Family Planning

Concepts to Master:
1. Family Planning
2. Responsible Parenthood
3. Population Education
4. Sex Education
5. Contraception
6. Contraceptive devices
Family planning experts define family planning as the process by which responsible and mature
couples, if they wish, determine by themselves the timing, proper spacing and number of the
children born to them. Family planning involves three main aspects:
1. Responsible parenthood 2. Proper spacing of children 3. Birth control
Family planning involves the rational utilization of effective contraceptive methods by married
couples so they space and limit their children to a desirable size in order for them to attain quality life.
Contraceptive means prevention of unwanted pregnancy, while responsible parenthood means
responsible pro-creation and socialization of children. As responsible parents, married couples are
prepared for the responsibility of rearing a child who can be properly fed, clothed and educated.
NORMS ON FAMILY PLANNING
1. Sociological Norms
Family planning is the process whereby, through interaction, married couples arrive at an intelligent
decision in the number of children they could provide with quality life.
2. Medical Norms
Family planning through the use of contraceptives provides protection against unwanted pregnancies.
Contraceptives work to prevent the meeting of the egg sperm. Family planning is concerned with the
regulation of human reproductive capacity. It involves the prevention of unwanted births by
contraceptive techniques, or by reducing the length of exposure to pregnancy in order to protect the
well-being of the mother, of the family, or of the larger population.
3. Legal-Juridical Norms
Government support of family planning is reflected in Article XV,
Sec. 10 of the Philippines Constitution to achieve and maintain population levels most conducive to
the national welfare. Measures to assure its implementation have been made in law and practice. The
Labor Code of the Philippines requires the employer of more than 200 workers to provide for family
planning services to their employees and their spouses ( Sec. 11, Rule VII, Book III of the Implementing
Rules ).
4. Ecclesiastical Norms
All the major religions of the world believe in the guiding principle that a couple has a right to limit
family size.
The Roman Catholic Church is not against family planning but categorically condemns the use of
artificial methods as they are against the natural laws. The Catholic Church only accepts the
withdrawal, abstinence, and rhythm or calendar method.
5. Psychological Norms
Family planning has psychological bearing on problems which confront the young today brought
about by their development stage and the sexual revolution in the present times. Marlyn Benoit,
Executive Director of the Devereux Children’s Center in Washington, D.C. agrees that changes in
society and family structure have led to more sexual activity among teenagers.
POPULATION POLICY AND PORGRAMS
Congress, through R.A. 6365, created, the Population Commission (POPCOM) in 1971. Main
Goal: To enhance national development by meeting the social challenge of a high rate of
population growth.
The Department Of Education and the United Nations Fund for Population Activities create programs
for population education.
Population education is the process of developing awareness and understanding of population
situations as well as rational attitude and behavior toward those situations for the attainment
of high quality of life for the individual, the family, the community, the nation, and the world.
CONTRACEPTION (BIRTH CONTROL METHODS AND TECHNIQUES)
Reproduction is the basic biological reason for sexual intercourse. However, most people enjoy sex
and do not want to conceive every time they have sex. There are many reasons. they may wish to
concentrate on a career, they may already have too many children in the family, or suffer from certain
health problems, or dislike babies, or fell too young or old, and so on.
Contraception is not a new idea. Over thousands of years all kinds of devices have been tried to
prevent pregnancy. Almost 4,000 years ago some Egyptian women put a contraceptive paste into
their vaginas, made form honey, sodium carbonate and crocodile dung!
LITERATURE ON CONTRACEPTION AND BIRTH CONTROL GIVES THE FOLLOWING METHODS AND
TECHNIQUES:
A. Chemical Methods
1. Pill or Oral Contraceptive
The pill is a tablet made of man-made hormones (estrogen and progesterone) mimicking the ones
your body produces monthly on its own. It’s is of two kinds: COCs or combined oral contraceptives
and POPs or progesterone only pills (mini pills). These are available in over-the counter or prescription
forms.
Estrogen prevents the egg from maturing and being released from the ovary. Progesterone changes
the lining of the uterus and the consistency of cervical mucus, making them inhospitable to sperm and
the implantation of fertilized egg.
The pill has to be taken for a certain number of days in the menstrual cycle, usually 21. Its
effectiveness is 96% to 99%, if used properly.
2. “Morning-After Pill”
The so-called ―morning-after pill‖ is a form of emergency birth control. Emergency contraception can
prevent a woman from getting pregnant even after unprotected sex. This method is especially helpful
for those who have been raped or whose main birth control methods have failed. Prescribed by a
health care professional, these pills are similar to birth control pills but contain a higher dose of
hormones. The pills will either inhibit or delay ovulation, or they may alter the uterine lining,
preventing the implantation of a fertilized egg. After sexual assault or consensual sex, two of these
pills are taken within 72 hours, and then two more are taken 12 hours later.
In the Philippines, anti-abortion and pro-life groups insist that the pill previously marketed here under
the brand Postinor- is an abortifacient because, as many of them believe, a fertilized egg is already
considered a life form. Thus, preventing it from being implanted into the uterus is tantamount to
aborting, or killing it.
After much pressure from these groups, the government relented and pulled Postinor out of the local
market. The Bureau of Food and drug (BFAD) likewise delisted the product from its registry of drugs.
It is injected by a health care professional every three months. Its effectiveness is 99% of preventing
pregnancy.
3. Implants
Implants are six matchstick-size rubber silicone rods, tubes or capsules containing progestin or
progesterone. A physician surgically implants them under the skin, usually on the upper arm . The
rods released low doses of hormones to suppress ovulation and cause a thickening of the cervical
mucus so that sperm cannot penetrate. They are locally available as Norplant and close to 100%
effectiveness for up to five years, and they can be removed by a doctor at any time.
B. Sterilization or Surgical Method
In sterilization, the eggs or sperm are prevented from going anywhere by cutting, knotting or blocking
the tubes along which they normally travel. This is done by a small surgical operation in the hospital
or clinic. Its effectiveness is 99% to 100%.
1. Tubal Ligation
Female sterilization involves tying, cutting or searing the two fallopian tubes or oviducts via survey so
that the passageway to the uterus is blocked. It is a more or less permanent surgical method for
women. The operation is minor, leaving a small scar on the lower abdomen. Most women can leave
the hospital on the same day, or a day or two later.
2. Vasectomy
Male sterilization involves tying, cutting or searing the two vasdeferens, the tubes which carry sperm
from the testes to the penis, to prevent the sperm from mixing with the seminal fluid. It is a more or
less permanent or irreversible surgical method for men.
3. Mechanical or Barrier Methods
The barrier methods of contraception put a physical barrier between sperm and egg, so that two
cannot meet.
a. Male condom or prophylactic latex
The condom is a synthetic latex sheath worn over the penis during copulation to prevent the sperm
from entering the woman’s womb. It has a sealed end the caches the sperm0containing fluid at
ejaculation (enlarge and rigid) penis before intercourse and unrolled and disposed of afterwards. It is
advised to withdraw the penis immediately after intercourse, and while still erect. Delaying may cause
sperm to spill out into the cervix.
b. Female Condom
Female condom is elongated as polyurethane sheath about 6.5 inches long, with a flexible ring at each
end. It is used to line the inside of the vagina covers the cervix. It prevents the sperm from reaching
the cervix. It is inserted into the vagina before intercourse. Its effectiveness is more or less 75% to
80% in preventing pregnancy.
c. Diaphragm/Cervical Cap
This device is a thin rubber cap or bowl-shaped rubber disk with flexible rim that fits into the top of
the vagina and covers the cervix, the neck or entrance to womb. It prevents the sperm in the vagina
from entering the uterus and reaching the egg beyond. It is usually fitted 2 or 3 hours before
intercourse and removed several hours afterwards.
d. Sponge
The sponge is a soft, donut-shaped devise, which is made of spongy materials that contains
spermicidal. It must be moistened and inserted before intercourse, and left in place from up to six
hours afterward (although it can be worn up to 24 hours with repeated intercourse). It works like the
diaphragm and the cervical cap. Its function is to block the entry of the sperm into the womb. The
sponge is available without a prescription and is about 85% effectiveness on preventing pregnancy.
4. Natural Family Planning Methods
Natural Family Planning, also called fertility awareness, refers to methods for planning and preventing
pregnancies by observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile
phases of the menstrual cycle. Intercourse is avoided during the fertile phase if pregnancy is not
desired. The natural methods rely on timing rather that artificial aids or surgery.
THE EIGHT TECHNIQUES OF NFP ARE:
a. The Rhythm (or Calendar) Method
The rhythm method is also known as the safe period. It is a fertility tracking method using a calendar.
The woman must observe and record her reproductive cycle (I.e., ovulation and menstruation).
Ovulation occurs about 12 to 16 days before menstruation (which is the end of your ovulation period
or 14 days before the next period is due.) An egg has a natural life of two days in the womb waiting to
be fertilized. A sperm can last for four or five days.
b. Cervical Mucus Method
It is an NFP method relying on a woman’s familiarity with her body and its processes. The vagina
discharge after a woman’s period is used as indicators of fertility. It is also known as the Billing’s
method, named after an Australian doctor who discovered it. Observe that the vagina discharge
which appears after menstruation will first be cloudy and sticky.
c. Basal Body Temperature
The NFP method involves the daily recording of the temperature changes in the woman’s body with a
special thermometer. She records her temperature at the same time every day before getting up or
doing anything in the morning. A rise in the BBT of about half a degree Celsius may mean ovulation,
and the couple should abstain from intercourse if pregnancy is not desired. Effectiveness is more or
less 95% but only for couples with normal fertility who follow and use the method perfectly.
d. Sympto-Thermal Method
This is a combination of the BBT and the cervical mucus methods and other physiological indicators of
ovulation, such as tenderness of the breast and mid-cycle pain. This involves recording. If pregnancy is
not desired, couples should abstain from intercourse until the 3rd day of elevated temperature or the
fourth day after the peak day of mucus, whichever comes first. Its effectiveness is 98% but only for
couples with normal fertility who follow and use the method perfectly.
e. Withdrawal or coitus Interruptus
During sex, the man withdraws his penis from the woman’s vagina just before the sperm-containing
fluid ejaculates. However, this method is not very reliable. It is difficult to predict the exact timing of
ejaculation and some sperm may be released before the full ejaculation. Even before the ejaculation.
Even before the ejaculation, the man releases ―pre-ejaculation fluid which already contains enough
sperm to get a woman pregnant. It may also lead to frustration for one or both partners. Its
effectiveness is more or less 30% to 40%.
f. Prolonged Lactation or Lactation Amenorrhea (LAM)
This is considered a natural contraceptive and is known to protect a woman from pregnancy for the
first six months after giving birth, depending on certain factors.
Breastfeeding is the main factor for delaying menstruation (lactational amenorrhea). As the baby
sucks, the nipples are stimulated, causing the woman’s body to produce prolactin, the hormone that
includes milk flow.
Prolactin is also believed to suppress ovulation on the nursing mother, in addition to its main function
of increasing the supply of breast milk; thus, the more frequent and the longer the breast feeding, the
longer the delay of menstrual period.
Breastfeeding provides 98% protection against another pregnancy only as long as:
a .The baby is under six months old
b. The mother is fully breastfeeding, a minimum old six feedings during the daytime and two at night,
and completes emptying of the breast during every feeding episode.
c. The mother is amenorrheic or has not experienced menstrual bleeding 56 days after delivery.

CURRENT RESEARCH ON BIRTH CONTROL

A new male condom made of polyurethane is one type of birth control currently under development.
Diaphragms may one day include a one-size-fits-all device and disposable, spermicide –releasing
diaphragms may also be developed.
A contraceptive vaccine for men currently in development contains a hormone that appears to
interfere with the production of both sperm and the male sex hormone testosterone. Vaginal rings
that deliver female sex hormones are another potential method for preventing pregnancy. These
silicone rubber rings fit in the vagina and release a steady supply of hormones progestin-only vaginal
rings would be worn continuously while those containing both estrogen and progestin would be worn
for three weeks and then removed for one week to allow menstrual bleeding in the same pattern as
combined oral contraceptives.
SUMMARY
Family planning is the process by which responsible couples determine by themselves the timing,
proper spacing and number of children born to them with the aim of giving them quality life. It
involves three aspects: responsible parenthood, proper spacing of children, and birth control.
There are several norms on family planning: the sociological norms, the medical norms, legal-
juridical norms, the ecclesiastical norms and the psychological norms. These norms provide various
views and perspectives on family planning.
Another aspect of family planning is birth control. Various methods and techniques of
contraception are available today. These include: Chemical Method, Sterilization or Surgical
Method, Mechanical or Barrier Methods, Natural Family Planning Methods, and the Intra-Uterine
Devices.
Current research on birth control focuses on contraceptives for men, such as contraceptive
vaccines, hormonal contraceptive injections, biodegradable implants, and male polyurethane
condom. Advance in birth control are limited by legal, religious, and financial concerns.