Family planning is seen as a method to plan, rather

than prevent, children. Family planning is seen as the responsible choice for couples who are not ready to have children in the present but may want to in the future.

 Natural Family Planning NFP is completely natural and does not use drugs, devices

or surgery. It is simply a method of recognizing and charting the easily observable signs of fertility exhibited by a woman's body. This method is accepted by the Roman Catholic Church Artificial Family Planning Artificial family planning is the process used to prevent pregnancy and plan for the birth of children at the most optimum time.

 Lactating Amenorrhea Method (LAM)

It is the temporary introductory postpartum method

of postponing pregnancy based on physiological infertility experienced by breast feeding women. Advantages: a. Universally available to tall postpartum breastfeeding women b. Using LAM, protection from an unplanned pregnancy begins immediately postpartum c. Contributes to improve maternal and child health and nutrition

 Disadvantages:

A. Effective only for a maximum of 6 months

postpartum B. May decrease if mother and child are separated for extended periods of time C. May be difficult to maintain for up to 6 months due to a variety of social circumstances

 Mucus/ Billings/ Ovulation

Description/ Uses
Abstaining from sexual intercourse during fertile (wet)

days prevents pregnancy Advantages: can be used by any woman of reproductive age as long as she is not suffering from an unusual disease or condition that results in extraordinary vaginal discharge that makes observation difficult.

 Disadvantage:

Cannot be used by woman with the following conditions: Medical conditions that would make pregnancy difficult How it is used; Recording of menstruation and dry days Inspecting underwear regularly for presence of mucus Recording the most fertile observation/ characteristics at the end of the day

 Basal Body Temperature

Description/ Uses:
BBT method is identifying the fertile and infertile

period of a womans cycle by daily taking and recording of the rise in the body temperature during and after ovulation Advantage: Very effective Disadvantages: required to take BBT everyday and time to record temperature. Couples may practice abstinence during fertile periods

 Sympto- thermal Method

Description/ Uses
STH method is identifying the fertile and infertile days

of the menstrual cycle as determined through a combination of observations made on the cervical mucus, basal body temp recording and other signs of ovulation

 Two day method

Description/ Uses
Is a simple fertility awareness based method of FP that

involves A. cervical secretions as an indicator of fertility B. women checking the presence of secretions everyday

 Advantages:

Can be used by women with any cycle length No health related side effects associated Incurs very little or no cost Disadvantages Needs the cooperation of the husband Can become unreliable for women who have conditions that cause abnormal cervical secretions Does not protect client from HIV/ AIDS

 Standard days method

Description/ Uses
A new method of natural family planning in which

users with menstrual cycle between 26 and 32 days are counseled to abstain from sexual intercourse or days 819 to avoid pregnancy The couples use color coded cycle beads to mark the fertile and infertile days of the menstrual cycle

 Advantages
No health related side effects associated with its use Increase self awareness and knowledge of human reproduction and can lead to a diagnosis of some gynecologic problems No need for counting or charting since the standard days method makes use of beads for tracking the cycle days

Disadvantages:
Cannot be used by women who usually have menstrual cycle

between 26 and 32 days long How is it used: Abstain from sexual intercourse during fertile period Use color coded beads to mark the fertile and infertile periods

 Female Sterilization

Description/ Uses Safe and simple surgical procedure which provides permanent contraception for women who do not want more children. Also known as bilateral tubal ligation that involves cutting or blocking the two fallopian tubes.

 Advantages:
Permanent method of contraception. A single procedure leads to

lifelong, safe and very effective contraception. Nothing to remember, no supplies needed, and no repeated clinic visits required Does not interfere with sex. Disadvantages: Uncommon complications of surgery: infection or bleeding at the incision site, internal infection or bleeding, injury to internal organs, anesthesia risk uncommon with local anesthesia In rare cases, when pregnancy occurs it is more likely to be ectopic than in a woman who has not undergone the procedure Permanent reversal surgery is difficult, expensive and not available in most areas.

 Male Sterilization

Description/ Uses
Permanent method wherein the vas deferens (passage

of sperm) is tied and out or blocked through a small opening on the scrotal skin. It is also known as vasectomy. Advantages: Very effective 3 months after the procedure Permanent, safe, simple and easy to perform Can be performed in a clinic, office or at a primary care center

 Disadvantages:
It may be uncomfortable due to slight pain and swelling

2-3 days after the procedure Reversibility is difficult and expensive Bleeding may result in hematoma in the scrotum

Definition:
Contraception

(birth control) prevents pregnancy by interfering the normal process of ovulation, fertilization and ovulation.

Purpose:

Every month, a woman's body begins the process that can potentially lead to pregnancy. An egg (ovum) matures, the mucus that is secreted by the cervix (a cylindricalshaped organ at the lower end of the uterus) changes to be more inviting to sperm, and the lining of the uterus grows in preparation for receiving a fertilized egg. Any woman who wants to prevent pregnancy must use a reliable form of birth control.

 Hormonal methodsThese use medications (hormones) to

prevent ovulation. Hormonal methods include birth control pills (oral contraceptives), Depo Provera injections, and Norplant. Barrier methodsThese methods work by preventing the sperm from getting to and fertilizing the egg. Barrier methods include the condom, diaphragm, and cervical cap. The condom is the only form of birth control that also protects against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV (the virus that causes AIDS). SpermicidesThese medications kill sperm on contact. Most spermicides contain nonoxynyl-9. Spermicides come in many different forms such as jelly, foam, tablets, and even a transparent film. All are placed in the vagina. Spermicides work best when they are used at the same time as a barrier method.

 Intrauterine devicesIntrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) are

inserted into the uterus, where they stay from one to 10 years. An IUD prevents the fertilized egg from implanting in the lining of the uterus, and may have other effects as well. Tubal sterilizationTubal sterilization is a permanent form of contraception for women. Each fallopian tube is either tied or burned closed. The sperm cannot reach the egg, and the egg cannot travel to the uterus. Vasectomyis the male form of sterilization, and should also be considered permanent. In vasectomy, the vas deferens, the tiny tubes that carry the sperm into the semen, are cut and tied off. Thus, no sperm can get into the semen. A newer and somewhat controversial form of birth control is emergency contraception. This type is used after unprotected intercourse and sometimes is referred to as the "morning-after pill".

 By mouth (oral)Birth control pills must be taken by

mouth every day. InjectedDepo Provera is a hormonal medication that is given by injection every three months. ImplantedNorplant is a long-acting hormonal form of birth control that is implanted under the skin of the upper arm. VaginalSpermicides and barrier methods work in the vagina. Intra-uterineThe IUD is inserted into the uterus. SurgicalTubal sterilization is a form of surgery. A doctor must perform the procedure in a hospital or surgical clinic. Many women need general anesthesia.

 There are risks associated with certain forms of birth control. Some of

the risks of each method are listed below: Birth control pillsThe hormone (estrogen) in birth control pills can increase the risk of heart attack in women over 35, particularly those who smoke. Certain women cannot use birth control pills. IUDThe IUD can increase the risk of serious pelvic infection. The IUD can also injure the uterus by poking into or through the uterine wall. Surgery might be needed to fix this. Tubal sterilization"Tying the tubes" is a surgical procedure and has all the risks of any other surgery, including those associated with anesthesia, as well as infection and bleeding. Emergency contraceptive pills should not be used regularly for birth control. They can interrupt the menstrual cycle and are not 100% effective. If the emergency contraception fails, an ectopic pregnancy can occur.

 Many methods of birth control have side effects. Knowing the

side effects can help a woman to determine which method of birth control is right for her. Hormonal methodsThe hormones in birth control pills, Depo Provera, and Norplant can cause changes in menstrual periods, changes in mood, weight gain, acne, and headaches. In addition, it may take many months to begin ovulating again once a woman stops using Depo Provera or Norplant. Barrier methodsA woman must insert the diaphragm in just the right way to be sure that it works properly. Some women get more urinary tract infections if they use a diaphragm. This is because the diaphragm can press against the urethra, the tube that connects the bladder to the outside.

 SpermicidesSome women and men are allergic to

spermicides or find them irritating to the skin. IUDThe IUD is a foreign body that stays inside the uterus, and the uterus tries to get it out. A woman may have heavier menstrual periods and more menstrual cramping with an IUD in place. Tubal sterilizationSome women report increased menstrual discomfort after tubal ligation. It is not known if this is related to the tubal ligation itself.

 Fallopian Tubes The thin tubes that connect the ovary

to the uterus. Ova (eggs) travel from the ovary to the uterus. If the egg has been fertilized, it can implant in the uterus. Fertilization The joining of the sperm and the egg; conception. Implantation The process in which the fertilized egg embeds itself in the wall of the uterus. Ovulation The release of an egg (ovum) from the ovary. Ectopic Pregnancy- pregnancy occurring in fallopian tubes.