Current status of fertility control methods in India

Abstract

Approximately 48.2% of couples of 15 to 49 years of age practice family planning methods in India. Female sterilization accounts for 34.2%, with male sterilization declining from 3.4% in 1992-93 to 1.9% in 1998-99. Use of the condom increased to 3.1% from 2.4%. There is an urgent need for research to develop new contraceptive modalities especially for men and also for women and to make existing methods more safe, affordable and acceptable. Current efforts in India to develop a male contraceptive are mainly directed towards (i) development of antispermatogenic agents to suppress sperm production, (ii) prevention of sperm maturation, (iii) prevention of sperm transport through vas deferens or rendering these sperm infertile and (iv) prevention of sperm deposition. Research work in the field of prevention of sperm transport through vas deferens has made significant advances. Styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) disturbed the electrical charge of spermatozoa leading to acrosome rupture and consequent loss in fertilizing ability of sperm. A multicentre phase-III clinical trial using SMA is continuing and it is hoped that the SMA approach would be available in the near future as an indigenously developed injectable intra-vasal male contraceptive. The safety and efficacy of available oral contraceptives were evaluated. An indigenously developed oral contraceptive 'Centchorman', which is a nonsteroidal, weakly estrogenic but potently antiestrogenic, was found to be safe and effective and is now being marketed in India since 1991 as a 'once a week' pill. Cyclofem and Mesigyna have been recommended as injectable contraceptives with proper counselling and service delivery by Indian studies. It has been recommended that these injectable contraceptives be added to the existing range of contraceptive methods available in the National Family Planning Programme. Based on the Indian studies CuT 200 was also recommended. Studies have indicated the advantage of intrauterine devices (IUD); they are long acting, relatively easily removed and fertility returns rapidly after their removal. Recent studies have recommended CuT 200 for use up to 5 years. The combination of some plant products i.e. Embelia ribes, Borax and Piper longum has been found to be safe and effective as a female contraceptive and the results of phase-I clinical trials are encouraging. Research work is going on in the country in various areas with special reference to hormonal contraceptive - a three monthly injectable contraceptive, immuno-contraceptives, antiprogestins, etc.

Impact of health education on unmet needs of contraception in urban slums of Chandigarh, India

“…4 of age were reported practicing family planning methods in India. 5 Contraceptive "ever users" rate was found to be 75% in Delhi. 6 Whereas, almost half of the subjects were using some family planning methods in Orissa and about 1/3 rd of them relied on traditional method of contraception.…”

Embelia ribes ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome

“…Recently, it is reported to possess a wide range of pharmacological properties such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic (Chitra et al, 1994), antihyperlipidemic, antihyperglycemic (Mahendran et al, 2011a), antifertility (Sharma et al, 2001), anticonvulsant (Mahendran et al, 2011b), cardioprotective (Bhandari et al, 2008), antioxidant (Joshi et al, 2007) and wound healing properties (Kumara Swamy et al, 2007). Embelin showed protective effect against ulcerative colitis induced by acetic acid in rats (Thippeswamy et al, 2011) and dextran sodium sulfate in mice (Kumar et al, 2011).…”

Correlates of contraceptive use among couples in slums of Chandigarh, India

“…9 Sharma et al found that 48.2% of couples use family planning methods in India. 10 Contraceptive "ever users" rate in Delhi was found to 75% in study conducted by Bhasin et al 11 The study done in Orissa by Kirkkola et al showed that almost half of the subjects were using some family planning methods. 12 Men being the dominant decision makers regarding family affairs in developing countries can directly or indirectly affect women"s reproductive health.…”