Considering the population explosion, increasing inflation and scarcity of resources, the family trends have shifted to nuclear families with number of children limited to one or two. Family planning refers to the natural and artificial birth control methods that allow you to control the size of your family and the gap between your children.

Advantages of Family Planning

Family planning helps you prevent conception and reduce the risk of pregnancy. The biggest advantage of family planning tools is that they save you from the hassles of pregnancy termination and abortion. Adopting a family plan directly effects a woman's health in a good way by preventing unwanted and unplanned pregnancies and subsequent abortions. Restricting the family size allows more resources for bringing up your children and sustaining a family in a balanced way. Adopting family planning methods helps couples to let their children have a more focused upbringing, better education and other amenities.

Family planning perspectives are being given serious thought worldwide, and so, important birth control FAQ are being referred more often than ever for effective family planning.

Family planning tools are broadly categorized into two : Natural Family Planning Methods & the Artificial Family Planning Methods.

Natural family planning is based on avoiding sexual intercourse during the fertile period of women. This method is based on physical signs of ovulation like basal body temperature and certain changes in mucus consistency.

Natural procedures:

1. Safe period method.
2. Withdrawal method.

Artificial methods:

1. Condoms
2. IUD insertion
3. Birth control pill
4. Vaccination
5. Permanent prevention

Choosing the method that is best for you This is a decision that is best taken together with your husband. The points to be considered are:

1. Effectiveness
2. Safety
3. Convenience
4. Availability
5. Cost

The choice of method also depends upon your health, age and desired size of the family. Consult your primary healthcare centre for details.

SAFE PERIOD METHOD:

In order to prevent pregnancy, the husband and wife should avoid sexual intercourse during the days in which the woman is most fertile and likely to conceive. The couple can engage in sex 8-9 days prior to and after the woman's menstrual cycle. This is known as the Safe Period. They should also avoid sex during the menstrual cycle as the egg is already in the uterus and there is a possibility of the women conceiving. Please remember that this method should only be adopted if the menstrual cycle of the woman is regular.

WITHDRAWAL METHOD (INCOMPLETE INTERCOURSE METHOD):

In this method the man, during sexual intercourse, withdraws his penis from the woman's vagina before ejaculation. This prevents sperms from entering the vagina and eliminates the chances of pregnancy. It is important for the man to exercise self-control during copulation as even a drop of semen entering the vagina may result in the woman getting conceived.

Artificial Methods:

1. A CONDOM:

A condom is a device made of fine rubber (latex). The man covers his penis with a condom during sexual intercourse in order to prevent the sperm from entering the vagina. Condoms prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including AIDS. The use of condoms is one of the most reliable and cost-effective methods. But one should take a few precautionary measures before using a condom:

1. Ensure that it is not torn or ruptured and
2. Make sure that you are using it before the expiry date.

2. INTRA UTERINE DEVICE (IUD)/COPPER T:

It is a birth control device made of soft plastic and has the shape of the English letter T. Copper is wound on the lower part and the end carries two threads. It is placed in the uterus. With the help of the threads placed on the tip of the T, women can check if it is inserted properly. It is a long-term method and prevents pregnancy for 3-5 years. Copper T does not create any problems during copulation and can be used immediately after childbirth. But unlike condoms, it does not protect the user from AIDS and other STDs.

3. CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS:

There are several contraceptive pills available in the market, for example Mala D, Mala N, Pearl, etc. Birth control pills, which contain hormones, prevent a woman from getting pregnant if used regularly. One pill has to be taken every night before going to bed. There are two types of packets available in the market,one containing 21 pills and the other containing 28 pills. But no pills should be taken without a doctor's prescription. Contraceptive pills also help women to have regular menstrual cycles and reduce the chances of anaemia. But breast-feeding mothers, especially if the child is less than six months old, should not use contraceptive pills.

4. INJECTION FOR BIRTH CONTROL:

Vaccination is another method of birth control. This vaccine is effective for three months and has to be applied four times a year. It is available in the name of DMPA and works in the same way as the pills do. It reduces bleeding during menstruation and helps in preventing cancer.

5. PERMANENT SOLUTIONS:

Permanent solutions are the best possible methods if the couple does not want any more children. They are available for both men and women. But male sterilization or vasectomy is easier than female operation or tubectomy. In vasectomy, the duct carrying sperm from the testes to the urethra is cut and tied thereafter no sperms reach the urethra during intercourse. The male can start working normally 48 hours after the operation. It also does not adversely affect erection in the man. Tubectomy is done by tying and cutting off the fallopian tubes. Eggs continue to be released but they are prevented from reaching the uterus. Nowadays it is conducted through telescopic method, which requires only 2-3 stitches.