Birth Control/Contraception

Birth control is a regimen of one or more actions, devices, or medications followed in order to deliberately prevent or reduce the likelihood of a woman becoming pregnant or giving birth. Mechanisms that are intended to reduce the likelihood of the fertilization of an ovum by a spermatozoon may more specifically be referred to as contraception. Methods of birth control that may prevent the implantation of an embryo if fertilization occurs are medically considered to be contraception but characterized by some opponents as abortifacients. Contraception differs from abortion in that the former prevents fertilization, while the latter terminates an already-established pregnancy.

Methods and intentions typically termed birth control may be considered a pivotal ingredient to family planning. In recent decades, there have been tremendous advances in the development of safer and more effective contraceptives, and in the provision of affordable and accessible family planning services. Yet, millions of individuals and couples around the world are still unable to plan their families as they [Page 247]wish. It is estimated that over 120 million couples do not use contraceptives despite wanting to space or limit their childbearing. In addition, many women who use contraceptives nevertheless become pregnant while other couples who want to have children are unable to conceive.

There remain many causes behind unmet needs for family planning services, despite the tremendous increases in options for birth control. First, there might be a lack of services or barriers to their access. Even if there is access to services, the poor quality of services, such as suboptimal interactions between clients and providers, substandard technical competence of providers, inadequate information, and poor design and management of service delivery systems may result in inadequate provision of services for family planning. Moreover, the culprit is increasingly technology issues, such as limited or inappropriate choice of methods and fear, or experience, of side effects. Finally, there may be broader social issues, such as an individual's lack of knowledge, power imbalances within couples and families, and sociocultural, religious, and gender barriers.

Despite the fact that it is generally less controversial than abortion, in many religions and cultures, birth control is a controversial political and ethical issue. Birth control has many opponents, with varying degrees of opposition. There are some opponents who oppose all forms of birth control short of sexual abstinence. Then, there are those who oppose forms of birth control they deem “unnatural,” while allowing natural birth control. There are also those who support most forms of birth control that prevent fertilization but oppose any method of birth control that prevents a fertilized embryo from attaching to the uterus and initiating a pregnancy.

Religions vary widely in their views of the ethics of birth control. In Christianity, the Roman Catholic Church accepts only natural family planning, while Protestants maintain a wide range of views from allowing none to very lenient. Views in Judaism range from the stricter Orthodox sect to the more relaxed Reformed sect. In Islam, contraceptives are allowed if they do not threaten health or lead to sterility, although their use is sometimes discouraged. Hindus may use both natural and artificial contraceptives.

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