Family planning involves the use of different methods, products or medication in order to plan when or if a woman gets pregnant, and is sometimes done within the context of a couple wanting to start a family. Different methods of family planning vary in terms of effectiveness, cost and convenience.
Barrier Options
Barrier methods involve attempting to prevent sperm from making contact with, and impregnating, a woman's egg. Condoms are one of the most common and least expensive ways to employ the barrier method; place a condom over the erect penis to trap semen in order to prevent it from entering the uterus. A diaphragm is a device placed inside the vagina over the cervix before sex, also to prevent semen from entering the uterus, according to the National Institutes of Health. A vaginal sponge is another barrier option, and is similar to the diaphragm, but is made to capture semen and hold it until the woman takes it out, thus preventing it from entering the uterus and coming in contact with an egg.
Hormonal Options
Hormonal birth control methods involve the use of medications that change the way a woman's reproductive system works in order to prevent pregnancy, according to the National Institutes of Health. The birth control pill is the most common form of hormonal method. It causes a woman to stop producing eggs, thus preventing pregnancy. Many birth control pills also contain progestin, which causes a thick, sticky buildup of mucus around the cervix in order to prevent semen from entering the uterus. Another hormonal method is the IUD, a small device placed inside the woman's uterus by a doctor. This device releases small amounts of progestin on a regular basis and can be kept in for anywhere between five to 10 years, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Permanent Options
For couples that don't want children or are done having children, a permanent method might be the most convenient solution. A vasectomy is a permanent, minor surgical procedure performed on the man that involves severing the tube that carries sperm into the semen before it is ejaculated during sex. For women, tubal ligation involves blocking the tubes that carry an egg from the ovaries to the uterus, thus preventing fertilization.
Natural Options
For those not wanting to use artificial birth control methods, natural ways to prevent pregnancy still exist. The cycle method involves a woman keeping track of her menstrual cycle and avoiding sex during ovulation, when pregnancy is most likely to happen. There are two main ways to predict the ovulation period. In one method, the woman tracks her basal body temperature throughout the month. During ovulation, the temperature rises on average between .1 to .9 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Planned Parenthood. Another method involves monitoring the amount of cervical mucus a woman produces. During ovulation, the amount or consistency of the mucus may increase or change.
