Contraceptive morbidity refers to morbidity caused by use of specific contraceptives. Obviously, contraceptive morbidity does not include the protective effects that contraceptives have against a variety of adverse conditions, but the concept of "contraceptive health" does include the absence of these diseases, which include ovarian and endometrial cancer, anemia, and STDs. Contraceptive morbidities are of 2 broad types: 

Ram and Rangaiyan (1997) studied the prevailing contraceptive morbidity pattern among the contraceptive users by method for all India and some selected states. They analysed the NFHS-1 data and reviewed other available data for India and different states (Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh). The study indicate that a significant proportion of women suffering from illness relate their problems to contraceptive use. A comparatively higher proportion of sterilised women had reportedly suffered illness related to contraceptive use.

NFHS-2 provides information on the women who are using modern contraceptive methods and reported problem with their method. 64% of sterilised women and 81% of women whose husbands sterilised report having no problems with their method. The most common problems experienced by sterilised women are headache, body ache or backache (23%), abdominal pain (15%), weakness or tiredness (14%), white discharge (12%) and fever (5%). The results point to a continuing need to strengthen postoperative care and counseling for sterilisation acceptors.             

Updated by Samatha Reddy Dated: 18/08/2003