Family Planning

.Family planning is much more than birth control. The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) supports family planning in its broadest sense. Planning for a family means making conscious and informed decisions about the initiation of sexual activity and the safe and effective use of contraceptives to time a healthy pregnancy. Comprehensive family planning includes educating patients about future pregnancies to ensure their physical and mental health and that of their babies. Information about the importance of good nutrition, particularly folic acid, and the adverse effects of using alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy can enable women, adolescents and their partners to make decisions for a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby. Preconception counseling is integral to reducing low birth weight and infant mortality and in improving womens health.

>it is the planning of when to have children,[1] and the use of birth control[2][3] and other techniques to implement such plans. Other techniques commonly used include sexuality education, management of sexually transmitted infections, and infertility management.
[2] [3] [3] [3][4]

prevention and

pre-conception counseling and management,

******Family planning is sometimes used in the wrong way also as a synonym for the use of birth control, though it often includes more. It is most usually applied to a female-malecouple who wish to limit the number of children they have and/or to control the timing of pregnancy (also known asspacing children).
[5] Family planning may encompasssterilization, as well as pregnancy termination.

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."[4]

Purposes
Raising a child requires significant amounts of resources: time,[6] social, financial,[7] and environmental. Planning can help assure that resources are available.

Health
Waiting until the mother is at least 18 years old before trying to have children improves maternal and child health.[8] Also, if additional children are desired after a child is born, it is healthier for the mother and the child to wait at least 2 years after the previous birth before attempting to conceive (but not more than 5 years).[8] After a miscarriage or abortion, it is healthier to wait at least 6 months.[8]

Modern methods
Some families use modern medical advances in family planning. For example in surrogacy treatments a woman agrees to become pregnant and deliver a child for another couple or person. In sperm donations, pregnancies are usually achieved using donated sperm by artificial insemination(either by ICI or IUI) and less commonly by in vitro fertilization (IVF), usually known in this context asART but insemination may also be achieved by a donor having sexual intercourse with a woman for the sole purpose of initiating conception. This method is known as natural insemination, or NI. There is generally a demand for sperm donors who have no genetic problems in their family, 20/20 eyesight, with excellent visual acuity, a college degree, and sometimes a value on a certain height and age.[9][10]

Birth control
With recent assertions of overpopulation on Earth, there have been asertions that birth control is the answer. Birth control are techniques and methods use to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancyat various stages.

Natural family planning

Contents

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What is it? Resources References

Natural family planning is a method of fertility management that works by becoming aware of the signs of fertility so you can increase your chances of having a baby, or reduce your chances of pregnancy.
What is it?
Natural family planning is undertaken by committed couples and involves recognising the signs of ovulation (when the egg is released). To avoid pregnancy, sexual intercourse is avoided during the fertile part of a menstrual cycle. The things that are monitored include:

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changes in cervical mucus basal body temperature.

It is called natural family planning because it involves no hormone or barrier methods of contraception. The natural family planning method can be used during all parts of a woman's reproductive life, including during breast feeding and just before menopause. Natural family planning does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Studies have found that natural family planning is a very effective way of preventing pregnancy, however it needs to be taught well and the 'rules' need to be stuck to.

y RELATED TOPICS Emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) y Safer sex y Contraception y Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) y Pregnancy - options y Condoms y Contraceptive injection y Diaphragm y Implanon y IUD y Sterilisation y The Pill
>When are emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) used?
They can be used when a woman has had unprotected sex or when contraception has failed. This could include

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not using contraception a condom breaking or slipping off, when more than 2 consecutive contraceptive pills are forgotten, forced intercourse (rape/sexual assault).

Most women can take Emergency Contraceptive Pills, even women who cannot take oral contraceptive pills, or who get side effects from the Pill such as migraine. You can take the ECP if you are taking oral contraceptive pills

>Safer sex means sexual contact that:

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shows respect is pleasurable is freely consented to by both partners reduces the risk of passing on any infections reduces the risk of an unwanted pregnancy is safe emotionally.

Sex is never an obligation each partner has the right to say no. If a partner asks you to stop you must respect this. Many young people know that if they are considering having sex, it's really important to make sure it is safer sex. But it isn't always easy, and it can be embarrassing. But talking about safer sex is a sign of respect.

Being ready for sex

Young people can feel a lot of pressure to have sex. Friends may tell you they're all doing it (sometimes even if they're not). You see it on the TV and in the movies. You might also feel pressured by a particular person. Or you might feel that it's expected of you from a girlfriend or boyfriend. Practising safer sex means looking after yourself emotionally. This means that you choose when to have sex and when not to, who with and how you have sex.

y Contraception

Contraception is when you take action to prevent a pregnancy. It's important to think about contraception and the type that best suit you long before you get intimate with someone - to avoid an unwanted pregnancy and to give you choice about when, or if, you're ready to be a parent. Which contraception you chose may be based on your physical health, the type of relationship you're in, your cultural background, your values and beliefs, and what is available where you live. You could discuss these contraceptive choices further with a health professional. Alert! Most types of contraception do not prevent sexually transmitted infections. Condoms provide the best protection against STIs

Contraception choices
There are many different types of contraception. Some are controlled by a woman (eg. hormone contraceptive pills or injections), and some by a man (eg. condoms). Both partners are responsible for making decisions about sexual intimacy and contraception; communication is the key! Here is a list of reliable types of contraception - see the Related Links for the topics that provide detailed information on each one:

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Condoms Contraceptive injection Diaphragm Emergency contraceptive pills Implanon IUD Natural family planning Sterilisation The Pill Vaginal ring

Unsafe sex and what to do

If you have had unsafe sex, such as sex without using any contraception, and it is possible that you may become pregnant, you need to work out what to do as soon as possible. Emergency contraceptive pills (sometimes known as the morning after pill) are hormone pills that can be used by a woman who has had unprotected sex, to prevent pregnancy. The earlier after unprotected sex they are used, the more effective they are. Emergency contraceptive pills are very effective if used within 24 hours after unprotected sex, usually effective if used within 72 hours (3 days) and often effective if used within 120 hours (5 days). See the topic Emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) for more information.

Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding may prevent ovulation for several months. It is the most widely used way of spacing pregnancies in the world, since in many countries people cannot afford other forms of contraception.

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Ovulation is usually prevented while a woman is fully breastfeeding her baby (no infant formula and no foods other than breastmilk), but some women do become pregnant again even when they are fully breastfeeding their baby. Women usually start ovulating soon after other forms of infant feeding are introduced, such as when a baby starts taking solids. Women also often ovulate before they have their first period, so they have no warning that they are fertile again. It is suggested women take the mini pill (POP) or use a form of barrier contraception such as a condom, during this time to prevent pregnancy. See the topic The Pill for more information.

Spermacides

Spermicides (products that kill sperm) are important additions to using diaphragms, and can make condoms more effective. However, they are not effective on their own as contraceptives, nor are they of any use in protecting against sexually transmitted infections.

The withdrawal method

The withdrawal method is when a man withdraws his penis from a woman's vagina before he ejaculates, or 'comes'. This is meant to prevent sperm entering the vagina, reaching an egg and causing pregnancy. This is not safe. Pregnancies often occur when withdrawal methods are tried.

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The penis produces some fluid ('pre-cum') after it becomes erect and before ejaculation. Often there is sperm in the pre-cum and this can cause pregnancy. Also, this method relies on the man judging when he is going to ejaculate, and it is quite common for a man to ejaculate before he withdraws his penis.

The withdrawal method does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

What services do family planning clinics provide?

Family planning clinics offer free, confidential advice, and information about contraception and sexual health. You can get details of your nearest family planning clinic from the phone book, your GP, local hospital, health authority, or from the Family Planning Association (FPA) website. See Further information below for more details. Family planning clinics can be used by women, men and young people, including those who are under 16 years of age. Most health authorities also have specific services for young people. You can refer yourself to a family planning clinic, or you can be referred by your GP, or another health worker. However, you may need to book an appointment to see a healthcare professional at a family planning clinic. Many family planning clinics also run walk-in clinics.

Healthcare services provided by family planning clinics

Family planning clinics provide a range of services including:

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confidential advice about contraception, the combined oral contraceptive pill, the progestogen-only pill, progestogen injections, limited supplies of free condoms, free emergency contraception, confidential advice about STIs, cervical screening,

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unplanned pregnancy advice, free pregnancy tests, pre-conception advice and fertility awareness information, and fitting and checking of caps, diaphragms, and coils (intrauterine devices, or IUDs).

Some family planning clinics may also offer specialist services including:

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incest, rape, and sexual abuse counselling and referral vasectomy counselling and procedures pre-abortion and post-abortion counselling and referral menopause clinics sterilisation counselling and referral 'well woman' screening hormonal coil (IUS) and implant fitting, or retrieval