Recent advances in contraception.

The world population is expected to increase by 2.6 billion to 9.1 billion in 2050. This will occur, if fertility decreases from today's 2.6 children to about 2 children per woman. If fertility were to remain at the present level, 34 million persons would be added annually by mid-century and thus the world population would reach 10.6 billion by 2050. The most notable increase in the world population will occur in third world countries. Therefore immense investments are being made to develop safe, reliable and easily used contraceptive methods. It has not proven easy. Further, acceptance of the methods has been called into question. And even their distribution would be very difficult although Population Council and organizations like it have put a lot of effort into that matter also. In addition, the methods should preferably be such that they could to some extent prevent the rapid spread of sexually transmitted infections. So, the task is not easy, but every effort must be made on this question also at governmental and international political levels. It is noteworthy that this kind of approach has been given more currency since the beginning of this millennium.