Why family planning matters
Planning pregnancies protects health and opens opportunity.
- Spacing births ~2 years apart is healthier for mother and baby.
- It prevents unintended pregnancies and unsafe situations.
- It supports education, work, and family wellbeing.
- It's a shared responsibility — for couples, not just women.
Types of methods: an overview
Methods work in different ways and last different lengths of time.
- Short-acting: pills, injectables, condoms.
- Long-acting reversible: implants and IUDs.
- Permanent: sterilization for those who want no more children.
- Barrier methods (condoms) also protect against STIs.
Comparing common methods
Effectiveness and how each is used.
| Method | Type | Notes |
|---|
| Implant / IUD | Long-acting | Very effective; lasts 3–10+ years |
| Injectable | Short-acting | Every 1–3 months; private |
| Pill | Short-acting | Daily; needs routine |
| Male / female condom | Barrier | Each time; also prevents STIs |
| Sterilization | Permanent | For those sure they want no more children |
Only condoms protect against both pregnancy and STIs. A health worker can help you choose.
Long-acting methods: implants & IUDs
Highly effective and easy to forget about.
- An implant is a small rod placed under the skin of the arm.
- An IUD is a small device placed in the uterus.
- Both last for years and are among the most effective methods.
- Both are reversible — fertility returns after removal.
Short-acting methods: pills & injectables
Effective when used correctly and consistently.
- Pills are taken daily; work best with a routine.
- Injectables are given every 1–3 months at a clinic.
- Both use hormones to prevent the release of eggs.
- Both are reversible; fertility returns after stopping.
Condoms: dual protection
The only method that prevents both pregnancy and STIs.
- Male and female condoms create a barrier during sex.
- They're the only method that also prevents STIs, including HIV.
- Use a new condom correctly every time.
- Widely available, low-cost, and need no prescription.
Key terms
- Family planning: Deciding whether, when, and how many children to have.
- Contraception: Methods used to prevent pregnancy.
- LARC: Long-acting reversible contraception — implants and IUDs.
- Dual protection: Using condoms (against STIs) plus another method.
- Emergency contraception: A method used soon after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.
- Reversible: Fertility returns after stopping the method.
Emergency contraception
A backup after unprotected sex — not a regular method.
- Emergency contraceptive pills can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex.
- They work best the sooner they're taken — within days.
- A copper IUD can also be used as emergency contraception.
- It's a backup, not a replacement for regular contraception.
Myth or reality?
Tap each statement about contraception.
- Contraception makes you permanently infertile (Myth) — Almost all methods are reversible — fertility returns after stopping. Only sterilization is permanent.
- Condoms protect against both pregnancy and STIs (Reality) — They're the only method that does both.
- You can't get pregnant the first time you have sex (Myth) — Pregnancy is possible any time sperm meets egg, including the first time.
- A health worker can help you choose a method that fits (Reality) — Counselling matches methods to your health, life, and preferences.
Implants and IUDs are more than 99% effective, because there's nothing to remember day to day. Methods that depend on daily or every-time use are effective too, but leave more room for human error.
Which protects against STIs?
Tap each method, then whether it protects against STIs.
- Male or female condom (Protects against STIs)
- Contraceptive pill (Prevents pregnancy only)
- Implant (Prevents pregnancy only)
- IUD (Prevents pregnancy only)
- Injectable (Prevents pregnancy only)
- Condom plus another method (dual protection) (Protects against STIs)
Choosing a method
A method fits your health, life, and goals.
- Think about your goals: spacing, delaying, or no more children.
- Consider your routine — can you take a daily pill, or prefer 'set and forget'?
- Consider STI protection — do you also need condoms?
- Talk to a health worker; you can switch if it doesn't suit you.
Side effects and when to check
Most are mild, but some signs need advice.
- Many methods cause minor changes to periods at first — often settling.
- Report severe headaches, chest pain, or severe leg pain.
- See a worker if you think a method has failed or you've missed doses.
- If side effects bother you, switching is an option — don't just stop.
Access and confidentiality
Family planning services are for everyone.
- Clinics and pharmacies offer methods, often free or low-cost.
- Services are confidential — including for young people.
- No one should be forced into or out of a method.
- Bring questions; good counselling is judgment-free.
Recap & what's next
- Family planning lets you decide whether and when to have children.
- Methods range from condoms to pills to long-acting implants/IUDs.
- Only condoms also protect against STIs (dual protection).
- Next: planning a healthy pregnancy.
