‘Harmful contraceptives remain in market’

MANILA, Philippines — Traditional and harmful methods of contraception remain prevalent worldwide due to lack of access to scientific family planning methods, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reported.

It noted that many women are still resorting to ineffective contraceptives like vinegar, laundry soap, lemon slices, disinfectants, small pieces of sponge or alum that are inserted in the vagina.

“There are also practices supposedly to prevent pregnancy, wherein women drink mango seeds, turmeric, traditional herbs, or ginger by mixing them with water,” UNFPA said.

Some women even rely on plastic bags, balloons, or freezer pop wrappers as alternatives to condoms. Others use unproven practices like jumping after intercourse, reliance on charms and abdominal or uterine massage, it added.

UNFPA said those ineffective methods of contraception are found in both wealthy and poor countries worldwide.

“All of them are alarming, leaving users at risk and sometimes causing physical harm,” it pointed out. It noted that all those alternative methods of contraception could be harmful because users, lulled by a false sense of security, engage in unprotected sex.

 Based on UNFPA data, there are an estimated 214 million women in developing countries who want to avoid pregnancy, but are not using modern contraceptive methods. The number includes 155 million women using no family planning method at all and 59 million using traditional methods that are unreliable and may be unsafe.

The UNFPA attributed the continued reliance on “alternative” contraceptive methods to the lack of information or widespread misinformation as well as insufficient access to family planning.

“Where there is limited access to family planning, women are now going back to secretly using traditional methods instead,” the UNFPA said.

In some places, it cited, family planning is even under attack, with efforts to limit education about contraception or to restrict the variety and availability of effective methods.

The UNFPA urged governments worldwide to exert efforts in adequately informing their people on family planning methods and provide sufficient reproductive health services.