Question

a. What are the features of an ideal contraceptive?
b. Mention the natural methods of contraception.

Answer 1

A contraceptive is a substance or drug that prevents fertilization and pregnancy in the human body. An ideal contraceptive should at least have no particular side effects, if not benefits, for the person who is taking in the dosage. Natural methods to prevent pregnancy have always been used by humans when they do not wish to use chemical or physical contraception.

Complete step by step answer:
a. Primarily, a contraceptive should be easily available and easy to use, especially since we live in a developing country with a growing population. It should also be user-friendly, effective, reasonably priced (cost-effective), and should have reversible or minimal side effects. It should not diminish or interfere with the sexual drive, act, or desire of the user.

b. Natural methods are a broad group of contraception methods that work on the concept of preventing the sperms and the ovum from establishing contact. The main methods are as follows:
(i) Periodic abstinence: It is a method where partners abstain from coitus during the 10th to the 17th days of the menstrual cycle as ovulation is expected and the chances of fertilization are very high during this time. This is also known as the fertile period.
(ii) Withdrawal or coitus interruptus: This is a method where the male partner withdraws his penis from the vagina just before ejaculation so as to stop insemination.
(iii) Lactational amenorrhea: This method exploits the fact that for approximately six months after parturition if the mother is breastfeeding her child completely, No ovulation, and therefore, no menstrual cycle occurs during this period and thus there is no chance of fertilization.

Additional information:
- As no medicines or devices are used while employing natural methods of contraception, there are no side effects. However, the chances of failure are also very high.
- The other types of contraception are Barriers, IUDs, Oral contraceptives, Injectables,
Implants, and Surgical methods.
- Indian government has put forward a ‘one-a-week’ contraceptive pill known as Saheli which is non-steroidal in nature and has very few to no side effects.

Note:
- The natural methods are also known as traditional methods.
- The most effective way to control the population is to make people aware, especially those living in small families, of contraception. This can be done by advertisements, campaigns, posters, and so on.