What is Family Planning?

Family planning enables women and men to decide together how many children they would like to have and how much time they wish to allow between pregnancies. To achieve this, couples can choose from a range of safe and effective contraceptive methods.

A woman's ability to plan a desired pregnancy and prevent an unintended one has a positive impact on her health, well-being, and pregnancy outcomes. Family planning also contributes to healthier families and stronger communities.

Women who wish to postpone pregnancy are encouraged to use modern contraceptive methods. Historical evidence shows that people have used contraception for centuries. Today's contraceptive methods are highly effective, safe, and make the prevention of unintended pregnancy easier than ever.

 

Remember These Important Facts

 

Abortion is not a method of contraception. It is neither a reliable nor a safe means of preventing pregnancy and is not cost-effective. Whenever possible, abortion should be avoided in order to protect both physical and emotional health.

There are many myths about preventing pregnancy. The truth is that pregnancy can still occur:

 

• During menstruation;
• Before menstruation returns after childbirth or abortion;
• After the first or only act of sexual intercourse;
• Even if neither partner reaches orgasm;
• If the male partner withdraws before ejaculation (withdrawal method);
• Even after vaginal douching following intercourse;
• Regardless of the duration of intercourse or the sexual position.

 

 

Contraception

 

A Guide to Contraception

 

• Every woman should choose the contraceptive method that best suits her individual needs and lifestyle.
• Modern medicine offers a wide range of safe and effective contraceptive options.
• When selecting a contraceptive method, factors such as a woman's age, frequency of sexual intercourse, overall health, lifestyle, effectiveness of the method, its advantages and disadvantages, and ease of use should all be considered.
• Some contraceptives, such as condoms and spermicides, are used immediately before sexual intercourse.
• Oral contraceptive pills must be taken daily.
• Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) include injectable contraceptives, implants, and intrauterine devices (IUDs).
• Surgical sterilization is considered a permanent method of contraception.

 

Myths and Facts About Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)

There are many myths surrounding the "ineffectiveness" or "risks" of various contraceptive methods.

Over the past decades, medicine has made significant advances, leading to the development of many new, safe, and highly effective contraceptive methods. Modern intrauterine devices (IUDs) are significantly different from those used more than 25 years ago. Some older IUDs were associated with health complications and were therefore withdrawn from the market.

Myth:

Women who have never given birth should not use an IUD.

Fact:
An IUD can safely be used by women who have never given birth. For most women, the benefits of using an IUD outweigh the potential risks.

Myth:

An IUD causes infertility.

Fact:
An IUD does not cause infertility and does not affect a woman's future ability to conceive. Current evidence shows that modern IUDs do not increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), except in cases where an infection was already present before insertion.

Myth:

An IUD causes abortion.

Fact:
An IUD does not cause abortion. It is a contraceptive method that works primarily by preventing sperm from reaching and fertilizing the egg. Hormonal IUDs (such as Mirena®) also work by thickening cervical mucus, altering the uterine lining, and suppressing ovulation in some women.

Myth:

An IUD significantly increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy.

Fact:
An IUD does not increase the overall risk of ectopic pregnancy. Because IUDs are among the most effective contraceptive methods, pregnancy is extremely rare during their use, and consequently ectopic pregnancies are also uncommon and are usually associated with other risk factors.

Myth:

Women with a history of ectopic pregnancy should not use an IUD.

Fact:
Women who have previously experienced an ectopic pregnancy can safely use an IUD. A previous ectopic pregnancy is not a contraindication to IUD use.

Myth:

If a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or pelvic inflammatory disease develops while using an IUD, it must be removed immediately.

Fact:
In most cases, immediate removal of the IUD is not necessary. Appropriate antibiotic treatment should be started promptly. If clinical improvement occurs within 72 hours (3 days), the IUD can usually remain in place. If there is no improvement, removal of the device may be recommended.

 

Benefits of Contraception

 

Women who wish to delay pregnancy are encouraged to use modern contraceptive methods. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and numerous scientific studies, modern contraceptives not only provide highly effective protection against unintended pregnancy but also offer several important non-contraceptive health benefits.

Hormonal contraceptive methods—including combined oral contraceptives, progestin-only injectable contraceptives, implants, and hormonal IUDs—may:

• Reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer.
• Help regulate irregular menstrual cycles.
• Reduce menstrual pain.
• Decrease menstrual bleeding.
• Lower the risk of anemia caused by heavy menstrual bleeding.
• Reduce the risk of functional ovarian cysts.
• Lower the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease.
• Provide therapeutic benefits for mastopathy, ovarian dysfunction, infertility, endometriosis, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, acne, and excessive hair growth (hirsutism).

It is important to remember that hormonal contraceptives contain hormones that are naturally produced by a woman's body. These hormones are not foreign to the body and have been extensively studied for safety and effectiveness.

 

 

Types of Contraception

 

Oral Contraceptive Pills

Oral contraceptive pills contain hormones similar to those naturally produced by a woman's body. These hormones prevent ovulation, thereby preventing pregnancy.

There are two main types:

• Progestin-only pills (POPs)
• Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) containing estrogen and progestin.

 

Advantages

• Highly effective (up to 99% with correct use)
• Safe and reversible
• Help regulate menstrual cycles
• Reduce the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer
• Help protect against pelvic inflammatory disease
• Fertility returns quickly after discontinuation

 

How to Use

Take one pill every day at the same time.

• If you miss one pill, take it as soon as you remember and continue your schedule.
• If you miss two or more pills, continue taking the pills but use condoms for the following 7 days.

Always read the package instructions carefully.

Injectable Contraceptives

Injectable contraceptives contain synthetic versions of the body's natural reproductive hormones and work by preventing ovulation.

 

 

Advantages

• Highly effective (approximately 99%)
• Safe and convenient
• Administered by a healthcare professional

 

How to Use

Depending on the product, injections are given monthly or every three months.

Menstrual bleeding may become lighter, irregular, or stop completely. Fertility generally returns within about six months after the last injection.

Contraceptive Implant

A contraceptive implant is a small rod inserted beneath the skin that continuously releases a low dose of progestin.

 

Advantages

• More than 99% effective
• Long-lasting protection for 3–7 years, depending on the implant type
• Suitable for most women, including breastfeeding mothers after six weeks postpartum

 

How to Use

The implant is inserted beneath the skin of the upper arm by a trained healthcare provider and can be removed at any time. Fertility returns rapidly after removal.

Intrauterine Device (IUD)

An IUD is a small T-shaped plastic device placed inside the uterus. Copper IUDs work by preventing sperm from reaching and fertilizing the egg.

 

Advantages

• More than 99% effective
• Provides contraception for 5–12 years, depending on the device
• Comfortable and reversible

IUDs do not protect against sexually transmitted infections and are generally not recommended for women with multiple sexual partners.

 

How to Use

Insertion and removal must be performed by a qualified healthcare provider. Fertility returns immediately after removal.

Condom

A condom is one of the most commonly used contraceptive methods.

 

Advantages

• Approximately 85% effective with typical use
• Safe, inexpensive, and widely available
• Protects against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV

 

How to Use

Use a new condom every time you have sexual intercourse. Do not use expired or damaged condoms, and avoid oil-based lubricants such as petroleum jelly.

Spermicides

Spermicides are available as gels, creams, foams, suppositories, or tablets. They work by destroying sperm before they enter the uterus.

 

Advantages

• Safe
• Approximately 71% effective when used alone

 

How to Use

Insert the spermicide into the vagina immediately before sexual intercourse and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.

 

Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM)

Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) is a natural method of contraception. Lactation refers to breastfeeding, while amenorrhea means the absence of menstruation. During exclusive breastfeeding, ovulation is naturally suppressed, reducing the likelihood of pregnancy.

 

Advantages

• Highly effective (approximately 98%)
• Does not interfere with sexual activity
• Does not require any financial cost

 

A breastfeeding mother is naturally protected from pregnancy only if all three of the following conditions are met:

 

• The baby is less than 6 months old.
• The baby is exclusively breastfed.
• The mother's menstrual periods have not returned after childbirth.

 

Exclusive breastfeeding means that the baby receives only breast milk, with no additional food, liquids, or even water. The baby should be fed on demand, with feeding intervals of no more than 3–4 hours during the day and 6 hours at night.

The likelihood of pregnancy increases if any one of these three conditions is no longer met. In such cases, it is recommended to switch to another contraceptive method that is appropriate during breastfeeding.

 

Contraceptive Methods Recommended for Breastfeeding Women

• Condoms
• Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
• Progestin-only contraceptive pills
• Injectable contraceptives
• Diaphragms
• Spermicides