Family planning also known as Birth Control allows us to prevent pregnancy and plan the timing of pregnancy. Family planning allows couples to attain their desired number of children and determine the spacing of the pregnancies. It is achieved through the use of contraceptive methods.
There are a number of different methods and it is important to choose one that best meets an individual’s needs and circumstances.
Types of Family Planning Methods:
- Hormonal
- Barrier
- IUD
- Sterilization
- Natural
- Emergency
Hormonal
These methods contain hormones called estrogen and progestin that are similar to the estrogen and progesterone a woman makes in her own body. They include pills, injections, and implants. Hormonal methods work by preventing eggs from being released from the ovaries, thickening cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering the uterus, and thinning the lining of the uterus to prevent implantation of fertilized egg.
Barrier
These are devices that attempt to prevent pregnancy by physically preventing sperm from entering the uterus. The sperm is thus blocked from reaching the egg. They include male condoms, female condoms, cervical caps, diaphragms and contraceptive sponges with spermicides. They do not change the way the woman’s or man’s body works and cause very few side effects.
Intrauterine Devices
The IUD is a small plastic or copper device inserted into the uterus by a trained health worker. It works by creating a hostile environment for the sperm. They can last for 5 – 12 years.
Sterilization
There are operations that make it almost impossible for a man or a woman to have any children. Since these operations are permanent, they are only good for those women or men who are certain that they do not want any more children.
The surgery for the man is known as Vasectomy in which the tubes that carry the sperm from the testicles to the penis are cut. The operation does not change a man’s ability to have sex or to feel sexual pleasure.
The surgery for the woman is known as tubal ligation and as the name implies the tubes that carry the eggs to the uterus are cut or tied. It does not change a woman’s monthly bleeding or her ability to have sex and sexual pleasure.
Natural Methods
These are methods to avoid pregnancy that does not require the use of any devices or chemicals or medicines. The methods are breastfeeding for the first 6 months also known as Lactational Amenorrhea and the fertility awareness method.
- Lactational Amenorrhea
This method involves the use of a woman’s natural postpartum infertility which occurs after delivery and may be extended by breastfeeding. Breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months can prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg. This method does not cost anything but it is most effective for only the first 6 months after childbirth.
- Fertility Awareness method
This method requires that a woman is aware of when she is fertile during her menstrual cycle and to avoid having unprotected sexual intercourse on those days. To follow this method, women need to accurately and precisely chart their fertility, either through basal body temperature changes or changes in cervical mucus, or by following the calendar.
Emergency Contraception
Emergency methods are ways for women to avoid pregnancy after having unprotected sex. They are only effective if used soon after having sex. They work primarily by preventing ovulation or fertilization. They include pills and intra uterine devices.
To be continued…
