The authors have come to the conclusion that the ideal time to start female contraception is when the periods return following delivery. They arrived at this conclusion after studying the disadvantages of the various methods of hormone contraception and of mechanical female contraception immediately following delivery. Directly after delivery contraception should be in the hands of the man and not the woman. If better information is given to the couple during pregnancy and in the postnatal period it should direct them towards such formations of contraception. The problem, however, of grand multipara who are feckless, ignorant and of low social class, still remains. Medroxyprogesterone, if it is used at all immediately after delivery, should be given in a dose of 150 mg. As far as tubal ligation by mini-laparotomy after delivery goes this is permanent contraception and its indications should be considered with very great care.