It has become a common observation to everyone that what we often say is a blessing could turn to be a curse as in the case of increased population in Nigeria. Population growth has been a problematic issue all over the world, especially our country Nigeria and due to the economic situation in the country there is need to sensitize people on family planning and birth control.
Talking about birth control, which is also known as contraception and fertility control, is a method or device used to prevent pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth control only became available in the 20th century. Planning, making available, and using birth control is called family planning. Some cultures limit or discourage access to birth control because they consider it to be morally, religiously, or politically undesirable.
Family planning allows people to attain their desired number of children and determine the spacing of pregnancies, however, another question that can really come to mind is this. What is family? The World Health Organization (WHO, 2013) stated that family planning allows individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births.
Women, men, or couples can choose from many contraceptive methods to help them plan their family and prevent an unplanned pregnancy. They need to know that if they are having sex regularly and do not use a contraceptive method, about 8 of every 10 women will become pregnant during the next 12 months.
Do not get confused on which method to use for your family planning or contraception. The below is the method of family planning.
Hormonal
These methods contain hormones called estrogen and progestin that are similar to the estrogen and progesterone a woman makes in her own body. They include pills, injections, and implants. Hormonal methods work by preventing eggs from being released from the ovaries, thickening cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering the uterus, and thinning the lining of the uterus to prevent implantation of fertilized egg.
INTRAUTERINE CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES (IUCD)
IUCD is a type of family planning method contraceptive method in which a flexible device is inserted into the through the virgina into the uterine cavity by a trained service provider. It is a safe highly effective and long lasting type of contraceptive method.
Barrier
These are devices that attempt to prevent pregnancy by physically preventing sperm from entering the uterus. The sperm is thus blocked from reaching the egg. They include male condoms, female condoms, cervical caps, diaphragms and contraceptive sponges with spermicides. They do not change the way the woman’s or man’s body works and cause very few side effects.
Sterilization
There are operations that make it almost impossible for a man or a woman to have any children. Since these operations are permanent, they are only good for those women or men who are certain that they do not want any more children.
The surgery for the man is known as Vasectomy in which the tubes that carry the sperm from the testicles to the joystick are cut. The operation does not change a man’s ability to have sex or to feel sexual pleasure.
The surgery for the woman is known as tubal ligation and as the name implies the tubes that carry the eggs to the uterus are cut or tied. It does not change a woman’s monthly bleeding or her ability to have sex and sexual pleasure.
Natural Methods
These are methods to avoid pregnancy that does not require the use of any devices or chemicals or medicines. The methods are breastfeeding for the first 6 months also known as Lactational Amenorrhea and the fertility awareness method.
In conclusion, family planning (FP) and birth control is a key component of basic health services. It benefits the health and wellbeing of women, children, families, and their communities. Enabling couples to determine whether, when, and how often to have children is vital to safe motherhood and child health.
The social and economic benefits of family planning as discussed earlier are numerous, including the family’s ability to better support their children economically and socially, increased equality between men and women, higher productivity and better incomes, and decreased burden on the public and environmental resources.