September 24:The sale of condoms still outstrips the sale of the emergency contraceptive pill known as the I-pill.

Following reports that the sale of I-pill has gone up since its introduction in the Bhutanese market last year, our reporter Tashi Choden spoke to the owners of several medical shops in the capital town.

All the shops sell more condoms than I-pills. The contraceptive I-pill is used after unprotected sex to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

On any given day, Kuenphen medical shop located in the heart of the city sells 15 to 20 packets of condoms. A packet can contain anywhere between three to 20 condoms.

The owner of Kuenphen medical shop Jharna says many people come to buy I-pills or emergency contraceptive pills from her shop but many more come to buy condoms than I pills. In a month she sells a maximum of 15 I-pill packets. Each packet contains only one small pink pill.

The Norling Medical Shop sells between 30 to 35 I-pill packets in a month. It sells about ten packets of condoms every day.

The proprietors of the City Pharmacy and Modern Pharmacy also say they are selling more condoms than I-pills. I pill hit the market last year.

It is taken after unprotected sex to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

But Dr Phurb Dorji, an Obstetrician and Gynecologist at the national referral hospital said I-pill is specifically to be used by women who practice regular family planning method.

“In the event they forget to take regular pill or when their condom breaks then the medicine has to be used as a backup but not as a freestanding contraception to be used by general population”, said.

Dr Phurb Dorji Dr Phurb Dorji said the preventive rate of I-pill is 80 to 85 percent and. But if it is consumed within 12 hours after having unprotected sex the prevention rate can go up to 95 percent.

However, he said I-pill should not be used on a regular basis as it can disturb the menstrual cycle and will also not protect that person from STIs including HIV