How safe natural birth control methods are
Saturday, 28 March 2009
Kamrun Nahar Ruma
Mitu Marium, a fourth-year student oof Dhaka University's Mass Communication and Journalism Department, got married recently. One afternoon, while attending a class, she felt dizzy and fell on the floor. Mitu was rushed to a clinic and doctor said she was pregnant.
It is good news indeed, but Mitu (not her real name) is not happy at all because she did not want any baby during her university. As her friends jokingly asked how she became pregnant against her will, Mitu answered, "It's my safe period baby."
Rajshahi University teacher Ishrat Amin Chowdhury (not his real name) is a mother of two lovely kids. The eldest one is 13 month's old while the youngest one is of one month. Asked why she took two children in such a short period, she replies, "The second one was unexpected. Neither I nor my husband did want baby at this time.''
Asked whether she adopted any birth control method? Ishrat replies, "Actually, we were following the natural method -- the safe period."
There is a lack of knowledge among many men and women about natural birth control methods. Even married men and women don not clearly know what the natural methods are and how safe they are. As a result, the number of unexpected babies is increasing in addition to menstrual regulation (MR).
Usually, people across the world follow three natural birth control methods -- periodic abstinence, withdrawal and lactesonal amonoria. The use of condoms by men is also considered as a natural method. However, periodic abstinence and withdrawal methods are mostly used.
According to a research conducted by Population Action International in 1991, 38 million men follow withdrawal method worldwide while 30-35 million women follow periodic abstinence. Periodic abstinence is also known as calendar method or safe period.
As per the calendar method, from the onset of menstruation till the 10th day and 10 days before the next period is safe period". But, only those with regular menstruation are safe in this method.
In the case of withdrawal, a male withdraws his penis from vagina just before ejaculation and releases semen outside keeping a safe distance from the woman's body.
Lactosonal amonoria method is for breast-feeding mothers. In this method, a breast-feeding woman can have sex without any contraceptive up to six months after giving birth or till resumption of menstruation. But, the baby has to be regularly and exclusively breast-fed.
According to information released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1997, some 27 out of 100 women are likely to be pregnant in the normal process of withdrawal method. But, the number goes down to 4 out of 100, if the method is properly used.
The statistics show that withdrawal is the least effective method among the natural ones. The main problem is due to emotional attachment as men cannot withdraw in right time.
About Lactosonal amonoria, Central Hospital Gynecology Professor Samina Chowdhury says, "If followed properly, this method is 98 percent safe. But, no method is 100 percent safe."
Saria Tasnim, a Gynecologist at Pan-pacific Hospital, says, "We have many women coming for MR, as they become unexpectedly pregnant. In most cases, natural methods are responsible for their unexpected pregnancies. Calendar method is the mostly used method. But, the problem is in many cases the couples cannot calculate the timing properly."
"Without having good knowledge about natural methods, no one should follow them. After marriage, every couple should properly know the methods. And, extensive publicity is required in this regard," she says.
NIPORT research director Ahmed Al Sabir says, "Out of 58 percent families involved in family planning, only 8-10 percent use natural methods."
Dr Rawshon Ara, professor of gynecology at Holly Family Hospital, says in most cases women cannot calculate the timing of safe period. And the cycle changes for various reasons. Periodic abstinence is good for those who have regular period and careful about it. But, it has to be said that the natural methods are not cent percent safe.
Halida Hanum, director of Family Planning Association of Bangladesh, says the natural methods are full of troubles. These methods are not used properly for various reasons. So, unexpected pregnancies are on the rise. "We, the government and NGOs, don't encourage natural methods.'' --- NewsNetwork
Mitu Marium, a fourth-year student oof Dhaka University's Mass Communication and Journalism Department, got married recently. One afternoon, while attending a class, she felt dizzy and fell on the floor. Mitu was rushed to a clinic and doctor said she was pregnant.
It is good news indeed, but Mitu (not her real name) is not happy at all because she did not want any baby during her university. As her friends jokingly asked how she became pregnant against her will, Mitu answered, "It's my safe period baby."
Rajshahi University teacher Ishrat Amin Chowdhury (not his real name) is a mother of two lovely kids. The eldest one is 13 month's old while the youngest one is of one month. Asked why she took two children in such a short period, she replies, "The second one was unexpected. Neither I nor my husband did want baby at this time.''
Asked whether she adopted any birth control method? Ishrat replies, "Actually, we were following the natural method -- the safe period."
There is a lack of knowledge among many men and women about natural birth control methods. Even married men and women don not clearly know what the natural methods are and how safe they are. As a result, the number of unexpected babies is increasing in addition to menstrual regulation (MR).
Usually, people across the world follow three natural birth control methods -- periodic abstinence, withdrawal and lactesonal amonoria. The use of condoms by men is also considered as a natural method. However, periodic abstinence and withdrawal methods are mostly used.
According to a research conducted by Population Action International in 1991, 38 million men follow withdrawal method worldwide while 30-35 million women follow periodic abstinence. Periodic abstinence is also known as calendar method or safe period.
As per the calendar method, from the onset of menstruation till the 10th day and 10 days before the next period is safe period". But, only those with regular menstruation are safe in this method.
In the case of withdrawal, a male withdraws his penis from vagina just before ejaculation and releases semen outside keeping a safe distance from the woman's body.
Lactosonal amonoria method is for breast-feeding mothers. In this method, a breast-feeding woman can have sex without any contraceptive up to six months after giving birth or till resumption of menstruation. But, the baby has to be regularly and exclusively breast-fed.
According to information released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1997, some 27 out of 100 women are likely to be pregnant in the normal process of withdrawal method. But, the number goes down to 4 out of 100, if the method is properly used.
The statistics show that withdrawal is the least effective method among the natural ones. The main problem is due to emotional attachment as men cannot withdraw in right time.
About Lactosonal amonoria, Central Hospital Gynecology Professor Samina Chowdhury says, "If followed properly, this method is 98 percent safe. But, no method is 100 percent safe."
Saria Tasnim, a Gynecologist at Pan-pacific Hospital, says, "We have many women coming for MR, as they become unexpectedly pregnant. In most cases, natural methods are responsible for their unexpected pregnancies. Calendar method is the mostly used method. But, the problem is in many cases the couples cannot calculate the timing properly."
"Without having good knowledge about natural methods, no one should follow them. After marriage, every couple should properly know the methods. And, extensive publicity is required in this regard," she says.
NIPORT research director Ahmed Al Sabir says, "Out of 58 percent families involved in family planning, only 8-10 percent use natural methods."
Dr Rawshon Ara, professor of gynecology at Holly Family Hospital, says in most cases women cannot calculate the timing of safe period. And the cycle changes for various reasons. Periodic abstinence is good for those who have regular period and careful about it. But, it has to be said that the natural methods are not cent percent safe.
Halida Hanum, director of Family Planning Association of Bangladesh, says the natural methods are full of troubles. These methods are not used properly for various reasons. So, unexpected pregnancies are on the rise. "We, the government and NGOs, don't encourage natural methods.'' --- NewsNetwork