Contraception. Science and Practice

The world's population is increasing by more than one million every five days. The editors note that a continuing lack of priority given to tackling the world growth in human numbers (by reducing it rather than merely attempting to accommodate it), shows that neither politicians nor voters have yet appreciated its devastating implications for meeting human needs. They also note the great extent of individual need, as shown in developing countries by the World Fertility Survey. Consumer surveys in developed countries have also demonstrated the deficiency of our current birth control methods, in terms both of perceived safety and of simplicity for users. This work is designed to be a guidebook both in facing the emergency threatened by the increase in world population and in using the available methods better to meet the human needs concerning contraception. Intended particularly for physicians engaged in teaching or research in birth-control techniques, the aim has been to aid ''practice'' although it also contains much scientific knowledge. Much space has been given to the expanding subject of hormonal contaception and chapters on ''the pill'' aim to place the subject into perspective