FAMILY PLANNING

The practice of controlling the number of children in a family and the intervals
between their births, particularly by means of artificial contraception or voluntary
sterilization. Family planning services are defined as "educational, comprehensive
medical or social activities which enable individuals, including minors, to determine
freely the number and spacing of their children and to select the means by which this
may be achieved".[1] Family planning may involve consideration of the number of
children a woman wishes to have, including the choice to have no children, as well as
the age at which she wishes to have them. These matters are influenced by external
factors such as marital situation, career considerations, financial position, and any
disabilities that may affect their ability to have children and raise them. If sexually
active, family planning may involve the use of contraception and other techniques to
control the timing of reproduction.

Purpose of family planning

Some family planning methods, such as condoms, help prevent the
transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Family
planning/ contraception reduces the need for abortion, especially unsafe
abortion. Family planning reinforces people's rights to determine the number
and spacing of their children.

BENEFITS OF FAMILY PLANNING

Family planning provides many benefits to mother, children, father, and
the family. Enables her to regain her health after delivery. Gives enough time
and opportunity to love and provide attention to her husband and children.
Gives more time for her family and own personal advancement.

ADVANTAGES OF FAMILY PLANNING

Combining natural family planning with another form of birth control, such as a
condom, is recommended for couples who want to avoid pregnancy at all costs. One of
the main advantages of natural family planning is that it does not involve the use of
chemicals or hormones and therefore does not have any side effects.

Importance of family planning

Benefits of family planning. Family planning is arguably one of the most important
public health advancements in the last century, and it is defined as a woman's ability
to decide if and when to have children. Family planning services include counseling,
education, access to contraception, and access to safe abortion.

METHODS OF CONTRACEPTION:
LONG-ACTING REVERSIBLE
CONTRACEPTION
Long-acting reversible contraception
(LARC) is a contraceptive that lasts for
a long time. There are two types of
LARC:
-the intra uterine device (IUD) that lasts
for five to ten years -
the implant that lasts for three or five
years.
They are sometimes called “fit and
forget” contraception because you don’t
need to remember it every day or every
month. LARCs are the most effective
types of contraception. They are more
than 99% effective at preventing
pregnancy.
HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES
These are contraceptives that use
hormones to prevent pregnancy.
Hormonal contraceptives include the
pill and the Depo Provera
injection.There are two types of pill:
-combined oral contraceptive pill
-progestogen-only contraceptive pill
You take one pill each day. The pill is
more than 99% effective at preventing
pregnancy if you take it
correctly. The Depo Provera injection is
another type of hormonal
contraception. You get an injection
every three months. If you get your
injections on time, Depo Provera is
more than 99% effective.
BARRIER METHODS
Barrier methods stop sperm from
entering the vagina. The two barrier
methods are: -condoms , -internal
condoms
Condoms protect against sexually
transmissible infections (STIs) as well
as unintended pregnancy. You can get
a prescription for male condoms from
Family Planning or your doctor, or you
can buy them from other online shops,
pharmacies, supermarkets and other
shops.
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
There are two options for emergency
contraception: the emergency
contraceptive pill (ECP) or a copper
IUD. The ECP is approved to be taken
up three days after unprotected sex.
For women of an average weight, the
ECP is 98% effective.
FERTILITY AWARENESS Fertility
awareness is learning the signs of fertility in
your menstrual cycle to help you plan or
avoid a pregnancy.
PERMANENT CONTRACEPTION
Permanent contraception, sometimes
called sterilization, prevents all future
pregnancies. It is very difficult or
impossible to reverse. For males it
is vasectomy and for females it is tubal
ligation.