Family planning can significantly reduce the risk of maternal, newborn, infant, and child illness

and death by preventing a high-risk pregnancy in women with certain health conditions or
characteristics, or by preventing an unplanned pregnancy. Women typically welcome pregnancy
and childbirth, especially when planned.

 Only one contraceptive method, condoms, can prevent both a pregnancy

and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
 Use of contraception advances the human right of people to determine the
number and spacing of their children.

Methods of contraception include oral contraceptive pills, implants, injectables, patches, vaginal
rings, Intra uterine devices, condoms, male and female sterilization, lactational amenorrhea
methods, withdrawal and fertility awareness based methods.

Method How it works

Combined oral contraceptives Prevents the release of eggs from the ovaries
(COCs) or “the pill” (ovulation)
Thickens cervical mucous to block sperm and egg
Progestogen-only pills (POPs) or
from meeting and prevents ovulation
"the minipill"

Thickens cervical mucous to blocks sperm and

Implants
egg from meeting and prevents ovulation

Thickens cervical mucous to block sperm and egg

Progestogen only injectables
from meeting and prevents ovulation

Monthly injectables or combined Prevents the release of eggs from the ovaries
injectable contraceptives (CIC) (ovulation)

Combined contraceptive patch Prevents the release of eggs from the ovaries
and combined contraceptive (ovulation)
vaginal ring (CVR)
Copper component damages sperm and prevents
Intrauterine device (IUD): copper
it from meeting the egg
containing
Thickens cervical mucous to block sperm and egg
Intrauterine device (IUD)
from meeting
levonorgestrel
Forms a barrier to prevent sperm and egg from
Male condoms
meeting
 Method How it works

Forms a barrier to prevent sperm and egg from

Female condoms
meeting

Male sterilization (Vasectomy) Keeps sperm out of ejaculated semen

Female sterilization (tubal Eggs are blocked from meeting sperm

ligation)
Lactational amenorrhea method Prevents the release of eggs from the ovaries
(LAM) (ovulation)

Standard Days Method or SDM Prevents pregnancy by avoiding unprotected

vaginal sex during most fertile days.
Prevents pregnancy by avoiding unprotected
Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
vaginal sex during fertile days
Method
Prevents pregnancy by avoiding unprotected
TwoDay Method
vaginal sex during most fertile days,

Prevents pregnancy by avoiding unprotected

Sympto-thermal Method
vaginal sex during most fertile

Prevents or delays the release of eggs from the

Emergency contraception pills
ovaries. Pills taken to prevent pregnancy up to 5
(ulipristal acetate 30 mg or
days after unprotected sex
levonorgestrel 1.5 mg)

Calendar method or rhythm The couple prevents pregnancy by avoiding

method unprotected vaginal sex during the 1st and last
estimated fertile days, by abstaining or using a
condom.

Withdrawal (coitus interruptus) Tries to keep sperm out of the woman's body,
preventing fertilization