Psychosocial aspects of fertility regulation:

The availability of contraceptive methods which are safe and affordable plays a role in
women's mental health. However, an estimated 123 million women are not using
contraception despite their wish to do so. This happens frequently in developing countries.
The decision-making regarding the initiation and continuation of contraception use may
lead to conflict between partners, whereas the decision is influenced by different factors
such as gender roles, autonomy, and women’s reproductive rights.

Not a lot of records found that contraceptives, particularly female sterilization, are major
contributing factors that have adverse effects on mental health. Most reviews were positive
but the negative reviews found were from women who had been forced to be sterilized or
women who were not aware of the effects of sterilization. With this, we can see that negative
psychological effects are most likely to occur as a consequence of reproductive rights
violations. Contraceptives are important for a woman to be able to exercise their reproductive
rights, although the ability to exercise this right is often dependent on their position in
society. The right to sexual and reproductive rights are linked to other human rights. The
provision of comprehensive reproductive health services is crucial to the improvement of
women’s health.

Despite the majority of women expressing the want to use contraception, many still do not.
This is due to the fear of side effects, not needing it, not being married, religion, needing
more children, and fear of the husband’s disapproval. Family planning was also believed to
be a sin, coercive, and a mechanism of war. Women have reported that they have little control
over their husband’s decisions regarding the use of contraception. They also reported how
their husbands acted out of anger while refusing to comply with their decisions. Different
forms of violence, may it be verbal or sexual, reduce the use of contraceptives which results
in unwanted pregnancy, as well as its termination.