Family Planning

What is Family Planning?

Family planning is all about putting you in charge of deciding whether to start a family, add to your family, or avoid an unplanned pregnancy. Family planning entails looking deep inside yourself to think about your goals for pregnancy now and in the future.

Choosing the right form of contraception can play a crucial role in family planning. The good news is you have a variety of choices, ranging from short-term methods to permanent options.

What are Common Family Planning Methods?

Contraceptive options range from short-term options like condoms to long-lasting methods, such as an intrauterine device, or IUD. Here are common choices:

• Barrier methods - Includes condoms, cervical caps, diaphragms, and vaginal sponges. These make a physical barrier, stopping sperm from entering your uterus.
• Hormonal methods - Includes the birth control pill; progestin injections, such as Depo-Provera; the skin patch, such as Ortho Evra; or the NuvaRing vaginal ring.
• Long-acting reversible contraceptives - Includes intrauterine devices, or IUDs, that are placed in your uterus and last as long as a decade.
• Permanent methods - A vasectomy or tubal ligation are surgeries that are best only if you’re certain you don’t want children in the future.

Finally, another option is natural family planning, where you track your cervical mucus, body temperature, or time of the month to decide when to have sex with your partner.  

How Do I Know Which Family Planning Method is Right for Me?

The method you choose depends on a multitude of factors. You’ll want to think about whether you’d like to have children in the next few years. You may also need to determine whether you’re done having children and want to avoid a future pregnancy.

Here are some questions to talk about with the practitioners at Bayard Obstetrics & Gynecology:

• Is the contraceptive method highly effective at preventing pregnancy?
• What are the potential side effects of various contraceptive methods?
• Can you remember to insert a diaphragm or take a pill daily?
• Do you want a method that also helps to safeguard against STDs?
• Is your partner willing to accept the contraceptive method?
• Does your insurance plan cover the cost of contraception?

Family planning is a great way to take charge of your future. To find out more about your family planning options from physicians you can trust, call or schedule an online consultation today with the experts in women’s medicine at Bayard Obstetrics & Gynecology.