Family planning involves techniques implemented to have a certain number of children and when through the use of various birth control methods and the treatment of involuntary infertility. Education on the issue is also a means to permit planning. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that a woman's ability to space and limit her pregnancies has a direct impact on her health and well-being as well as on the outcome of each pregnancy. A number of options, both artificial and natural, are available for men and women.
Effects on Women
Artificial methods for women typically include vaginal rings, the IUD and birth control pills. Women sometimes forget to take the pill, risking unwanted pregnancy. Birth control pills can cause depression and weight gain. Women's Health Matters lists side effects, such as nausea, bloating, headaches, breast tenderness and warns of serious effects, such as possible blood clots and cardiovascular disease. Natural family planning involves keeping track of a woman's reproductive cycle to ascertain the days in which she will more likely conceive if she wishes to get pregnant, or which days to avoid sex, if she does not. Although less effective, natural planning does not have the health side effects as does artificial methods.
Effects on Men
Typical methods for men are the use of condoms or a vasectomy. Heal Health Care Now advises the use of condoms is 80 percent effective and with a spermicide can offer greater efficacy. Natural techniques include withdrawing and keeping track of the partner's reproductive cycle. Withdrawing is least effective due to mistakes with timing and the leaving of fluid. It is also difficult for men to keep track of another person's cycle and usually becomes the woman's prerogative.
Temporary Effects
The IUD and vasectomy are methods that have temporary effects. The IUD may prevent pregnancy for up to 5 or 12 years. It is not known exactly how IUDs prevent pregnancy. Heal Health Care Now indicates this method either stops sperm from reaching the egg or prevents the egg from attaching to the uterus.
Permanent Effects
Sterilization involves an operation to permanently prevent pregnancy. Men are sterilized with a vasectomy, involving closing of the man's sperm ducts so sperm can't get through. An operation can reverse the permanence; however, complications are high. For women the process involves closing off the fallopian tubes so eggs can't travel through them to reach the uterus. Heal Health Care Now warns that those who are not sure if they do not want any or anymore children, sterilization may not be the right choice.
