Choosing a family planning method

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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.

FAMILY PLANNING METHOD	Protection from Pregnancy	Possible Side Effects	Other Important Information
External condom (male condom)	★★ Good		Most effective when used with spermicide and water-based lubricant. Use with other methods to prevent STIs.
Internal condom (female condom)	★★ Good		Most effective when used with spermicide and water-based lubricant. Use with other methods to prevent STIs.
Diaphragm or cervical cap (with spermicide)	★★ Good		Most effective when used with spermicide.
Spermicide or sponge	★ Some	Skin allergy	More effective when used with another barrier method like diaphragm or condom.
Hormonal Methods Birth control pill, patch, injections, vaginal ring Implants	★★★ VERY GOOD ★★★★ BEST	Nausea, headaches, changes in monthly bleeding	These methods should not be used by people with certain health problems.
IUD copper or hormonal	★★★★ BEST	heavy and painful monthly bleeding	This method should not be used by people with certain health problems.
Sex that cannot cause pregnancy (penis not inside vagina at all)	★★★★ BEST		Sexual touch rarely passes STIs. Oral sex is less likely to pass STIs. Anal sex is more likely to pass STIs.
Breastfeeding (LAM)	★★★ VERY GOOD		Only effective in the first 6 months after birth, when giving baby only breast milk, and when periods have not returned.
Fertility awareness	★★ GOOD		Only effective for people who can choose not to have sex that can cause pregnancy
Sterilization	★★★★ BEST		A person will never be able to have babies after this operation.
Withdrawal (Pulling out)	★ SOME		More effective when used with another method like spermicide or diaphragm.