Women must have access to safe and voluntary family planning options – this is a human right. But the reality is that 257 million women in developing countries do not have access to family planning. The reasons range from lack of accessibility and information to unsupportive spouses and families.

When women are denied safe family planning options, it affects their ability to plan their future. And when women are affected, their family suffers.

Awareness about what family planning is and the many benefits it offers is key to making people accept family planning. This blog explains this in detail.

What Is Family Planning? 

Family planning refers to having control over a number of factors like whether to have children or not, how many children to have and when to have them.

There are a number of ways by which family planning can be implemented. This includes tablets, the barrier method, intrauterine devices and surgical procedures. Natural family planning methods include the calendar method (keeping track of menstrual cycle and fertile days) and practicing abstinence.

Family planning also includes information on the desirable age for pregnancy, and the infertility treatments available.

The Challenges Faced by Women 

Healthcare leaders have for a long time now stressed on the need for family planning, yet women across the world face multiple barriers to it. Many women who want to prevent or delay pregnancy do not have access to modern contraceptive methods.

The reasons for this are many.

1. Women do not have sufficient knowledge of the contraceptive methods available.
2. They do not know where to avail contraceptive options.
3. Travelling to health centres to get pills, etc. could be an issue.
4. Their families and partners may be against family planning.
5. Women from low-income groups and rural women are affected more.
6. Since pregnancy among certain groups like adolescent girls, unmarried women, people with HIV, etc. is socially unacceptable, these people face additional barriers when it comes to family planning. As a result, they are at a higher risk of unintended pregnancies, and HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections (STIs).

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Also Read: Understanding High-Risk Pregnancies

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The Many Benefits of Family Planning 

Family planning offers both health and financial benefits.

Saves Lives: 

• Pregnancies at a very young or very old age are not healthy for both the mother and the baby.
• The pregnancy can be fraught with life-threatening complications.
• Birth control in such circumstances is very useful in avoiding pregnancy at what are medically considered risky ages for pregnancy.
• Not just complications, birth control helps prevent possible maternal and fetal deaths too.

Improves Physical Health: 

• A woman’s body needs sufficient rest between two pregnancies.
• A pregnancy is physically and nutritionally demanding and the body needs to recover before it is ready to carry a baby again.
• The ideal time between two pregnancies would be 18-24 months.
• This duration is subject to change with certain factors - for women older than 35 years, for those who had a previous C-section, for those who underwent IVF for the previous pregnancy, etc.
• It is best to discuss the ideal duration with the doctor so that medical history can be taken into consideration.

Improves Mental Health: 

• Birth control gives women control over their bodies and their lives.
• This does not just help them plan their futures but it also contributes to their mental and emotional well-being.  

Protects from Sexually-Transmitted Infections: 

• Using condoms offers protection from both unintended pregnancies as well as sexually-transmitted infections.

Empowers Women: 

• By giving women the option of deciding when to have children, family planning plays a crucial role in gender equality.
• It allows women to complete their education which increases their potential to earn money and be financially independent.
• Women’s autonomy improves and with that so does the well-being of the whole family.
• When women also contribute to the household income, the family savings improve.
• This indirectly benefits children’s education, health, etc.
• Poverty reduces and the economy of the country itself can benefit with proper family planning.

Methods of Family Planning 

Studies have shown that in India, states which have high contraceptive usage have low maternal and infant deaths. The two main methods of family planning are the spacing methods and the permanent methods; each have various options.

Spacing Methods: These are methods meant to stop pregnancy temporarily. They should be used by couples who wish to have children sometime in the future. A consult with a doctor is essential before choosing the best option.

Injectable Contraceptive: 

1. This involves injecting the hormone progesterone to prevent ovulation in women.
2. It takes up to a week for the injection to take effect.
3. It protects from pregnancy for a period of 8-13 weeks.
4. However, there are many factors to take into account before opting for this form of contraception, one important consideration being it can take the body up to a year to return to fertility after a contraceptive injection.

Oral Contraceptive Pills: 

1. Preferred by a majority of women because of their ease of use, these pills contain hormones that stop ovulation.
2. They usually have to be taken on a daily basis at a specific time.
3. If the pills are taken as told by the doctor, they have a 99% pregnancy prevention efficacy.

Barrier Method: 

1. This includes condoms, sponges, spermicides, diaphragms and cervical caps.
2. Known as the barrier method because they physically block the sperm’s path, these methods are effective when used consistently and in the correct manner.
3. Side-effects are minor and they also protect against sexually-transmitted infections.

Intra-Uterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCD): 

1. Effective for long-term pregnancy prevention, these devices have to be inserted into the uterus by a doctor.
2. They can be removed at any time if the person wishes to get pregnant.
3. Copper IUDs and hormonal IUDs are available – healthcare providers can guide on the best option.
4. Follow-up visits after IUCD insertion are necessary and will be explained by the doctor.
5. However, they do not protect against STIs and if protection is desired, should be used in conjunction with condoms.

Permanent Methods: These are irreversible methods of pregnancy prevention.

• Female Sterilization: This is a surgical procedure wherein the fallopian tubes are cut to prevent the sperm from reaching the egg.
• Male Sterilization: Also known as vasectomy, here the sperm supply is cut off by cutting and sealing the vas deferens (the tubes that carry the sperms).

Other than the spacing and permanent methods, there is also an emergency contraceptive pill that can be taken within 72 hours after unplanned intercourse to prevent pregnancy. However, this is only for emergency purposes and is not an alternative for regular contraception.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is family planning and why is it important?
Family planning allows individuals to decide if and when to have children. It helps protect women’s health, reduce poverty, and promote gender equality.

What are the different family planning methods available?
Methods include spacing options like pills, IUDs, and condoms, and permanent solutions like sterilisation. Emergency pills are for short-term use.

What challenges do women face in accessing contraceptives?
Barriers include lack of knowledge, healthcare access, and social stigma—especially among rural, adolescent, or unmarried women.

How does family planning benefit mental and physical health?
It gives women control over their bodies, reduces maternal risks, and supports adequate recovery time between pregnancies.

Can family planning help reduce poverty?
Yes. By allowing women to pursue education and careers, family planning boosts household income and benefits the broader economy.

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