By Lamia Sultana Kakon
In households across Bangladesh, conversations about feminine health issues like menstruation, pregnancy, and family planning are subjects that remain behind closed doors. Even if it does take place, it happens between women. Men mostly shy away from these issues as they feel it is an unfamiliar territory and prefer to sidestep these conversations altogether. This distance can easily be avoided for a healthier relationship.
A reproductive health specialist, Dr Sarah Ahmed, at Dhaka Medical College, handles such cases regularly. “A woman will come in for family planning advice, but her husband won’t join the discussion. Later, we discover he opposed her choices simply because he didn’t understand the medical facts,” she said. For example, a process like menstrual regulation (MR), a legal and perfectly safe procedure that prevents unwanted pregnancies is not okay with many men. They still see it with suspicion rather than recognising it as a preventive system, again, because of the lack of knowledge.
According to a recent health survey of BMC Women’s Health, women who make reproductive decisions without their partner’s understanding are 40 per cent more likely to face family conflict and 60 per cent less likely to consistently use effective contraception methods.
Here’s where the conversation becomes rather interesting: when we discuss contraception in Bangladesh, we’re usually talking about women’s options. The pill, injections, implants, etc. are all designed for women. But what about the men?
Ironically, male contraception methods such as condoms and vasectomy are rarely part of family planning. Men usually hesitate to go for preventive measures, even though procedures like vasectomy or the use of a condom are often more cost- effective and sometimes medically safer. For example, in neighbouring countries like India and Thailand, vasectomy has gained much popularity according to reports.
Rashida Begum, 45, who works in Dhaka’s garment sector, discovered this firsthand. “My husband thought family planning was entirely my responsibility”, she recalls. “When our doctor explained how we could share this responsibility and that it might be easier for him to use protection rather than me taking tablets regularly, everything changed. Now he’s the one who reminds me about our doctor’s appointments.”
The solution isn’t about assigning blame but rather about co-operation. Recently, progressive healthcare providers have been designing family planning programs that specifically engage men as active partners. These programs focus on education rather than judgment. They are trying to explain how shared responsibility benefits everyone- healthier families, reduced medical costs, and stronger relationships built on mutual understanding and respect.
Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in women’s healthcare access. The next logical step is sensitising men regarding this. Because when men become informed partners rather than silent observers, families make better healthcare decisions.
Women feel more supported in their choices. And ultimately, the entire community benefits from this more inclusive approach. The goal isn’t to transform cultural values overnight but to create space for empathy and understanding. In a country that’s already demonstrated it can balance heritage with progress, the next conversation might well be this.
