Family Planning Options | Family Planning Methods

Birth Control/Family Planning Options

Find below some popular family planning options to prevent/plan your pregnancy, control the number of children you want and when to have them. It is important to use the contraceptive device properly to prevent pregnancy. Discuss your preferred chosen options with a gynecologist.

	Birth Control Method	Description
1	Man Option 1: Male Condom	Male condoms: Prevents sperms from entering the uterus during sexual intercourse. 1) Collects semen when a man ejaculates and preventing sperm from entering the woman's vagina. 2) Rolled/worn on the penis to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. 3) Made of latex or plastic, is safe. Most preferred & commonly used, they also prevent urinary tract infections. 4) Single person should not wear 2 condoms simultaneously as there is a chance of them breaking due to friction. 5) All males should use one except those who are trying to conceive a child. Condoms have no side effects. 6) Even homosexual men who have anal/oral sex with men should use it to protect themselves from STDs/HIV. 7) How a male should wear a condom?: Click here or Click here to see the videos.
2	Man Option 2: Withdrawal Method	Withdrawal method: Reduces pregnancy chances but least safe among all options. 1) Penis is withdrawn from the vagina before ejaculation (ejecting semen from the male genital system). 2) Withdrawal approach tries to prevent sperms from entering the woman's vagina to prevent pregnancy. 3) This is not a foolproof method. When a man pulls out before ejaculation, he usually leaves behind a small amount of fluid that leaks from the penis during intercourse- which has enough sperm & may cause pregnancy. 4) Hence it is always advisable to use a condom.
3	Man Option 3: Vasectomy Sterilization (Permanent)	Vasectomy sterilization: To permanently disable release of sperms & stop triggering any pregnancy. 1) Usually done after the man has had his desired number of children and does not want to trigger any pregnancy ever in future. 2) Sperms (produced in testicles) are carried by two tubes called 'Vasa Deferentia' which are blocked. 3) Procedure: a) A small surgery is done by the doctor in which Vasa deferentia tubes of a man are cut and sealed. b) The surgery requires just a couple of minor incisions and is done under local anesthesia to the scrotum. c) Is safe. The person is discharged from the hospital within a few hours & can resume work the next day or so. 4) Post Surgery: a) Even after vasectomy, the man will continue to have proper erections and still ejaculate semen. b) It also does not impact the level of hormones or masculinity. c) There is absolutely no decrease in sexual desires or ability to achieve orgasms and is 100% effective. d) Only difference is that sperms are not be released but absorbed by the body without any side effect. e) One can indulge in sexual intercourse within 5 to 7 days after the operative procedure. You just need to avoid strenuous work/exercise for about a week. 5) Remember that vasectomy offers zero protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). So you should use a condom to prevent STDs. 6) Chances of a vasectomy getting reversed is very rare and the procedure is very costly with low success rate.
4	Woman Option 1: Pill	Pills/Oral contraception: Birth control method to temporarily prevent pregnancy. 1) Birth control pill- also called oral contraception -is a medication to prevent pregnancy. 2) Pill contain hormone(s) and prevents a woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs. 3) If a pill is taken daily, chances of getting pregnant is less than 1%. 4) Emergency/ After Morning pill: a) Good option if you had unprotected intercourse and you forgot to take pills. b) This emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy if started within 5 days after unprotected intercourse. c) The sooner you start it, the better it will work. 5) Pills are safe and do not adversely impact the sexual experience of a woman. 6) Consult a gynaecologist for the right pill and dosage for you.
5	Woman Option 2: Female Condom	Female condoms prevent sperms from entering the uterus during sexual intercourse. 1) Inserted inside the vagina before intercourse to block ejaculated semen from entering a woman's body. 2) It also reduces the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. 3) Spermicide lubricated condoms- that prevent movement of sperms- are also available. 4) How a female should wear a condom?: Click here or Click here to see the videos.
6	Woman Option 3: IUD	IUD (Intra Uterine Device): An internal device inserted to prevent pregnancy. 1) A small, "T-shaped" device inserted inside a woman's uterus that prevents sperms from joining the egg. 2) The device has to be inserted by a gynecologist/doctor only. 3) Copper IUD- also known as 'Copper-T'- is usually effective for 10 years. 4) Effective and long lasting. Hasslefree as the woman does not need to insert anything before intercourse. 5) A woman must not pull out the string ends as it may displace the IUD. 6) IUD can easily be taken out but must be done by a doctor/gynecologist only. 7) Copper and Hormonal IUDs are available. Contact a gynecologist for a suitable IUD for you.
7	Woman Option 4: Diaphragm	Diaphragm: A thin rubber dome like cup inserted into a woman's vagina to cover the cervix. 1) It prevents the sperm from joining the egg and hence prevents pregnancy. 2) After last intercourse, it should remain in the vagina for 6 to 8 hours but not left there for more than 24 hours. 3) Diaphragm is reusable and lasts for about 2 years. Must be washed with mild soap and air dried after use. 4) It can be easily inserted or taken out by the woman herself. 5) Is not 100% foolproof though as sometimes women do not insert it properly. 6) Usually not felt by the other sexual partner and does not hinder woman's sexual experience either. 7) Diaphragm should be used along with 'spermicide'- a liquid like substance that prevents movement of sperms.
8	Woman Option 5: Tubal Sterilization (Permanent)	Tubal sterilization: To permanently disable egg fusion & stop triggering any pregnancy. 1) Usually done after the woman has had her desired number of children and does not want to trigger any pregnancy ever in future. 2) Eggs (produced in ovaries) are carried by one or two tubes called 'Fallopian Tubes' to the uterus. 3) Procedure: a) A small surgery is done by the doctor in which Fallopian tubes of a woman are cut and sealed. b) The surgery requires just few minor cuts using incisive/non-incisive procedure under local anesthesia. b) Pregnancy is not possible since the sealed tubes prevent the sperms fusing the egg. c) Is safe. The person is discharged from the hospital within a few hours & can resume work the next day or so. 4) Post Surgery: a) There is absolutely no decrease in sexual desires or ability to achieve orgasms and is near 100% effective. b) One can indulge in sexual intercourse within 5 to 7 days after the operative procedure. You just need to avoid strenuous work/exercise for about a week. 5) Remember that tubal sterilization offers zero protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). So use protective means to prevent STDs. 6) Chances of a tubal sterilization getting reversed is rare and the procedure very costly with low success rate.