Reproductive Health - Population Explosion and Birth Control

Population Explosion: A rapid increase in the size of a population over a short period. According to the 2011 census, India's population growth rate was approximately $2\%$ (i.e., $20/1000/year$).

Reasons for Population Explosion: Significant decline in the Death Rate, Maternal Mortality Rate ($MMR$), and Infant Mortality Rate ($IMR$), alongside an increase in the number of people in reproductive age.

Ideal Contraceptive: A device or method that is user-friendly, easily available, effective, reversible with least side effects, and does not interfere with the sexual drive of the user.

Natural Methods: These work on the principle of avoiding chances of ovum and sperm meeting. Includes Periodic Abstinence (avoiding coitus from day $10$ to $17$ of the menstrual cycle), Coitus Interruptus, and Lactational Amenorrhea (effective up to $6$ months post-parturition).

Barrier Methods: Prevent physical meeting of sperm and ovum. Examples include Condoms (also protect against $STIs$ and $AIDS$), Diaphragms, Cervical caps, and Vaults.

Intrauterine Devices ($IUDs$): Inserted by doctors in the uterus. Non-medicated ($Lippes$ $loop$), Copper releasing ($CuT$, $Cu7$, $Multiload$ $375$), and Hormone releasing ($Progestasert$, $LNG$-$20$). $Cu^{2+}$ ions suppress sperm motility.

Oral Contraceptives: Small doses of progestogens or progestogen-estrogen combinations. 'Saheli' is a new oral contraceptive for females containing a non-steroidal preparation called Centchroman, taken once a week.

Surgical Methods (Sterilization): Terminal methods to prevent any more pregnancies. Vasectomy in males (small part of $vas$ $deferens$ is removed/tied) and Tubectomy in females (small part of $fallopian$ $tube$ is removed/tied).