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.
Lactational amenorrhea works as a natural contraceptive method because, during the period of intense lactation following parturition:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → ovulation and therefore the cycle do not occur
Lactational amenorrhea means the absence of menstruation while the mother is breast-feeding. It is a natural method of contraception. During the period of intense lactation after childbirth, ovulation does not take place, so there is no ovum to be fertilised and no menstrual cycle. As long as the mother feeds the child fully, the chance of conception is almost nil. The method works only up to six months after parturition, and its failure rate is high.
Option (1) the cervix becomes hostile to the sperms — Incorrect. Making the cervix hostile to sperms is an action of the hormone-releasing IUDs. Lactation does not act on the cervix.
Option (2) ovulation and therefore the cycle do not occur — Correct. No ovulation means no ovum and no cycle. This is the basis of the method.
Option (3) the uterus becomes unsuitable for implantation — Incorrect. Making the uterus unsuitable for implantation is also an action of the hormone-releasing IUDs (and of the pills). It is not how lactational amenorrhea works.
Option (4) the sperms are physically prevented from meeting the ovum — Incorrect. Physically stopping the sperms from meeting the ovum is how barrier methods such as condoms, diaphragms and cervical caps work.
NCERT Extract:
Population Stabilisation and Birth Control – “… Lactational amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) method is based on the fact that ovulation and therefore the cycle do not occur during the period of intense lactation following parturition. Therefore, as long as the mother breast-feeds the child fully, chances of conception are almost nil. However, this method has been reported to be effective only upto a maximum period of six months following parturition.”