A recent study on contraceptive behavior conducted by A.C.Neilson shows that even educated urban couple lack comprehensive information and direction on methods to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

The study, did among 162 young and educated couples across the cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai and Bangalore, shows that more than half of them (55 per cent), do not seek any medical assistance in the case of contraception, and about 50 to 75 per cent rely on condoms as the common method for avoiding pregnancies. Interestingly, they perceive birth control as a private affair, and most of them lack direction or adequate knowledge on various methods of contraception, and are reluctant to consult gynecologists.

However, they themselves plan to space their children and even their first child due to socio-economic factors and other reasons, revealed Marie Helene Piederiet, Marketing Head of Organon (India) Limited, while participating in the seminar 'Contraception out of the shadows', organized by the Federation of Gynecological Society of India (FOGSI).

The study revealed shocking information that even the modern day urban young Indian women do not have a say in the case of their own pregnancies. Though the study says about 95 per cent of the couple always value each others opinion and on important decisions, just one percent of the women respondents said the decision to go for contraception was her's, and in 70 per cent cases, decision was taken by their husbands.

Women respondents feel that priorities in the case of ideal contraceptives should be 100 per cent safe from pregnancies, easy to use, should not hinder natural pleasure during intercourse, no side effects, it should be easily reversible and should be not be a daily usage one.

The study said 32 per cent of the working women use contraceptives and its usage is highest in Bangalore at 46 percent, followed by Chennai - 40 per cent, Mumbai - 35 per cent, Kolkatta - 27 per cent and Delhi 18 per cent. About 97 per cent of them prefer oral contraceptives followed a close second by the IUD (94 per cent).