To Use or Not to Use Contraceptives?

Almalvez, April Myles C. | MEB11

Contraception methods have always been an issue in the Philippines. Some people, most
commonly the religious sectors, disapprove of contraception because they believe that it goes beyond the
natural law. While this stand has a point, there are still some people who are not against the use of
contraceptives, and that includes me.

Family planning is essential when building a family of your own. It does not only prevent health
problems for the mother and the child but also the financial problems that you will have to face in case of
an unplanned pregnancy. But family planning does not always have to involve contraception. There are
also natural methods such as calendar method, rhythm or periodic abstinence, and withdrawal. Obviously,
these could be better options for some people. But the problem is that for it to be effective, couples should
practice it correctly and consistently — and not everyone has that discipline. If they are not responsible
enough, there is a great chance that the natural method they used would be unsuccessful.

As we all know, poor family planning is often the root of unwanted pregnancies. Along with it
comes the unintended births, abortions, miscarriages, and even maternal deaths. According to a study
from Guttmacher Institute, a pro-choice research organization that works to study, educate, and advance
sexual and reproductive health and rights, if all women who wanted to avoid pregnancy opted for
contraception, there would be 1.6 million fewer pregnancies each year in the Philippines. Unintended
births would drop by 800,000, abortions would decline by 500,000, and miscarriages would decline by
200,000. Moreover, if women at risk for unintended pregnancy would use contraceptives, 2,100 maternal
deaths can be prevented each year. Given these statistics, contraception would not only be beneficial for
women but also for their families and the healthcare system. Parents would just have enough children that
they can support and provide for which can also prevent overpopulation and poverty. But, of course,
contraception also has its downside. It is not accessible for everyone especially to those who are poor and
from the low-income communities. With this, investments and changes should be made in modern
contraception, government policies, programs, and health insurance coverage so that it will be available
for everyone.

Contraceptive use in the Philippines is always a difficult matter to talk about. There is a lot that should be
considered before pushing through with it. But even so, contraception just all boils down to two important
things, and that is to save women’s lives and support healthy families.