Production and Development of Herbal Contraceptives in Nigeria – A Necessity

ABSTRACT

Contraception is a means or method to prevent pregnancy. Contraceptives are the devices, agents, drugs, etc used in prevention of pregnancy. Basic methods of contraception are: (i) modern methods, and (ii) traditional / herbal methods. Modern method involves the use of vaginal ring, cervical caps, hormonal implants, patch, injections, diaphragm, male/female condoms, spermicides, pills, vasectomy, male/female sterilization, intrauterine device (IUD), intrauterine system (IUS), etc. Traditional/herbal methods involve the use of medicinal and antifertility plants, herbal remedies and recipes, natural family planning methods and other inexplicable traditional forms. Despite these methods, contraceptive prevalence in Nigeria is low. The necessity of producing and developing herbal contraceptives is long overdue in Nigeria due to the adverse effects, cost, inaccessibility, unavailability and undesirability of the modern methods especially to rural dwellers in Nigeria. This paper therefore reviews the necessity of producing and developing herbal contraceptives from the abundance of medicinal plants with antifertility potentials, indigenous knowledge and prescriptions of traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) in Nigeria.

Keywords: Contraception, family planning, herbal contraceptives, medicinal plants, antifertility.