Family planning enables couples to manage when, how often and whether to have children. With a proper family planning program, families are better prepared to care for their children. According to the World Health Organization, the ability of a woman to space and limit her pregnancies has a direct impact on her health, well-being and the outcome of each pregnancy. The U.S. Agency for International Development states that family planning has profound effects on health, economic outcomes, and social benefits for families and communities. Many family planning options are available. With knowledge and understanding, it is simple to choose the correct family planning option.
Step 1
Assess your lifestyle by asking yourself important family planning questions. Are you in a committed relationship? How active is your sex life? How soon do you want to have children? If you want to have children fairly soon, how many children do you want to have? How much time will you allow between pregnancies? Will you have a savings plan to afford and care for the children you bring into the world? The answers to these questions will help you select the best birth control method for your lifestyle and create an effective family planning strategy.
Step 2
Choose a primary birth control method. While the safest sex is no sex, for many married couples, and couples in long-term, committed relationships, this is not practical. With female and male condoms, spermicides, birth control pills, birth control patches and the very invasive intrauterine device, a multitude of prevention tools exist to help couples in their family planning needs. Couples should consistently use the method that best fits their lifestyle to reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy and disease.
Step 3
Create an emergency plan. Emergency contraception pills, often referred to as the "morning after pills," can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex if the primary birth control method fails or if couples incorrectly use the primary form of contraception. The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals says emergency contraception is effective when used within five days after intercourse. Emergency contraception is not as effective as primary forms of birth control and has the greatest effect the sooner it is taken, according to Princeton University.
Step 4
Visit a family planning center to get help. Rachel Benson Gold, director of policy analysis at the Guttmacher Institute, states that federal law requires all state programs to provide family planning services. In winter 2009, there were 8,200 publicly funded family planning centers across the United States. A professional health care provider will sit with you to discuss your family planning needs in detail.
Tips and Warnings
- No prevention method is 100 percent effective.
- Not all birth control methods protect against sexually transmitted infections.
References
- World Health Organization: Family Planning
- USAID: Family Planning: Saving Live, Protecting Health
- Association of Reproductive Health: Emergency Contraception
- Princeton University: Types of Emergency Contraception
- Gold Benson R, Family Planning and Health Care Reform: The Benefits and Challenges of Prioritizing Prevention. Guttmacher Policy Review. Winter 2009, Volume 12, Number 1
