Siva Chinnatamby (c.1923 - 2000) was a Sri Lankan obstetrician who pioneered the use of modern contraceptives in the country.

Biography

In 1961, Chinnatamby led the first oral contraceptive trials in Asia, at Ragama Hospital. In 1964, she led trials of

intrauterine device An intrauterine device (IUD), also known as an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD or ICD) or coil, is a small, often T-shaped birth control device that is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. IUDs are a form of long-acting rever ...

s at Colombo North Hospital, and in 1968, she began trials of

Depo-Provera Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), also known as depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) in injectable form and sold under the brand name Depo-Provera among others, is a hormonal medication of the progestin type. It is used as a method of ...

. In 1972 she was invited to give the Murugesar Sinnetamby Oration at the Sri Lanka Medical Association; her topic was "Successful treatment of infertility". In the late 1960s, Chinnatamby was instrumental in establishing the first

Zonta International Zonta International is an international service organization with the mission of Building a Better World for Women and Girls, in support of Sustainable Development Goal 5. Alan Axelrod, ''International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Frate ...

club in Sri Lanka. At the end of her life, she bequeathed her home in Colombo to the

University of Colombo The University of Colombo (informally Colombo University or UoC) is a Public University, public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is the oldest institution of modern higher education in Sri Lanka. Specialised in t ...

, for use as residence for women students of the university. The Sri Lankan College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists established a memorial lecture in her name.

Publications

* Chinnatamby, S. (September 25, 1965). Intrauterine Contraceptive Device and Population. ''British Medical Journal, 2,'' 5464, 756. * Chinnatamby, S. (November 1, 1971). A Comparison of the Long-Acting Contraceptive Agents Norethisterone Oenanthate and Medroxyprogesterone Acetate. ''The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 11,'' 4, 233-236. * Chinnatamby, S. (May 24, 2010). The Evolution of Obstetrics in Ceylon from the Sinnetamby Era (1900) to Date. ''The Journal of the Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 1,'' 1, 90-102.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chinnatamby, Siva Sri Lankan medical doctors 2000 deaths 1920s births People from British Ceylon Zonta International people