Karnataka - Bangalore   

A reliable way to control unwanted pregnancies

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, FEB. 22. Even though contraceptive methods are used worldwide for birth control, the rate of unwanted pregnancies is as high as 41 per cent between the ages of 35 and 39 years and 51 per cent in those over 40 years, said Douglas Huber, Principal Medical Advisor, Management Sciences for Health, Boston, U.S.

Quoting studies, Dr. Huber said this could be due to a number of reasons such as failure of certain birth control measures, forgetting to take a pill and so on.

In this context, injectable contraceptives were highly reliable and effective in controlling unwanted pregnancies. This method was also reversible unlike sterilisation, and so it could be a better option for spacing between children, Dr. Huber said.

Dr. Huber is in India to promote and create awareness among the public and health professionals, on Depo Provera (medroxyprogestrone acetate, commonly called DMPA), an injectable contraceptive for women for "safer family planning".

Speaking to presspersons here on Sunday, Dr. Huber said DMPA was 99.7 per cent effective, making it one of the most reliable options, specially compared to oral contraceptives (birth control pills), wherein success rate was 95 per cent.

One of the main advantages of DMPA was that it had to be injected just four times in a year, offering women three-month protection with one dose.

"Some women do not want a permanent method of avoiding pregnancy but use it only for spacing between two children. But since they are not aware of the full range of contraceptive options available in the market today, many opt for surgical sterilisation," he said.

Contraception is not the only benefit of injectable contraceptives. Dr. Huber said the chance of acquiring Endometrial Cancer was reduced among women who used DMPA. It could also be used by women who were breastfeeding their children. Menstrual periods became fewer and lighter for most women, he said.

"But the women should be explained the effects from injectable contraception by the health professionals, so that they are not annoyed later. There will be changes in menstrual cycle which may worry some women," he added.

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