Family Planning!

Family Planning

Simply defined, family planning is planning when to have children and the different methods that are involved in that process. This includes but is not limited to, contraception, surgical procedures, and natural methods. Family planning can help prevent many unwanted pregnancies reducing the number of abortions and family planning reinforces people’s rights to determine the number and spacing of their children. Family Planning is used throughout the world and has been used for many years.  A wanted child is a healthy and happy child.

Biology

An average menstrual cycle runs on a 28-day loop of menstruation and ovulation. It is different for every woman but on average, the woman has about 5 days of menstruation (bleeding). After that, there are about 5 or six days of a dry period which is directly followed by seven days of fertility. Only during those days is a woman able to get pregnant. Ovulation- the releasing of the egg into the fallopian tube- occurs around day 17 of the cycle. The four days before ovulation is when the woman becomes fertile. Below is a chart showing the chances of pregnancy with day 0 representing when ovulation occurs.

Chances of pregnancy by Day of intercourse (Day 0 is when ovulation occurs)
-5	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	1	2	3
0%	11%	15%	20%	26%	15%	9%	5%	0%

Fertilization occurs when the sperm penetrates the egg and the cells begin dividing. This event is called conception and the resulting cells are called a zygote. This is the beginning of pregnancy. Some people want to get pregnant and others do not. For some who do not, there are many ways to prevent pregnancy.

Pregnancy Prevention

                There are many methods of pregnancy prevention, and it is a personal choice to decide which method is correct for a personal relationship.  The first and most effective method of pregnancy prevention is abstinence. Abstinence can mean no sexual contact of any kind or no penetrative behavior which includes penile-vaginal intercourse, oral sex, or anal intercourse. Abstinence does not mean forgoing sexual pleasure but just means lack of sexual intercourse. Abstinence also does not affect fertility.  

Male condoms are a common method of pregnancy prevention. A condom is sheath that covers the penis. Common condoms are made of latex, and these are the most effective. There are alternative condoms with less effectiveness. Condoms, if used correctly there is only a 5% failure rate. Condoms are inexpensive and are readily available. Although some men complain about condoms decreasing sensitivity, there are many different types of condoms out there today that don’t take away from the sensitivity and might increase sexual pleasure. Some tips for correct use include:

·         Store condoms in a cool place out of direct sunlight that is not a wallet or glove compartment. Do not use damaged, discolored, brittle, or sticky condoms.

·         Check the expiration date. Condoms do expire and their efficiency drops after their expiration date.

·         Carefully open the package because the use of teeth or fingernails can damage the condom. Use the pads of your fingers when opening the package.

·         Use a new condom for every act of sexual intercourse including from oral sex to penile-vaginal intercourse. Flavored condoms should only be used for oral sex and are not recommended for penile-vaginal intercourse.

·         Put on the condom after the penis is erect but before it touches any part of a partner’s body. For men who are uncircumcised, make sure to pull back the foreskin before putting on a condom.

·         To put on a condom, pinch the reservoir tip and unroll the condom all the way down the shaft of the penis from the head to the base. If the condom does not have a reservoir tip, pinch the condom to leave a half-inch space at the end to collect ejaculation.

·         Withdraw the penis immediately if the condom breaks and replace it before resuming intercourse. When a condom breaks, consider another form of contraception like spermicidal jelly or foam which is discussed later.

·         Use only water or silicone-based lubricants with latex condoms.

·         Withdraw the penis immediately after ejaculation, while the penis is still erect. Grasp the rim of the condom between the fingers and slowly withdraw the penis so that no semen is spilled. Before throwing the condom away in a trashcan (not a toilet), check for breakage.

There is also a female condom that has a ring at both ends; one covering the cervix and the other end partially covering the vulva. These condoms are slightly more expensive but can be inserted up to eight hours before intercourse. Female and male condoms should not be used together. Female condoms do not contain latex, which make them a safe alternative to male latex condoms that not only protect against pregnancy but also sexually transmitted infections. For people with perfect use, it has 98% effectiveness in preventing pregnancy.

                Another form of contraceptive is a contraceptive sponge. It is a pre-filled sponge that is prefilled with a spermicide that releases during use. This sponge is a mechanical barrier to sperm as well as a chemical agent preventing sperm from entering the cervix. For perfect use of the contraceptive sponge, for women who have never had a baby, it only has a 9% failure rate. For women who have had a child, the failure rate increases to 20%. Some disadvantages to the contraceptive sponge include that it doesn’t protect against HIV and some STIs and could increase uterine tract infections.

                Spermicide is another method of pregnancy prevention which kills and/or immobilizes sperm on contact and prevents their movement towards the egg. Spermicides are available without a prescription however; this does not prevent against STIs and has a relatively high failure rate. To increase the effectiveness of spermicide is to use it together with a condom which increases its effectiveness to the rate of oral contraceptives.

                Oral contraceptives are only available with a prescription and there are many different options that include about 40 different unique formulations. To find the correct oral contraceptive that is right for your relationship, consult with a doctor or medical professional.  However, with all prescribed oral contraceptives that are being used for pregnancy prevention, they need to be taken at the same time each day for the most effectiveness. Also, when taking an oral contraceptive, be sure to read the side effect s and warnings. For example, certain herbal supplements and other medications, like antibiotics, cancel out the effects of birth control. Also another side effect comes from smoking while taking oral contraceptives which increases the chance heart disease and blood clots in users.

                Another extremely effective method of contraception is the Depo-Provera shot. This is an injection that is given every twelve weeks. It suppresses ovulation and the only way to not be correctly used is if the patient missed the appointment. Taking the shot has shown some decrease in fertility and most women don’t conceive for ten months after the last shot that they have.

                Although there are many methods of contraception, there is also a natural method which does not involve any extra devices but rather are more intense look at the female body and cycle. There are many different versions of these natural methods but they all focus around the days that a woman is most likely to be fertile. Although it is not extremely effective, people can try to determine which days of the 28 day cycle a woman is fertile. Another more effective way is to look at a woman’s basal body temperature. A woman’s basal body temperature drops during the time that a woman is fertile and rises sharply after that period of fertility is over.

                There are many more versions of contraceptives and family planning methods. Please talk to your doctor about which method is right for you.

References

Calderone, M. S. (1964). Manual of family planning and contraceptive practice. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.

Greenberg, J. S., Bruess, C. E., & Conklin, S. C. (2011). Exploring the dimensions of human sexuality (4th ed.). Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett.  

Walraven, G. E. (2011). Health and poverty: global health problems and solutions. London: Earthscan.  

Williams, M. T. (2009). Healthy choices for fertility control: your guide to better birth control, conscientious contraception, and sensible sexuality. Scotts Valley, Calif.: Createspace.