Contraception & Family Planning
Contraception aims to prevent pregnancy. A woman can get pregnant if a man’s sperm reaches one of her eggs (ova). Contraception tries to stop this happening by keeping the egg and sperm apart. stopping egg production. stopping the combined sperm and egg (fertilized egg) attaching to the lining of the womb.
Birth control, also known as contraception and fertility control, is a method or device used to prevent pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth control only became available in the 20th century.
- long-acting reversible contraception, such as the implant or intra uterine device (IUD)
- hormonal contraception, such the pill or the Depo Provera injection.
- barrier methods, such as condoms.
- emergency contraception.
- fertility awareness.
- permanent contraception, such as vasectomy and tubal ligation.
So to sum up, family planning is a larger concept involving preparation and knowledge around your “family future.” And birth control is the group of methods you use or steps you take to avoid pregnancy before you’re ready.
Family planning focuses on women’s right to freely decide whether, when and how many children to have. The ability to make decisions pertaining to our bodies means we control our future. … Family planning allows couples to determine the number and spacing of their children through the use of contraceptive methods.
- Among the 1.9 billion Women of Reproductive Age group (15-49 years) worldwide in 2019, 1.1 billion have a need for family planning; of these, 842 million are using contraceptive methods, and 270 million have an unmet need for contraception [1,2]
- The proportion of the need for family planning satisfied by modern methods, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator 3.7.1, was 75.7% globally in 2019, yet less than half of the need for family planning was met in Middle and Western Africa [1]
- Only one contraceptive method, condoms, can prevent both a pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
- Use of contraception advances the human right of people to determine the number and spacing of their children.