Question

Which one has become popular in India and is most preferred?

(a)C
(b)A
(c)D
(d)B

Answer 1

Hint: The contraceptive that is the most popular and preferred one in India is also an anticancer drug that works against the cancer of the breast, ovary, head, and neck. It also acts against bone desorption thus preventing osteoporosis.

Complete answer:
A contraceptive is a method that prevents fertilization and thus pregnancy and is categorized into Natural, Barrier, IUDs, oral contraceptives, etc. Oral contraceptives are made up of small doses of either progestogens or progestogen-estrogen combinations. Saheli is the most popular and preferred oral contraceptive which is made up of non-steroidal components. It is once a week pill that has very few side effects and high contraceptive value making it the most popular. The medicine used in Saheli is known as ormeloxifene or centchroman and it is a type of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM).

Additional Information: Let us look at the other drugs mentioned in the picture.
Mercilon: It is a low-dose oral contraceptive pill that contains estrogens and progesterone in it. The active ingredients of mercilon are desogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol. It works by preventing ovulation and making the mucus layer of the cervix thicker which makes it difficult for the sperms to enter the womb.
Mala-D: It is used as an oral contraceptive and is used in the treatment of irregular periods. It also works by preventing fertilization by thickening the mucus layer of the cervix.
Gossypol: It is a natural phenol derived from the cotton plant and is used as birth control. It is also used for treating HIV, disorders of the uterus, and ovaries.
So, the correct option is A ‘Saheli’.

Note: -An ideal contraceptive is one that is user-friendly, easily available, effective, should not interfere with the sexual drive of the person, and reversible with no or least side effects.
-Trade names of Saheli include Centron, Novex-DS, Sevista, and Chhaya.
-Progestogens can also be used by females as injections or implants under the skin. Their mode of action is similar to pills, but they are effective for a longer time.