Read the given passage and answer the following questions:
Oral administration of small doses of either progestogens or progestogen –estrogen combinations is another contraceptive method used by the females. They are used in the form of tablets and hence are popularly called the pills. Pills have to be taken daily for a period of 21 days starting preferably within the first five days of menstrual cycle. After a gap of 7 days (during which menstruation occurs) it has to be repeated in the same pattern till the female desires to prevent conception. They inhibit ovulation and implantation as well as alter the quality of cervical mucus to prevent/retard entry of sperms. Pills are very effective with lesser side effects and are well accepted by the females. Saheli –the new oral contraceptive for the females contains a non-steroidal preparation. It is a ‘once a week’ pill with very few side effects and high contraceptive value. Progestogens alone or in combination with estrogen can also be used by females as injections or implants under the skin. Their mode of action is similar to that of pills and their effective periods are much longer. Administration of progestogens or progestogen-estrogen combinations or IUDs within 72 hours of coitus have been found to be very effective as emergency contraceptives as they could be used to avoid possible pregnancy due to rape or casual unprotected intercourse.
Intra-uterine devices (IUDs) are ideal contraceptives for females who:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → want to delay pregnancy and/or space children
Intra-uterine devices (IUDs) are inserted by doctors or trained nurses into the uterus through the vagina. Common ones are the Lippes loop, CuT and Progestasert. An IUD can be removed when the woman wants a child, so it suits women who want to delay pregnancy or space children.
Option (1) want to delay pregnancy and/or space children — Correct. IUDs give long-lasting but reversible protection.
Option (2) want protection from sexually transmitted infections along with contraception — Incorrect. IUDs do not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Among contraceptives, condoms have the added benefit of protecting the user from STIs and AIDS.
Option (3) want a permanent method whose reversibility is very poor — Incorrect. A permanent method with very poor reversibility is sterilisation (vasectomy or tubectomy). An IUD is a reversible method.
Option (4) want to rely on periodic abstinence during the fertile period of the menstrual cycle — Incorrect. Periodic abstinence is a natural method: the couple avoids coitus from day 10 to 17 of the cycle. A woman using an IUD has no need for it.
NCERT Extract:
Population Stabilisation and Birth Control – “Another effective and popular method is the use of Intra Uterine Devices (IUDs). These devices are inserted by doctors or expert nurses in the uterus through vagina. These Intra Uterine Devices are presently available as the non-medicated IUDs (e.g., Lippes loop), copper releasing IUDs (CuT, Cu7, Multiload 375) and the hormone releasing IUDs (Progestasert, LNG-20) (Figure 3.2). … IUDs are ideal contraceptives for the females who want to delay pregnancy and/or space children. It is one of most widely accepted methods of contraception in India.”