Title: Barrier methods, natural family planning, and future directions.

POPLINE Document Number: 290348

Author(s):

Hartmann B

Source citation:

In: Reproductive rights and wrongs: the global politics of population control. Rev. ed., [by] Betsy Hartmann. Boston, Massachusetts, South End Press, 1995. :269-286.

Abstract:

The contraceptive revolution of the 1960s and 1970s brought the pill, the IUD, the injectable, and the implant, all extremely effective forms of reversible contraception if used correctly. Yet despite the millions of dollars poured into research, that revolution did not bring many improvements in contraceptive safety. On the contrary, the health risks of these methods are considerable and are compounded by their misuse in population programs. They also do not guard against sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Today there is a need for a second contraceptive revolution. "Without giving up the high effectiveness, convenience, and relatively low cost of today's contraceptives," write Judith Bruce and S. Bruce Schearer, "tomorrow's contraceptives must be safe in both the short- and long-term; fully reversible and free of effects on future fertility ... on breast-feeding infants and on lactation." The irony is that such methods already exist, in the form of barrier contraceptives -- spermicides, condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps -- though there is great need and scope for their improvement. Yet with the exception of the condom, these safe, simple, reversible contraceptives are unavailable in many, if not most, Third World family planning programs, and in Western countries people are also often discouraged from using them. Less than 2 percent of contraceptive users worldwide use female barrier methods, and only 6 percent use condoms. (excerpt)

Keywords:

Global
Critique
Women
Natural Family Planning
Barrier Methods
Changes
AIDS Prevention
Contraceptive Effectiveness
Contraceptive Methods Chosen
Demographic Factors
Population
Family Planning, Behavioral Methods
Family Planning
Contraceptive Methods
Contraception
Social Change
AIDS
HIV Infections
Viral Diseases
Diseases
Contraceptive Usage