title: Contraception and women's health.
abstract: More and more women all over the world are opting for fertility by choice not by chance. Contraceptive use has a tremendous impact on women's health. The ability to regulate and control fertility is a basic component of health, positively defined as a state of physical, mental and social well-being. Contraception is saving the lives of women around the world from the hazards of unwanted pregnancy. Optimal childbearing is also contributing to infant and child survival. Contraception has a complex relationship to sexually-transmitted diseases. Contraceptive safety is a major public health concern. The risk/benefit assessment will differ for different populations, for different individuals, and even for the same individual at different periods of life. The family planning movement started as a movement by women for women. Women's perspectives and women's concerns should guide the future of contraceptive research and development.
authors.affiliation: WHO Special Programme of Research, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Fathalla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D012449:Safety; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D016387:Women's Health