The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) believes that all people have the right to family planning information, including premarital and marital counseling, contraception information, and sex education. This physician's handbook is designed to provide all doctors with the necessary instructions on the latest family planning methods and practices. Discussed in the handbook are the different contraceptive devices, their estimated use at world level, their mode of action, effectiveness, and contraindications or complications. The chapters cover contraceptive methods in their order of world use. These include coitus interruptus, induced abortion, condoms, systemic contraception, intrauterine contraception, sterilization, rhythm method, and caps and spermicides. Also contained in the handbook is a discussion of subfertility and venereal diseases with respect to their medical implications on family planning. Since the book is designed for doctors providing clinic-based services, the latter part of the handbook gives information on performing cytological techniques and on equipping and running family planning clinics. (MA)