In striving for a healthy and happy family, couples nowadays most likely have an ideal family size they would like to maintain. They may already have an idea early on as to how many children they would like to have and can support. However, not every couple follows through with concrete actions such as selecting the right family planning method for them.

This can be the result of several factors such as the lack of proper knowledge, limited access to resources, or in some cases, lack of willpower. With the COVID-19 pandemic causing a massive shift in health systems all around the world, access to family planning information and services has likewise been disrupted.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2019, there are 1.1 billion women in their reproductive age (15-49 years old ) who have a need for family planning. WHO further states that 842 million of them are already using contraceptive techniques, whereas 270 million still have unmet contraception needs.

This August, as we celebrate Family Planning Month in our country, let’s take a look at the benefits of Family Planning and the various methods available for each family.

The Benefits
Family planning is defined as the ability to predict and achieve the desired number of children for individuals and couples. This also allows them to plan the spacing and timing of their children's births. It is accomplished by using contraceptive techniques and treating involuntary infertility.

The Department of Health (DOH) cites the following benefits for the family:

• For the mother - allows her to gain back her health after the process of giving birth, and enables her to devote more time to her family and personal development. It could also give her enough time for treatment and recovery in case she is suffering from an illness.
• For the baby - higher chances of being in good health, because healthy mothers can give birth to healthy children. It can also better allow them to receive the attention, security, love, and care that they deserve.

For the father, or the one supporting the family, it can also lighten the burden and responsibility as they work to provide the basic needs (food, shelter, education) of the children. 

Family Planning Methods

The WHO believes that ensuring all people have access to their preferred contraceptive methods advances several human rights — including the right to significant health benefits, the right to life and liberty, the right to work and education, the right to freedom of thought and expression, as well as other benefits.

Here are some of the more effective contraceptive methods they have listed: 

• Implants - thickens cervical mucus, preventing sperm and egg from meeting and inhibiting ovulation. With correct use, it has 99.9% effectivity, which can last up to three years.
• Vasectomy (or male sterilization) - permanent contraception for men, sperm are kept out of ejaculated sperm. It’s reported to be 99.8% effective, with 0.1 pregnancies per 100 women in a year.
• Progestin-only Injectable - delivered by deep intramuscular injection, it works the same way as implants, thickening the cervical mucus to prevent conception. It’s given every 2-3 months and has been found to be 99.7% effective. 
• Ligation - permanent contraception for women wherein the eggs are prevented from meeting the sperm. This method is said to be 99.5% effective.
• Intrauterine Device (IUD) - these could be copper-containing (which is responsible for preventing fertilization), or hormonal-releasing (progesterone). Some of these devices can last up to 12 years and are reported to be 99.2% effective. 
• Progestin-only Pills - these are oral hormonal contraceptives that contain progestins at low doses, and are found to be 99% effective.
• Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) - prevents ovulation or the release of eggs from the ovaries during exclusive breastfeeding. It is reported to be 98% effective. 
• Standard Days Method (SDM) -  this method entails avoiding unprotected vaginal sex during the most fertile days to prevent pregnancy. It can be 95% effective for women who have a 26-32 days cycle.
• Combined Oral Contraceptives (COCs) - these pills alter hormone levels in the body to prevent ovulation and reduce the chances of a woman becoming pregnant. With consistent and correct use, it can be 92-97% effective.
• Condoms - there are both male and female condom types, which creates a barrier between the sperm and the egg, preventing them from meeting. They have been found to be 85% effective, with up to 21 pregnancies per 100 women in a year. 

Ultimately, the importance of family planning is clear. It helps couples avoid unplanned births, reduces the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and for couples who want to conceive, it helps reduce rates of infertility. With these methods, couples can choose an effective means to plan the future of their family.