A Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (UI), Professor Biola Okunlola, has called for increased adoption of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC), warning that Nigeria’s rapidly growing population and persistently low contraceptive uptake require innovative, evidence-based family planning strategies.
Speaking at the department’s grand round on recent advances in Long-Acting Reversible Contraception organised by his unit, Okunlola stressed the need for Nigeria to translate emerging evidence into improved reproductive healthcare services.
Okunlola, Head of the Fertility Research and Endocrine Unit in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, warned that if Nigeria’s population continues to grow without corresponding improvements in infrastructure and social services, it will place greater strain on national development.
He noted that modern contraceptive technologies now achieve effectiveness rates exceeding 99 per cent with very low complication rates, making them among the most reliable reversible contraceptive methods available. Improvements in effectiveness, safety, duration of action and user experience, he added, have made them first-line contraceptive options.
The professor lamented that despite decades of family planning programmes, contraceptive prevalence in Nigeria remains below 20 per cent, far lower than in many developed countries where contraceptive use exceeds 80 per cent.
According to him, misconceptions, cultural beliefs, inadequate awareness, shortages of trained providers and limited access continue to hinder wider acceptance of modern contraceptive methods.
He said increasing the uptake of long-acting reversible contraceptives would significantly reduce unintended pregnancies, improve maternal and child health outcomes and support sustainable national development.
Okunlola called on government, healthcare professionals, researchers and development partners to intensify public education, strengthen family planning services and invest in research to make contraceptive methods more accessible, affordable and acceptable to Nigerian women.
He maintained that while global innovations continue to redefine reproductive healthcare, their benefits can only be realised if women have accurate information, wider access to services and more contraceptive choices.
Okunlola disclosed that the Fertility Research and Endocrine Unit is contributing to contraceptive research through locally developed digital health solutions.
He explained that the classification of intrauterine devices, implants and injectable contraceptives under Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives reflects advances in contraceptive technology rather than the introduction of entirely new methods.
He also stressed the need to integrate family planning with other reproductive health services, particularly HIV counselling and treatment programmes.
READ ALSO: Hepatitis silent disease on the prowl in Nigeria — Expert
Dr Taiwo Tsele, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, called for wider adoption of recent global updates on LARC to improve access to effective family planning services.
She highlighted the introduction of same-day intrauterine device (IUD) access, allowing eligible women to receive counselling, clinical assessment and IUD insertion during a single clinic visit.
According to her, the approach reduces delays, prevents unintended pregnancies, improves LARC uptake and enhances patient satisfaction, particularly among adolescents and postpartum women.
Dr Tsele also noted that updated recommendations support LARC as the first-line contraceptive option for adolescents regardless of age or parity.
She said immediate postpartum IUD insertion—within 10 minutes of placental delivery, during a caesarean section or within 48 hours after childbirth—is another key update aimed at increasing contraceptive uptake before discharge from hospital.
She added that evidence now supports extending the duration of use for several contraceptive methods, while new recommendations emphasise individualised pain management during IUD insertion, discourage routine use of misoprostol and advocate training more healthcare providers while reducing financial barriers.
The Head of the Family Planning Unit at the University College Hospital (UCH), Mrs Angelina Tokzaka, said the country’s low contraceptive prevalence underscores the need for innovative methods that offer women more choices while improving convenience, safety and effectiveness.
Mrs Tokzaka highlighted several next-generation contraceptive technologies under development or in clinical trials, including biodegradable implants, wireless microchip implants, long-acting monthly oral contraceptive pills and six-month self-administered injectable contraceptives.
She said the innovations are designed to improve user comfort, extend contraceptive protection and make family planning services more accessible, particularly in low-resource settings.
While noting that many of the technologies are still undergoing research or awaiting regulatory approval, Mrs Tokzaka called for greater investment in reproductive health research and local participation in contraceptive innovation, expressing optimism that expanding contraceptive options would improve acceptance and reproductive health outcomes.
Dr Oluwakemi Osundara, a Senior Registrar, said contraceptive implants and injectables offer health benefits beyond pregnancy prevention, including reducing the risk of ectopic pregnancy and endometrial cancer, improving endometriosis symptoms, reducing heavy menstrual bleeding and lowering the frequency of sickle cell crises.
The registrar dismissed fears that intrauterine devices migrate to the heart or brain or routinely cause pelvic inflammatory disease, explaining that such complications are extremely rare and that infections after insertion are usually treatable.
Osundara called for sustained public education, improved access to trained healthcare providers and evidence-based counselling to address misconceptions and increase acceptance of long-acting reversible contraceptives.
Also speaking, Registrar Dr Mosiu Sheriff emphasised that although these methods are more than 99 per cent effective, they do not protect against sexually transmitted infections and should be accompanied by appropriate counselling where necessary.
He urged women to seek professional medical advice before choosing a contraceptive method and called for improved public awareness, greater access to trained healthcare providers and wider adoption of LARC to strengthen family planning services and improve maternal health.
WATCH TOP VIDEOS FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE TV