You have the right to choose how many children to have and when.

Benefits

• Mothers and babies are healthier when risky pregnancies are avoided.
• Smaller families mean more money and food for each child.
• Parents have more time to work and to be with family.
• Delaying first or second pregnancy lets young people stay in school.

Many young people need contraceptives to delay pregnancy. Ideally, young women and men should wait until at least 18 years or have finished studies, and are ready before having children. After having a child, it is healthier to wait at least 2 years to try to become pregnant again. There are many methods to choose from.

Do family planning methods make people sterile?

• NO – Only female sterilization and vasectomy are permanent
•  With all other methods, couples can have a child soon after stopping
• Couples who have never had a child can safely use family planning and have a baby soon after stopping

Do family planning methods cause cancer?

• NO – In fact, some family planning methods can help prevent certain cancers

Does family planning cause birth defects? 

• NO – No method of family planning causes birth defects, even if used during pregnancy

How is vasectomy different from castration?

•  Castration is the removal of testes. In vasectomy, however, the testes are not touched at all. The tube that carries sperm is cut. This keeps sperm out of semen, but it does not decrease sexual function or affect ejaculation.

Do family planning methods cause weight gain?

•  Some women have some change in weight when using hormonal methods. The weight changes are usually small.

Can young people use family planning safely?

• YES – Young people can use non-permanent methods and go on to have children after stopping
  All people at risk of STIs/HIV or AIDS should use condoms even if they also use another method

1.   THE PILL

What it is?

• A pill is a tablet with hormones in it that is taken every day, It prevents release of eggs and blocks sperms from meeting the egg.

How to use

• Take one pill every day.
• When you finish a pack of pills, start a new pack the next day.

If you miss a pill:

• Take missed pill as soon as possible.
• Okay to take 2 pills at the same time.
• If you miss more than 2 days of pills in a row, use condoms for 7 days and keep taking pills. If you miss these pills in week 3, Also skip the reminder pills and start a new pack.

What to expect:

•  Sometimes irregular bleeding at first, then followed by lighter monthly bleeding with less cramping.
• Some women have stomach upset or mild headaches that go away after
  first few months.

2.    INJECTION

• Safe
• Hormone injection given every 3 months (DMPA)
• Very effective when injections are on time
• Use can be kept private Injection

What it is

• Hormone injection.
• Prevents release of egg.

How to use

•  Get an injection every 3 months (DMPA).
• If breastfeeding, can start 6 weeks after childbirth.
• Works best if you get your injections on time. If later, use condoms and return for an injection as soon as possible.

What to expect

• Irregular bleeding at first, then spotting or no monthly bleeding. This is common and safe.
• Possible slight weight change.
• After stopping injections, it can take several months to become pregnant.

Key points

• Does not cause infertility.
• Be sure to get next injection on time.
• Use condoms if you need protection from STIs or HIV/AIDS.

3. MALE CONDOM 

• Prevents both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections including
  HIV/AIDS
• Effective when used correctly every time you have sex
• Easy to get and use a Male condom
• Prevents both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections including
  HIV/AIDS
• Effective when used correctly every time you have sex.

4. IMPLANTS 

What it is?

• Small tubes placed under the skin of inner, upper arm.
• Hormones from the tubes blocks sperm from reaching egg and prevent release of egg.

How to use?

• Specially trained provider inserts and removes implants.
• Nothing to remember to do after insertion.

What to expect?

• Changes in monthly bleeding including irregular bleeding, spotting,
  heavier bleeding or no monthly bleeding, are common and safe.

Key points

• Use another method if waiting for appointment.
• Use condoms if you need protection from STIs or HIV/AIDS.

5. IUD

• Safe to use
• One of the most effective methods
• Can be used for up to 10 years
• Can be removed any time if you already want to get pregnant.

What it is?
Small, flexible, plastic “T” wrapped in copper wire that is placed in the
womb to Prevents sperm from meeting the egg.

How to use

• Specially trained provider inserts and removes IUD.
• Can be put in right after you have a baby as well as at other times.
• Nothing to remember to do after insertion.

What to expect

• Some cramping and heavier bleeding during monthly bleeding in the first
  few months of use.

Key points

• Use another method if waiting for appointment.
• Use condoms if you need protection from STIs or HIV/AIDS.

6.   FEMALE STERILIZATION 

• Safe and permanent method for women or couples who will not want
  more children
• One of the most effective methods
• Simple operation Female sterilization

What it is?

A Specially trained provider makes one or two small cuts to reach the tubes that carry eggs to the womb and cuts or blocks the tubes, the womb is not removed. This can be done right after you have a baby as well as other times.

What to expect

• After procedure, nothing to remember and no side effects
• Do not need to be put to sleep during procedure.
• Usually you can go home a few hours after procedure.
• May have soreness for a few days after procedure.
• Monthly bleeding will continue as usual for you.

Key points

• Permanent method.
• Use condoms if you need protection from STIs or HIV/AIDS.

7.    VASECTOMY

• Safe and permanent method for men or couples who will not want more children
• One of the most effective methods
• Simple operation
• Must use back-up method for first 3 months.

What it is
A specially trained provider makes two small cuts to reach the tubes that carry sperm and Cuts tubes. Testicles are not removed, It works by keeping sperm out of semen.

How to use

• 3-month delay in taking effect. Couple must use another method until then.
• After 3 months, nothing to remember.

What to expect

• Do not need to be put to sleep during procedure.
• Usually you can go home a few hours after procedure.
• May have bruising and soreness for a few days after procedure.

Key points

• Does not decrease sex drive, erection or ejaculation.
• Permanent method.
•  Use condoms if you need protection from STIs or HIV/AIDS.

8. BREASTFEEDING METHOD LACTATIONAL AMENORRHEA METHOD (LAM) 

• Safe with no side-effects
• Effective if: – you are breastfeeding often, day and night, and giving no other food or liquids
•  Your baby is less than 6 months old, and your monthly bleeding has not
  returned.

What it is?

• Breastfeeding in a way that prevents pregnancy.
• Prevents release of egg.

How to use:

• Breastfeed often, day and night (breastfeed fully or nearly fully) and give no other food or liquids.
• If you breastfeed less, your monthly bleeding starts, or it is 6 months after you have had your baby, the method will not work.

What to expect

• No monthly bleeding.

Key points

• Very effective for 6 months if fully or nearly fully breastfeeding
• Have another method ready to start at 6 months or before, if monthly bleeding returns or breastfeeding decreases
• Use condoms if you need protection from STIs or HIV/AIDS.

9. WITHDRAWAL

What it is?

• The man withdraws his penis from his partner’s vagina and ejaculates
  outside the vagina.
• Works by keeping sperm out of the woman’s body.

How to use?

• When the man feels he is close to ejaculation he withdraws his penis from the woman’s vagina.

What to expect?

• Learning to do this correctly can take time.
• May not be good for men who ejaculate quickly.

Key points

• Other methods provide greater protection from pregnancy for most
  people.
• Emergency contraceptive pills can be used if ejaculation occurs before withdrawal.
• Use condoms if you need protection from STIs or HIV/AIDS

10. EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS 

What it is?

•  Pills taken after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.
• Prevents or delays release of egg.
• Does not cause abortion.

What to expect?

• Sometimes cause nausea, vomiting, vaginal spotting or bleeding for a
  few days.

Key points

• Does not prevent pregnancy the next time