The Mystery Behind BIRTH CONTROL

 1. Is it good?

    In some parts of the world, there has been a lot of discussion about whether different forms of birth control are good or safe. Some religions have been against any form of birth control except trying not to have sex together. But an increasing number of religious leaders are realizing how important it is to the health and well-being of families and communities that people be able to use easier and surer methods of birth control.

    Also, in many places women who get pregnant when they do not want a child will do for Abortion, to have the developing baby destroyed. Where these abortions are legal, they can be done in health centers under sanitary conditions, and they are not usually dangerous to the women. But where abortions are not permitted, many women get abortions illegally and secretly, often in dirty conditions and performed by unskilled persons. Thousands of women die from such abortions. If women are given the chance to use birth control methods, and information to use them wisely, many abortions, legal and illegal, would not be necessary. Much needless suffering and death could be prevented.

  Some people feel that much of the push for family planning comes from rich countries or persons who want to keep their control over the poor by controlling their numbers. The rich and powerful find it hard to accept that the way they manage the earth`s land and resources strongly contributes to world hunger. They see only the growing numbers of people. In some countries, professionals sterilize poor women by force or experiment on them with new or unsafe methods. For all these reasons, social reformers often protest against birth control.

  This is unfortunate. The object of attack should not be birth control, but rather its misuse. The attack should be against social injustice and the unfair distribution of land and wealth. If used well, birth control can in fact help the poor gain strength to work for their basic human rights. But the decisions and responsibility for family planning must be in the hands of the people themselves.

2. Is it safe?

      When or not different forms of birth control are safe has been much discussed. Often those who are against birth control for religious or political reasons try to scare women by talking about the risks. Some methods do have certain risks. However, the important thing all women should realize is that birth control is safer than pregnancy, especially after a woman has had many children.

   The risk of serious illness or death resulting from pregnancy is many times greater than the risks involved in using any common methods of birth control.

    There is much talk about the risks of taking birth control pills (oral contraceptives). But the risks with pregnancy are many times greater. The pill works so well in preventing pregnancy that for most women it is safer- in terms of protecting theirs lives-than any of the other less risky but less effective methods.

CHOOSING A METHOD OF BIRTH CONTROL

     In the following article, several methods of birth control are described. Some work better for some people than others. Study this article, and talk with your

midwife, health worker, or doctor about what are available and likely to work best for you. Differences in effectiveness, safety, convenience, availability, and cost should be considered, Husbands and wives should decide together, and share the responsibility.