Regardless of whether you are married or just dating someone, the decision to use or not to use family planning methods is an important one. Family planning methods include both natural birth control behaviors and protective birth control devices, such as condoms, birth control pills or diaphragms. Before you make a choice, it is important to understand both the advantages and disadvantages of family planning methods.
Side Effects
One of the advantages of not using a family planning method is you remove the chances of possible negative side effects that can be associated with some methods of birth control. For example, the Mayo Clinic suggests the continuous long use of birth control pills can cause side effects, including an increase in blood pressure, a higher risk for blood clots and an increased risk for some cancers, such as liver and cervical cancer.
Allergic Reaction
Not using a family planning method also reduces your risks for allergic reactions from birth control. For example, barrier methods, such as both male and female condoms, are often made from latex, which can cause a serious reaction to those who are allergic to latex products. Allergic reactions can include rashes, swelling, hives, difficulty breathing or even more severe reactions, such as anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock.
Pregnancy Control
One main disadvantage of not using family planning is you have little to no control over becoming pregnant, outside of remaining abstinent. Family planning uses hormones or barrier methods to either block sperm from making contact with a female egg, or to make the womb inhospitable for the development of a fetus. Even natural family planning has a 90 to 98 percent chance of effectively preventing pregnancy when used correctly, states the American Academy of Family Physicians. Without using one of these methods, your chances of becoming pregnant, whether planned or unplanned, increase substantially.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Another disadvantage of not using a method of family planning is the possible increased risk for infection by sexually transmitted diseases. This may not be as applicable in a monogamous marriage relationship, but applies more with those who are sexually active with multiple partners in a single or open relationship. Barrier family planning methods, such as male or female condoms, can not only reduce your risk of pregnancy, but condoms also act as an essentially impermeable barrier to sexually transmitted diseases, states the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other planning methods, such as birth control pills or shots, do not provide this protection.
