Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

‣ What do the terms “conception” and “contraception” mean?
Conception: to conceive or to become pregnant.
Contraception (contra = against, ception = conception): way of preventing pregnancy or
conception.
‣ What are the necessary conditions for conception?
The following conditions are necessary for a woman to conceive or to become pregnant:
• Release of an egg (ovum) from one of the woman’s ovaries
• Open fallopian tubes
• Presence of sperm in male seminal fluid
• Sperm being deposited in vagina
• Sperm’s entry into the uterus through the cervix
• Adequate numbers and mobility of sperm in order to reach the ovum in the
fallopian tube.
• Inner lining of the uterus soft and spongy (which requires a normal balance of
female hormones) to allow the fertilized ovum to attach to it where it can grow
into a baby.
Explain that pregnancy can be avoided or prevented if any of the above conditions is
changed.
Ask:
‣ What are contraceptives?
Any obstacle or any condition which does not allow the ovum and the sperm to meet will
prevent pregnancy.
Explain that any methods used for this purpose are called family planning methods or
contraceptives.
Ask participants what methods they know. Note their responses on the flipchart.
[Note: probably some traditional methods will be listed].
Explain that, for many years, people used a variety of unscientific ways to avoid
pregnancy, and these are called traditional methods. Since that time, other scientifically
based methods have been developed and these methods are called modern contraceptive
methods.
In Romania, until 1989 many couples used traditional methods, because modern methods
were not available; some people continued to use them into the 1990s and after, despite
their low effectiveness and even dangerous effects on health.
43
RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 4: FP Methods