Written By: Mrs Bosede Fasoranti, RN, RM, A&E, OH, BSc Public Health

OVERVIEW

Family planning simply means ‘Birth Control’. It was set up in Nigeria in 1936. Family planning refers to the use of modern contraception and other birth control to regulate the number, timing, spacing of human births. It is imperative to visit a health care provider or birth control clinic for guidance and advice before commencing family planning methods to determine which one is best, suitable and safe for each individual.

Such considerations include:-

• Health status
• The desire for children in future
• Frequency of sexual contact
• Safety and efficacy of the chosen method
• Economic status

BENEFITS OF FAMILY PLANNING

• Prevents unwanted pregnancies and need for abortion
• Gives sufficient time to regain one’s health after delivery
• Reduces poverty by enabling one to have the number of children one can afford to cater for
• Prevents sexually transmitted diseases including HIV (with the use of condoms)
• Gives an opportunity for a woman to pursue additional education or career
• Empowering women by enabling them to plan the size and timing of their families at their convenience.
• Slows population growth thereby enhancing economic growth.

METHODS OF FAMILY PLANNING

• ABSTINENCE: – Is restraining oneself from sexual activities. It is 100% safe, cost-effective and helps prevent sexually transmitted diseases. There are no side effects
• NATURAL METHODS: – Does not require any drugs or devices. It’s 93% effective if strictly adhered to instructions. You can now download an App on your phone for tracking your menstrual cycles and fertility dates. This will afford you to avoid sexual contact on your fertility dates.
• Ovulation Method:- Every fertile woman ovulates once a month and the ovary secretes an egg which produces clear stretchy mucus. Sexual intercourse is avoided during ovulation periods as predicted by the method. It is pertinent to note that vaginal infections can be misinterpreted to be the mucus and therefore making the method ineffective.
• Symptothermal Method (STM):- Is one that uses a woman’s cervical mucus changes and morning temperature to determine the beginning and end of fertile periods.
• Withdrawal Method:- Is the practice of withdrawing the penis from the vaginal before ejaculation to prevent the sperm from penetrating. This requires a high level of self-control for it to be 96% effective. This method is risky and may fail for a no of reasons. The efficacy is reduced if the sperm is released prior to withdrawal due to premature ejaculation.
• BARRIER METHODS:- Include the use of male and female condoms, diaphragm, spermicides to keep the sperm from reaching the female eggs. They’re about 90% effective if instructions adhered to.

Side Effects:- Leakage or torn condoms, allergic reactions to products used.

• ORAL PILLS (ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES):– Are hormonal preparations used daily to prevent conceptions. It’s 99.9% effective if taken correctly.

Side Effect:- Weight gain, high blood pressure, prone to blood clots, nausea

• INTRAUTERINE DEVICE (IUD):– This is a device made by plastic and copper inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy for 3 – 10 years and the effective rate is 99% if kept in place. It’s able to stay for 3 – 10years.

Side Effects: Abdominal pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, vaginal discharge, pelvic inflammatory diseases, uterine perforation.

• HORMONAL INJECTIONS AND PATCHES:– Hormonal injections are administered every three (3) months while the patches are stuck to the skin once a week to release the hormones which prevent pregnancy.

Side Effects:- Weight gain, breast tenderness, mood changes, irregular vaginal bleeding, skin irritations, abnormal hair growth, headaches, prone to blood clot.

• PERMANENT METHODS:- Are by surgical means for those who have completed childbearing and do not desire to become pregnant. It is 100% effective. However, there have been few incidences where the tubes reconnect leading to pregnancies
• Tubal Ligation:- The fallopian tubes where the female eggs pass through is surgically tied to prevent the eggs and sperm from meeting.

Side Effects:- Bruise, reunion of the tubes, ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb).

• Vasectomy:- Is the male sterilization. The male vas deferens (Sperm duct) is cut and tied to prevent the release of sperm from fertilizing the female eggs. It’s a simple procedure done at an office visit.

 Side Effects:- Decrease libido, pain, infections.

 CONCLUSION

Family planning programs should focus on eliminating misinformation, misconceptions and myths especially in the rural areas where ignorance is endemic. More awareness should be created amongst students in schools to reduce incidences of abortion procured by ‘quacks’ – unqualified attendants which subsequently results in complications leading to infertility in future.