Choosing a family planning method

Once you have decided to use family planning, you must choose a method. To make a good decision you must first learn about the different methods, their availability, and their advantages and disadvantages.

There are 5 main types of family planning methods:

• Barrier methods, which prevent pregnancy by keeping the sperm from reaching the egg.
• Hormonal methods, which make it harder for the sperm to reach the egg and keep the lining of the womb from supporting a pregnancy. They may also prevent the ovary from releasing an egg.
• IUDs, which prevent sperm from fertilizing the egg.
• Behavioral methods, which prevent pregnancy through certain changes in when and how people have sex.
• Permanent methods, which are operations that make it impossible for a person to have any children.

As you read about each method, here are some questions you may want to consider:

• How well does it prevent pregnancy (its effectiveness)?
• How well does it protect against STIs, if at all?
• How safe is it? If you have any of the health problems mentioned in this chapter, you may need to avoid some types of family planning methods.
• How easy is it to use and how often must you use it?

• Is your partner willing to use family planning?
• What are your personal needs and concerns? For example, do you have all the children you want, or are you breastfeeding your baby?
• How much does the method cost?
• Is it easy to get? Will you need to visit a health center often?
• Will the side effects (the problems the method may cause) create difficulties for you?

After reading about these methods, you can get more help with choosing one. It may also help to talk with your partner, other people in your community, or a health worker about different methods.

Only you can decide which family planning method is right for you.