THE FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM

A national mandated priority public health program to attain the country's national health development: a
health intervention program and an important tool for the improvement of the health and welfare of
mothers, children and other members of the family. It also provides information and services for the
couples of reproductive age to plan their family according to their beliefs and circumstances through
legally and medically acceptable family planning methods. Intended to Men and women of reproductive
age (15-49) years old) including adolescents

Population: 96,061,680 (July 2008 est.)

Birth Control Options
A number of birth control methods are available that work in different ways to prevent pregnancy. This
table provides an overview of each method, how it works, and its effectiveness in preventing pregnancy,
and its benefits and drawbacks.
Effectiveness in
Birth Control Preventing
Method Description Pregnancy Benefits Risks or Possible Problems
Birth Control Prescription drug containing 95% • More regular periods, • Not effective against
Pill female sex hormones; a reduced cramping, and transmission of sexually
woman takes one pill daily less severe symptoms of transmitted infections
for 21 days; prevents premenstrual syndrome (STIs)
ovaries from releasing an (PMS), such as • Rare but dangerous
egg, thickens cervical mucus headache, fatigue, and complications, including
to keep sperm from irritability blood clotting and
reaching an egg, and/or • No action required hypertension, particularly
prevents the lining of the prior to sexual in women over 35 years
uterus from thickening so intercourse, permits who smoke
that a fertilized egg cannot sexual spontaneity • Must be taken daily
implant. • Some protection
against ovarian and
endometrial cancer,
noncancerous breast
tumors, ovarian cysts
Cervical Cap Thimble-shaped latex cap 80% in women • Reusable • Not effective against STI
inserted into a woman's who have not • Can last for one to two transmission
vagina over cervix to given birth; 60% years • Needs to be fitted by a
prevent sperm from entering in women who health-care professional
uterus; used with have given birth. • Difficult to fit women
spermicide. with an unusual cervix
size
• Difficult for some
women to insert
Contraceptive Hormonal injection given by 99% • No action required • Not effective against STI
Injection a health-care professional in prior to sexual transmission
a woman's arm or buttock; intercourse, permits • Requires regular visits
prevents ovaries from sexual spontaneity to a health-care
releasing an egg, thickens • Effective for one to professional to administer
cervical mucus to keep three months, the injection
sperm from reaching an depending on type used • May cause irregular
egg, and/or prevents the bleeding, weight gain,
lining of the uterus from sore breasts, nausea, and
thickening so that a acne
fertilized egg cannot
implant.
Contraceptive Skin patch worn by a woman 95% to 99% • No action required • Not effective against STI
Patch for 21 days on the buttocks, prior to sexual transmission
stomach, upper arm, or intercourse, permits • Rare but dangerous
upper torso; releases low sexual spontaneity complications, including
doses of female sex • Regular use may result blood clotting and
hormones; prevents ovaries in shorter, more regular hypertension, particularly
from releasing an egg, menstrual periods, while in women over 35 years
thickens cervical mucus to also decreasing who smoke
keep sperm from reaching premenstrual cramping • Some medications,
an egg, and/or prevents the and menstrual-related including antibiotics and
lining of the uterus from iron deficiency and acne. anti-seizure, tuberculosis,
thickening so that a and migraine drugs, can
fertilized egg cannot interfere with
implant. effectiveness
Contraceptive Flexible ring inserted in a 95% to 99% • No action required • Not effective against STI
Ring woman's vagina for 21 days; prior to sexual transmission
releases low doses of female intercourse, permits • May cause vaginal
sex hormones; prevents sexual spontaneity irritation and discharge
ovaries from releasing an • Regular use may result • May cause irregular
egg, thickens cervical mucus in shorter, more regular bleeding, weight gain or
to keep sperm from menstrual periods, while loss, breast tenderness,
reaching an egg, and/or also decreasing nausea, vomiting,
prevents the lining of the premenstrual cramping headache, and mood
uterus from thickening so and menstrual-related change
that a fertilized egg cannot iron deficiency and acne
implant.
Diaphragm Shallow rubber cup with 80% • Reusable • Not effective against STI
flexible rim inserted into a • Can last for one to two transmission
woman's vagina over cervix years • Needs to be fitted by a
to prevent sperm from health-care professional
entering uterus; used with • Must be inserted before
spermicide. each act of sexual
intercourse
Emergency Methods used by a woman • Emergency • Prevents pregnancy • Not effective against STI
Contraception after unprotected contraceptive when primary birth transmission
intercourse to prevent pills: 79% to 85% control fails during sex • Needs to be prescribed
fertilization of the egg or if taken within 72 (for instance, if condom by a health-care
implantation of the fertilized hours after breaks or diaphragm or professional
egg in the uterus. Two unprotected cervical cap dislodges);
methods are available: intercourse one or more birth control
emergency contraceptive • IUD: 99% if pills are skipped; or a
pills or emergency insertion inserted within 7 woman is forced to have
of an intrauterine device days of unprotected vaginal
(IUD). unprotected intercourse against her
intercourse will
Female Polyurethane sac inserted 79% • Reduces the risk of • Lessens sensation
Condom into a woman's vagina over many STIs • May break during
cervix to prevent sperm • Available over-the- intercourse
from entering uterus; may counter
be used with a spermicide. • Inexpensive
Fertility Collection of techniques 80% • No medical or • Not effective against STI
Awareness used by a woman, including hormonal side effects transmission
Methods checking body temperature • Inexpensive • Requires commitment
or cervical mucus daily or to consistently and
recording menstrual cycles accurately monitor
on a calendar, to determine fertility
the days when body is most • More than one fertility
fertile; abstinence or the use awareness method should
of a barrier method during be used to improve
this fertile period can effectiveness
prevent pregnancy.
Hormonal Six small capsules inserted 99.9% • Most effective form of • Not effective against STI
Implant by a health-care professional birth control after transmission
under the skin of a woman's continuous abstinence • Possible scarring or,
upper arm; delivers small and sterilization surgery rarely, infection at
amounts of sex hormones to • Protects against insertion site
prevent ovaries from pregnancy for up to five • May cause irregular
releasing egg. years bleeding, headache,
• No action required nausea, depression
prior to sexual
intercourse, permits
sexual spontaneity
Intrauterine Small device inserted by a 96% • Effective one to ten • Not effective against STI
Device (IUD) health-care professional into years, depending on transmission
a woman's uterus; prevents type used • May cause spotting
eggs from being fertilized • No action required between periods, longer,
and/or implanting in uterus. prior to sexual heavier periods, and
intercourse, permits cramping
sexual spontaneity • Rare risk of uterine
perforation or ectopic
pregnancy
Male Condom Sheath of latex, 86% • Reduces the risk of • Lessens sensation
polyurethane, or animal many STIs • May break during
tissue placed on erect penis; • Available over-the- intercourse
may be used with a counter
spermicide. • Inexpensive
Spermicide Sperm-killing chemicals in 74% • Available over the • Only partially effective
the form of foams, creams, counter against STI transmission
jellies, films, or suppositories • Can be used with other • Possible allergies or
that are inserted into a methods to improve irritation
woman's vagina to block the effectiveness
cervix, preventing sperm
from fertilizing an egg.
Tubal Surgical procedure to 99.9% • Permanently prevents • Not effective against STI
Sterilization permanently block a pregnancy transmission
woman's fallopian tubes to • No action required • Reactions to surgery
prevent eggs from reaching prior to sexual may include infection,
sperm. intercourse, permits bleeding, injury to
sexual spontaneity intestine, reaction to
anesthesia
• Increased chance of
ectopic pregnancy
• Generally irreversible
Vasectomy Surgical procedure to 99.9% • Permanently prevents • Not effective against STI
permanently block a male's pregnancy transmission
vas deferens (sperm duct) to • No action required • Reactions to surgery
prevent sperm from prior to sexual may include infection,
reaching eggs. intercourse, permits blood clot near testes,
sexual spontaneity bruising, swelling, or
tenderness of scrotum
• Generally irreversible
Source: Planned Parenthood Federation of America; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.