ABSTRACT
Despite the fact that overpopulation is a critical problem in many parts of the world, there has been relatively little research into the psychology of contraceptive use. Control over fertility has profound social implications, not least for women. Its importance for the psychology of women can hardly be overestimated, even though influential writers (eg. Ussher, 1989, Phoenix et al., 1991) virtually ignore the topic. Specialist medical writers have largely neglected psychological aspects of contraception and even the relationship of contraception to sexual behavior has attracted little of their attention (eg. Guillebaud, 1991). Health psychologists have mainly addressed the problems of contraceptive choice in relation to adolescent use and as protection against AIDS, but there is much more than this to the psychology of contraception (Clarke, 1984).
