Family planning: 5 advantages and 5 disadvantages
The term “family planning” generally refers to methods that enable women to control their ability to become pregnant. Often, family planning refers to hormonal contraceptives such as the pill, injection contraceptives, implants. Condoms, contraceptive sponges, diaphragms and spermicide are also frequently used as family planning methods. Finally, natural birth planning, also known as the rhythm method, does not require pills, hormones or devices. On the contrary, women monitor their menstrual cycle and abstain from sex during the period when conception is more likely to occur.
I – The benefits of family planning
Here are the main benefits of family planning:
1. Beneficial for the health of woman and man
Some types of family planning involving contraceptives offer benefits to women’s health. For example, birth control pills, vaginal hormonal rings, and hormonal plaques make menstrual cycles more regular and decrease menstrual cramps.
They also reduce the likelihood that a woman will have ovarian and uterine cancer, develop pelvic inflammatory disease, develop ovarian cysts, and anemia. In addition, the use of male and female condoms reduces the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
2. The gap between pregnancies is adequate
Family planning allows couples to put the desired differences between pregnancies. For example, a couple may want to wait for their second child until their first child starts nursery school or until they have a larger home.
It also guarantees a woman’s body enough time to recover before another pregnancy.
3. The risk of unwanted pregnancy is reduced
For women and couples who do not want to have babies, family planning reduces the risk of pregnancy. For example, when used correctly, contraceptive pills are over 99% effective and condoms have 98% effectiveness to prevent pregnancy.
Family planning reduces the number of teenage pregnancies and those who can not afford to care for a baby.
4. Protects against sexually transmitted diseases
The use of male and female condoms can be very helpful in protecting both women and men against sexually transmitted infections.
By using contraceptives and appropriate pills to prevent unwanted pregnancies, one can prevent deadly sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, AIDS, etc. that affect both men and women. Studies have also shown that catching sexual diseases also causes losses on your physical health.
5. Reduces the risk of infant mortality
According to WHO, keeping a gap between two children reduces the risk of premature newborn death. Differences in deliveries help mothers return to normal health and restore nutrients lost during pregnancy.
However, when a mother gets pregnant from one year to another, she does not provide enough nutrients to the growing child.
II – Disadvantages of family planning and what to do
1. Family planning can cause a health risk
Some types of contraception pose health problems for women and men, such as allergies to spermicides or latex. For some women, oral contraceptives can lead to hair loss and weight gain, and the use of diaphragms can lead to infections of the urinary tract.
Women should provide a complete medical history when consulting on the type of family planning they should adopt to reduce the risk of health problems.
2. Family planning methods are rarely 100% effective
Apart from abstinence, there is no method of contraception, including the natural method, which is completely effective. As a result, couples may be disappointed if the woman gets pregnant unexpectedly.
Couples who have sexual activity should always consider the possibility of an unexpected pregnancy. It is also advised to use a double method such as pills and condoms.
3. To become pregnant immediately after stopping the use of the schedule family is rare
Women who stop taking contraceptive pills or stop birth control hormone injections may not be able to conceive immediately.
In some cases, it could take months to conceive, depending on the regularity of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Therefore, couples should be flexible and understand that pregnancy is not always predictable.
4. Some methods are expensive
Some types of contraceptives are expensive so some women or couples can not afford to buy them.
5. Others require too much time and attention
Others need a qualified specialist to put them on, observation and careful monitoring.
- In all cases, the benefits of contraception are superior to the disadvantages. Talk to your doctor about choosing the best method for you.
