Women's health in Europe / Mireille Didier

women's health in Europe s the 20th century draws to a close, we have witnessed a genuine revolution for which women have been waiting for thousands of years: at last it has become possible to control reproduction. From the contraceptive pill to the intrauterine device (IUD), from spermicidal suppositories (which destroy the male spermatozoa) to the good old condom (which has the added advantage of being the only effective way to prevent the sexual transmission of AIDS), there is a wide choice of simple, safe and effective Good family planning entails an equal sharing of responsibility between men and women. WORLD HEALTH. November~ December 1991 by Mireille Didier methods for avoiding an unwanted pregnancy. Proper facilities Yet women and their partners still need to have access to them and to learn how to use them. Moreover, the psychological and social mechanisms governing the woman's choice as to whether or not to have a child at a given moment are highly complex. This explains why, despite the ready availability of contraceptive methods, we cannot hope to see unwanted pregnancies disappear completely. It is therefore all the more important to make sure that proper facilities are available for women who do not wish to continue with such pregnancies. Experience proves that, if family planning methods are to be used properly they must be accompanied by genuine sex education provided by professionals and volunteers. Respect for cultural habits and religious convic- tions, and a kind of apprenticeship in responsibility on the part of both partners, are essential prerequisites for efficacy in this field. In order to ensure that every child born is a wanted child, every woman's right to choose the means for fulfilling her sexual and reproductive life must be respected. • Mrs Mirei/le Didier is a freelan ce journalist based in Paris. Her address is: 2 Square Barthol ome. 7501 5 Paris . France. 23