Family Planning

What is Family Planning?

Family Planning is the practice of controlling the number of children in a family and the intervals between their births, particularly by means of abstinence, natural methods or modern methods (contraception).

Types and Methods

Short Term

1.Natural Family Planning Methods; include all methods that do not involve taking any drugs or using any device to prevent pregnancy. For natural method to work, you must have a good knowledge of your own ovulation and husband’s cooperation. These include

a.Lactational Amenorrhea Method;By breastfeeding mothers up to 6 months (exclusively)

b.Basal Body Temperature;Basal body Temperature method-(Woman takes her body temperature at the same time each morning before getting out of bed observing for an increase of 0.2 to 0.5 degrees C.)

(Cycle Beads, Cervical Mucous) Effectiveness of natural methods is 88.5%

2.Barrier methods: Condoms; Condoms are thin, stretchy pouches made of rubber, that is worn before having sex. Condoms provide great protection from both pregnancy and STIs (Dual protection). Effectiveness is 98%.

(Spermicides, Cervical Caps)

3.Oral pill;Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) are tablets that are taken on a daily basis to prevent pregnancy. Oral contraceptives are hormonal preparations that may contain combinations of the hormones estrogen and progestin or progestin alone. These hormones are found in the female body. Effectiveness is 99%

4.Injectable;It is an injection, or shot, that contains progestin only(Depo Provera, Noristerat) or both oestrogen and progesterone(Norigynon). One month-norigynon, two month-noristerat, three month-depo provera or sayana press (self inject)

Effectiveness is 99.7%

Long Term

1.Implants ; The birth control implant is a tiny, thin flexible rod about the size of a matchstick made of rubber. A trained health professional inserts the implant under the skin of your upper non dominant arm. It releases the hormone progestin to prevent pregnancy.

It is 99.95% effective, considered the most effective contraceptive method

a. Jadelle (5yrs)

b. Sino –Implant Zarin (4yrs)

c. Implanon (3yrs)

2. Intra uterine Devices (IUS-5yrs) (IUD 12yrs)); An intrauterine device (IUD or coil) is a small, often T-shaped birth control device made of rubber and copper that is inserted into a woman’s uterus by a trained health professional to prevent pregnancy. Effectiveness is 99.6%

Permanent methods

a.Tubal Ligation;is surgery women can get to “tie” their fallopian tubes. It’s a type of female sterilization. The surgeon will make one or two small cuts in your belly and use a long, thin device similar to a small telescope (called a laparoscope) to cut, seal, band, clamp, or tie your fallopian tubes shut.

b.Vasectomy;is a surgical procedure for male sterilization or permanent contraception. During the procedure, the male vas deferens are severed and then tied or sealed in a manner so as to prevent sperm from entering into the urethra and thereby prevent fertilization of a female through intercourse. It is almost 100% effective.

Emergency contraception

a. Emergency Pills;Emergency oral contraception is used to prevent a pregnancy, not end one. They work primarily by delaying ovulation. Effective up to 120 hours (5days). It is 95 to 98% effective but more effective when taken within first 24hours.

b. Intrauterine Device

Benefits of Family Planning

1.Improves the health of the mother

2.Prevents complications of pregnancy & deliveries