There are many different types of contraception, but not all are suitable for all situations. The most appropriate method of birth control depends on the person's general health, age, frequency of sexual activity, number of sexual partners, desire to have children in the future, and family history of certain diseases.
Ensuring that everyone has access to their preferred contraceptive methods promotes several human rights, including the right to life and liberty, the right to freedom of opinion, expression and choice, and the right to work and education, and also provides important health and other benefits.
General view
There are many different types of contraception, but not all are suitable for all situations. The most appropriate method of birth control depends on the person's general health, age, frequency of sexual activity, number of sexual partners, desire to have children in the future, and family history of certain diseases. Ensuring that everyone has access to their preferred contraceptive methods promotes several human rights, including the right to life and liberty, the right to freedom of opinion, expression and choice, and the right to work and education, and also provides important health and other benefits.
Effects
Contraceptive use prevents pregnancy-related health risks for women, particularly adolescents; When we talk about the interval between births, children born within two years after the birth of an older sibling are 60% more likely to suffer infant death and those born between two and three years are 10% more likely, in comparison with those born after three years or more (4). The use of contraception offers a palette of potential non-health benefits ranging from increased educational opportunities and greater empowerment for women, to sustainable population growth and economic development for countries.
The number of women seeking to use family planning has increased markedly over the past two decades, rising from 900 million in 2000 to almost 1.1 billion in 2021.
Between 2000 and 2020, the number of women who used a modern contraceptive method increased from 663 million to 851 million. This figure is expected to increase by 70 million more women by 2030. Between 2000 and 2020, the contraceptive use rate (percentage of women aged 15 to 49 who use any contraceptive method) rose from 47.7% to 49. 0% (5).
Obstacles
The percentage of women of reproductive age (15 to 49 years) whose family planning needs are met by modern methods (SDG indicator 3.7.1) is, worldwide, 77.5% in 2022, a increase of ten percentage points since 1990 (67%) (2).
Reasons for this slow increase include a limited choice of methods; restricted access to these services, especially among young people, the poorest women and single women; having suffered side effects or the fear of suffering them; cultural or religious opposition; the poor quality of the services available; user and provider bias against some methods; and gender-based barriers to accessing services.
As these barriers have been addressed in some regions, the demand met by modern contraceptive methods has increased.
Contraceptive methods
Contraceptive methods include oral contraceptive pills, subcutaneous contraceptive implants, injections, patches, vaginal rings, intrauterine devices, condoms, male and female sterilization, lactational amenorrhea method, intercourse interrupted and methods based on knowledge of fertility.
These methods have different mechanisms of action and different degrees of effectiveness in preventing unwanted pregnancies. The effectiveness of a method is measured by the number of pregnancies per 100 women using that method per year.
WHO response
Achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health services and their effective implementation will be essential to fulfill the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to “leave no one behind.” Support for contraceptive services will need to be stepped up, for example through effective government policies and programmes.
The WHO works to promote contraception; To this end, it develops evidence-based guidelines on the safety and efficiency of contraceptive methods and on the existing mechanisms in contraceptive programs to ensure human rights.
WHO helps countries adapt and implement these tools to strengthen contraceptive policies and programs. In addition, WHO is involved in the development of new contraceptive technologies and leads and conducts implementation research to expand access to and strengthen contraceptive information and services.
(With information from the World Health Organization)
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