Rwaida A. Al Haidari

One of the most critical problems of throughout the world especially in developing and underdeveloped countries is the increase in human population. Fertility control is an issue of global and national public health concern. Sexual and reproductive health is a prerequisite of all goals because it has a direct link to social, economic and human development. Family planning has been prompted through several methods of contraception, but due to adverse effects produced by synthetic steroidal contraceptives attention has now been focused in indigenous plants for possible contraceptive effect. Contraceptive ability of plants has been reported in several animal models. The reversibility of the anti-fertility effects of plants and its active compounds are of potential clinical relevance in the development of contraceptive. This review attempts to focus on the potential of medicinal plants as the source of new contraceptive principles.