Where Women Have No Doctor - A Health Guide for Women (Hesperian Foundation, 1997, 600 p.): Chapter 13: Family Planning: Choosing the Best Method

Where Women Have No Doctor - A Health Guide for Women (Hesperian Foundation, 1997, 600 p.)

Chapter 13: Family Planning

		(introduction...)
		Benefits of Family Planning
		Is Family Planning Safe?
		Choosing to Use Family Planning
		Choosing a Family Planning Method
		Barrier Methods of Family Planning
		Hormonal Methods of Family Planning hormones
		Intra-Uterine Devices (Devices that go into the womb)
		Natural Methods of Family Planning
		Traditional and Home Methods to Prevent Pregnancy
		Permanent Methods of Family Planning
		Emergency Methods of Family Planning
		Choosing the Best Method
		Working for Change

Choosing the Best Method

After reading this chapter, if you still have questions about which family planning method is best for you, the chart below may help. It is important to choose a method that meets your needs, because then you will be likely to use it regularly and it will be more effective.

Personal Needs	You Might Prefer	You Should Probably Avoid
Your partner is not willing to take an active role in family planning.	Hormonal methods, diaphragm, female condom, IUD	Male condoms, natural methods
Other bleeding, besides your normal monthly bleeding, worries you or creates difficulties for you.	Barrier methods, IUD	Hormonal methods
You do not want any more children.	Sterilization, implants, IUD, injections	Natural methods, barrier methods
No matter what you say, your partner does not want you to use family planning.	Injections, inserts, lUDs	Barrier methods, pills, natural methods
You feel embarrassed to touch your vagina.	Hormonal methods, male condoms	Diaphragm, female condoms
You do not feel comfortable asking your partner to avoid or to interrupt sex.	IUD, hormonal methods	Barrier methods, natural methods
Your are concerned that your partner has had sex with others and may infect you with STDs	Male or female condom, or other methods combined with condoms	IUD, hormonal methods
You have more than one sex partner or have had STDs.	Male or female condom	IUD
You think you will want to have a child within a year	Male or female condom, diaphragm, natural methods, combined or progestin-only pills	IUD, injections, implants
You are breastfeeding.	IUD, male or female condoms, diaphragm with spermicide, mini pill, progestin-only injections	Combined birth control pills, injections with estrogen
You have not had a child.	Hormonal methods, barrier methods	IUD
You do not want to have to remember to do anything.	IUD, implants, injections	Birth control pills, natural methods

After you choose a new method

Figure