Read the passage and answer the following question:
Overpopulation causes a number of family problems. Strategies like birth control methods help to control population explosion. Natural methods of birth control do not involve medications or devices to prevent pregnancy but rather rely on behavioural practices and/or making observations about menstrual cycle. Natural methods work on the principle of avoiding chances of ovum and sperms meeting.
Which of the following are contraceptive measures?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → All of the above
The passage names natural methods as one kind of birth control. NCERT groups contraceptive methods into natural or traditional methods, barrier methods, IUDs, oral contraceptives, injectables, implants and surgical methods. The three options given all belong to this list.
Option (1) Natural/Traditional Methods — Correct statement, but it is only one of the correct points, so on its own it is not the answer. Natural methods such as periodic abstinence, withdrawal and lactational amenorrhea avoid the meeting of ovum and sperms.
Option (2) Barrier methods — Correct statement, but it is only one of the correct points, so on its own it is not the answer. Barrier methods such as condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps and vaults keep the ovum and sperms apart physically.
Option (3) Oral contraceptives — Correct statement, but it is only one of the correct points, so on its own it is not the answer. Oral contraceptives are pills of progestogens or progestogen-estrogen combinations, and Saheli.
NCERT Extract:
Population Stabilisation and Birth Control – “… A wide range of contraceptive methods are presently available which could be broadly grouped into the following categories, namely Natural/Traditional, Barrier, IUDs, Oral contraceptives, Injectables, Implants and Surgical methods.”