[shivanisachdevgour]

With a population of 1.2 billion and its associated problems the topic of contraception in India has been in the limelight in recent years not only in India but all over the world. As per Govt of India statistics the usage of contraception has tripled in India from 13% to 48% of married women over the period of 1970 to 2009. The National Family Health Survey has reported that contraception usage is higher in the urban areas in India due to better education of women and media exposure (News papers, magazines, TV) which have a positive impact on contraceptive use. A paper by the AllMS quoted that there is a complex socio -cultural -biological interaction in accessing contraception by women in India. The choice of contraception while being a very personal decision still is influenced by religious beliefs and the sex of the current child (male child) even amongst urban India. The current trends that we see in clinical practice are as follows (based on a survey of 50 patients).


(1)The age at which patients consult to find out about contraceptive options is now teenage years
(2)Many rely on products like the I pill (emergency contraception) as it is easy to obtain and needs to be taken short term and media promotions have said it is very safe and effective ( which is not completely accurate)
(3)There is a general fear of loss of fertility due to contraception
(4)Women want a method with no side effects.

The contraceptive pill was first made by accident by Frank Colton a chemist working for Searle Pharmaceuticals in the USA and was approved by the FDA in 1960 and by 1963 1.2 million women were using it!

91% of women in urban areas know of a modern method of contraception versus 71% in rural areas and this is 99% in women who are educated to at least high school level. Male
and Female sterilisation is more popular as contraception in rural areas (81%) versus Urban areas (66%). (Source is the National Family Heath Survey Reports 1996).