WHAT IS FAMILY PLANNING?

o This is a method of contraception where a woman monitors and records different fertility signals during her
menstrual cycle to work out when she's likely to get pregnant. This is a having the desired number of
children and when you want to have them by using safe and effective modern methods. Proper birth spacing
is having children 3 to 5 years apart, which is best for the health of the mother, her child, and the family.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY

PLANNING?
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF FAMILY PLANNING?
o Prevent risky pregnancy among
o Pregnancy complications can be minimized mothes.
o To avoid unwanted birth. o Promotes healthier lives among mother
o To regulate interval between pregnancy. and babies.
o To control the time at which births occur in o Fewer children means moretime and
relation to the ages of the parents. money for each one.
o To decrease the maternal and child o Delaying pregnancies lets young
morbidity and morbidity rate. people stay in school.
o Parents have more time to do work and
with their family.

Scope of Family Planning

• Proper spacing between births • Limited number of births.
• Diagnosis of reproductive tract diseases.
• Premarital examination/ counseling.
• Pregnancy tests.
• Preparing for first birth.
• Educating about nutrition and finances.
• Sex education. • Genetic counseling. • Marital guidance. • Adoption services.
 WHAT ARE THE THREE TYPES OF FAMILY PLANNING METHOD?
 Family planning methods are grouped into two broad categories, namely, modern methods
and traditional methods. Modern family planning methods are further categorised into three
subgroups: short-term methods (the pill, condoms, the lactational amenorrhoea method
(LAM), diaphragms, foaming tablets, jelly, and the emergency contraceptive pill), long term
methods (injectables, implants and IUDs) and permanent methods (female and male
sterilisation). Traditional methods consist of periodic abstinence, withdrawal, and various folk
methods such as strings and herbs.

WHAT ARE THE 6 FAMILY PLANNING METHODS?

METHODS OF CONTRACEPTION.

I. Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) lasts for a long time. Once you have a LARC put in, you don’t need to
remember to take contraception every day or every month.LARCs are the most effective types of contraception. They
are more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.
There are two types of LARC.
 the intra uterine device, which lasts for three, five or ten years
 the implant, which lasts for five years.
II. HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES- These contraceptives use hormones to prevent pregnancy. Hormonal
contraceptives include the Pill and the Depo Provera injection. You take one pill each day. If you take the pill
correctly, it is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.
There are two types of pill:
 combined oral contraceptive pill
 progestogen-only contraceptive pill
III. Barrier methods stop sperm from entering the vagina. Condoms protect against sexually transmissible infections
(STIs) and from unintended pregnancy.
The two barrier methods are:
 condoms
 internal condoms
IV. EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION - There are two options for emergency contraception: the emergency
contraceptive pill (ECP) or a copper IUD. ECP can be taken up to three days after unprotected sex. If you are an
average weight, the ECP is 98% effective. If you weigh more than 70kg, the ECP is less effective and a copper IUD
is recommended. If you weigh more than 70kg and you choose to take ECP, you should ask if taking a double dose is
 the right option for you. The copper IUD can be inserted up to five days after unprotected sex, and is more than 99%
effective at preventing pregnancy.
Emergency contraception can be used to prevent pregnancy if:
 you haven't used protection
 your normal contraception fails e.g. condom splits
 you have missed more than one contraceptive pill
 you have been vomiting or had diarrhoea while on the pill
 you have missed your injection
 you have been forced to have sex without contraception.
It is not a good idea to use ECP as your regular method of contraception - it is less effective than if you were using a LARC
or hormonal method.
V. FERTILITY AWARENESS - Fertility awareness is learning the signs of fertility in your menstrual cycle to help you
plan or avoid a pregnancy.
VI. PERMANENT CONTRACEPTION - Permanent contraception, sometimes called sterilisation, prevents all future
pregnancies. It is very difficult or impossible to reverse. Permanent contraception is either a vasectomy or a tubal
ligation

Others mechanisms of action and effectiveness of contraceptive methods. 

Method How it works Effectiveness: Effectiveness:
pregnancies per 100 pregnancies per 100
women per year with women per year as
consistent and correct use commonly used

Combined oral Prevents the release of eggs from the 0.3 7

contraceptives (COCs) or “the ovaries (ovulation)  
pill”

Progestogen-only pills (POPs) Thickens cervical mucous to block sperm 0.3 7

or "the minipill" and egg from meeting and prevents
ovulation

Implants Thickens cervical mucous to blocks sperm 0.1 0.1

and egg from meeting and prevents
ovulation

Progestogen only injectables Thickens cervical mucous to block sperm 0.2 4

and egg from meeting and prevents  
ovulation

Monthly injectables or Prevents the release of eggs from the 0.05 3

combined injectable ovaries (ovulation)
contraceptives (CIC)

Combined contraceptive Prevents the release of eggs from the 0.3 (for patch) 7 (for patch)
patch and combined ovaries (ovulation)    
contraceptive vaginal ring 0.3 (for vaginal ring) 7 (for contraceptive
(CVR) vaginal ring)
Intrauterine device (IUD):
copper containing
Intrauterine device (IUD)
levonorgestrel
Male condoms
Female condoms
Male sterilization
(Vasectomy)
Female sterilization (tubal
ligation)
Lactational amenorrhea
method (LAM)
Standard Days Method or
SDM
Basal Body Temperature
(BBT) Method
TwoDay Method
Sympto-thermal Method
Emergency contraception
pills (ulipristal acetate 30 mg
or levonorgestrel 1.5 mg)
Calendar method or rhythm
method
Withdrawal (coitus
interruptus)
Copper component damages sperm and 0.6 0.8
prevents it from meeting the egg
Thickens cervical mucous to block sperm 0.5 0.7
and egg from meeting
Forms a barrier to prevent sperm and egg 2 13
from meeting
Forms a barrier to prevent sperm and egg 5 21
from meeting  
Keeps sperm out of ejaculated semen 0.1 0.15
Eggs are blocked from meeting sperm 0.5 0.5
Prevents the release of eggs from the 0.9 (in six months) 2 (in six months)
ovaries (ovulation)
Prevents pregnancy by avoiding 5 12
unprotected vaginal sex during most fertile
days.
Prevents pregnancy by avoiding Reliable effectiveness  
unprotected vaginal sex during fertile days rates are not available
Prevents pregnancy by avoiding 4 14
unprotected vaginal sex during most fertile  
days,
Prevents pregnancy by avoiding <1 2
unprotected vaginal sex during most fertile
Prevents or delays the release of eggs from < 1 for  ulipristal acetate  
the ovaries. Pills taken to prevent ECPs
pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected  1 for progestin-only ECPs
sex 2 for combined estrogen
and progestin ECPs
The couple prevents pregnancy by avoiding Reliable effectiveness 15
unprotected vaginal sex during the 1st and rates are not available
last estimated fertile days, by abstaining or
using a condom.
Tries to keep sperm out of the woman's 4 20
body, preventing fertilization