In the year 1950, injectable contraceptives were developed (containing only progestin). For the treatment of endometriosis and endometrial cancer as well as of painful menstrual periods, (dysmenorrhoea), excessive hair growth (hirsutism), and bleeding disorders, progestins were finally used.

There can be little doubt that the last two hundred years have seen advances in health which have seldom before been witnessed in human history.

There can be little doubt that the last two hundred years have seen advances in health which have seldom before been witnessed in human history.

Acceptance and sustained use of family planning especially of modern spacing methods have generally been low in developing countries particularly in India. The use rate for modern spacing methods was only 6 per cent among the eligible couples in India in 1992 (IIPS, 1995).

With the introduction of female condoms that can be used exclusively by women at the time of intercourse, the conventional latex condom, which is worn over the penis, can now be termed as the male condom.

The Copper-IUD -- Cu-T 200 -- is a reliable, safer simple and cost effective method of contraception.

Inter-spouse communication, though not a new dimension of fertility and family planning research, has remained much less explored in the Indian context than any other correlate of contraceptive use and current fertility.

In 1978, the Bangladesh family planning program launched a national program of outreach services that continues to the present. Young married women were hired and trained to visit women in their homes, offer contraceptive services, provide information, and support sustained use over time.

India has been the first country in the world to have a national family planning programme.

The preference of couples worldwide for a male or female child is an age-old phenomenon. In many developing countries, including India, the preference for sons is strong and has influenced fertility to a large extent.