World Contraception Day: Experts Urge Investment in Contraceptives for 65% of India's Reproductive Age

Adequately spaced pregnancies can enhance maternal and child health outcomes, leading to better health, fewer unintended pregnancies, and greater economic stability for families. “India's young population, with over 65 per cent under 35, requires urgent investment in contraceptive choices, especially spacing methods,” said Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India, in a statement to IANS.

According to NFHS 5 (2019-21), 4 per cent of India's unmet contraceptive need is for spacing methods. “Expanding access to these options will improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance economic productivity by allowing women to better participate in the workforce,” Muttreja added.

She emphasized the need to improve the quality of care in family planning services, stating, “Policies must prioritise delivering respectful, high-quality care, as women who feel valued and respected are more likely to use contraception effectively.”

In 2023, India integrated two new Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive methods into its public health system: the subdermal implant and the subcutaneous Antara injection, a move that came after a 30-year delay during which women lacked critical contraceptive options, as noted by Muttreja.

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel recently announced that the acceptance of modern contraceptives in India has risen to over 56 per cent. The National Family Planning Programme currently offers various reversible modern contraceptives, including condoms, intrauterine devices, oral pills, and injectables.

Although contraception is empowering, it is vital to balance planning with reproductive health realities, according to Dr. Neha Khandelwal, Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, in comments to IANS. “While contraception is used by many couples to avoid unplanned pregnancies and adequately space their pregnancies, they must not forget that a woman’s biological clock doesn’t wait for the ‘perfect time’ to conceive,” Khandelwal warned. She noted that “fertility declines after 30 and declines rapidly after 35 years of age. Timely planning a pregnancy will help escape infertility issues.”

The doctor also advised couples to discuss not only their emotional readiness, but also potential biological challenges that may arise from delaying pregnancy. Meanwhile, Muttreja called for active male involvement in family planning programs, stating, “By engaging men as equal partners in family planning, we may unlock a critical pathway to driving meaningful change in the country."