourse: drinking whiskey or any beverage with a very high alcohol percentage, douching, drinking salted water, consuming copious amounts of honey, taking a pee following sex, etc. These methods, surprisingly, are practiced by many young Cameroonians.
But can these methods prevent an unwanted pregnancy following unprotected sexual intercourse?
FIRST THINGS FIRST
To be able to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, a substance should be able to do the following: - Kill sperm cells - Prevent sperms from reaching an egg - Prevent the release of an egg - Prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the wall of the uterus or womb.
MYTHS ABOUT EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
Alcohol, especially whiskey, can't prevent unwanted pregnancies. Also, salted water, honey, and taking a pee immediately after unprotected sexual intercourse can't prevent an unwanted pregnancy either. These methods cannot guarantee that sperm cells won't reach and fertilize an egg.
These are very ineffective methods; don't practice them.
DOUCHING, IS IT EFFECTIVE?
With douching, some, not all, sperm cells are washed out of the vagina. It reduces the amount of sperm cells available for egg fertilization. This method can reduce a lady's chances of becoming pregnant following unprotected coitus -- if done immediately after the act. On its own, this method is not very efficient -- not all sperm cells are eliminated. Combined with other renowned emergency contraception methods (not those highlighted above), a lady is highly unlikely to become pregnant following unprotected sexual intercourse.
Douching should be done with plain water. Do not add any chemical of any sort, please.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO AFTER UNPROTECTED SEX?
Following unprotected sex, you should take a morning-after pill. These pills are available in most pharmacies and are sold as over-the-counter medications. These pills are highly effective if taken within 12 hours following unprotected sex. They work by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg. Simply put, these pills prevent ovulation. It is worth noting that emergency contraception with morning after pills is not synonymous with abortion -- these pills don't abort a pregnancy.
Winning Combo: by douching immediately after unprotected sex and taking morning after pills within 12 hours following unprotected sex, a lady is highly unlikely to become pregnant.
WHY IS YOUR MORNING AFTER PILL NOT WORKING?
After taking a morning after pill, a lady can become pregnant if the following apply to her:
- She is overweight: her doctor should up the dose of her morning-after pills. With an increase in weight, the dose of most drugs must be increased to increase efficacy.
- She has already ovulated. Morning after pills prevent ovulation. Taking these pills after ovulation has occurred is pretty useless.
- She throws up immediately after taking these pills. If a person throws up within an hour or so of taking a pill, she’ll need another dose. Her body might not have had enough time to metabolize it.
CONCLUSION
Following unprotected sexual intercourse, rape, or condom breakage, morning after pills and -- NOT "or" -- douching can reliably prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Pregnancy can't be prevented by consuming alcohol, honey, and salted water, or taking a pee. Cheers!
- Dr Ndifor Judethaddeus.
*Dr Ndifor is a medical doctor specialising in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care medicine. He is also passionate about alternative medicine and mother-and-child medicine.
The post reflects a moment of shifting sexual health literacy in Cameroon, where traditional beliefs and folk practices persist alongside—and sometimes compete with—access to modern contraception. Young people exchanging health information informally, without reliable sources, points to gaps in formal sex education and clinical counselling in the society.
The piece addresses a genuine public health issue with clarity and without condescension, offering factual grounding to replace rumour. Nine years on, it remains relevant wherever misinformation about contraception circulates, and it models how specialist knowledge can be communicated with dignity to a general audience.