Family Planning | Infant Mortality Network

Family planning services help individuals determine the number and spacing of their children. This promotes positive birth outcomes and healthy families. The Texas Department of State Health Services helps fund over 300 clinic sites across the state that provide quality, comprehensive, low-cost, and easily accessible reproductive health care to women and men.

Why is family planning important?

There are a lot of good reasons to practice family planning. It can help to make you:

Healthier – Mothers and babies are both healthier when there are at least 2-3 years between the birth of each child.

Happier – Families are usually happier when both mother and father are ready to welcome a new baby into the home.

Better Educated – Learning to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and identifying illnesses such as breast, cervical, and testicular cancer.

More Prepared – Deciding when to have children allows time to prepare. This may include finishing school or obtaining a job that provides enough money to support a family.

Birth Control Methods

Abstinence

Effectiveness (chances of NOT getting pregnant): 100%

What is Abstinence?

Refraining from vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse.

Advantages of Abstinence:

No risk of unintended pregnancy.

No risk of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease.

Opportunities to express feelings and affection for another in other ways.

Disadvantages of Abstinence:

Both partners must agree to honor this choice.

Partners must have excellent communication skills; yes must mean yes and no must mean no.

May need emergency contraceptive method if this method fails.

How do I decide?

Are you comfortable expressing your feelings for another in nonsexual ways?

Is your partner in agreement?

Does this method fit with your religious or moral beliefs?

Is abstinence the best decision for you?

Do you want to discuss this method with your clinician, family planning clinic staff, husband, partner, friend, or family member?

Condom (Male)

Effectiveness (chances of NOT getting pregnant): 86 – 97%

What is a male condom?

Made out of latex (rubber), but polyurethane and tactylon (both plastic) are available.

Over the counter barrier method of birth control.

Advantages of the male condom:

Easy to get and relatively inexpensive.

Can be discontinued at any time.

Provides some protection from sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.

Reliable method for people who cannot use hormonal birth control methods.

Responsibility of both partners.

Can be purchased without a prescription.

Does not interfere with breast-feeding.

Disadvantages of the male condom; you may experience the following:

Non-cooperative partner.

Some irritation or sensitivity to latex.

Difficulty using condoms correctly.

Must use a new condom with every sex act.

Some men say it reduces sexual feelings.

Must be rolled onto an erect penis before sexual intercourse, can interrupt foreplay.

Spillage or leaking of sperm is possible if condom is put on or removed incorrectly.

How Should I decide?

Will you remember to use it every time you have sex?

Will your partner be cooperative in the use of this method?

Can you or your partner maintain an erection?

Does this method fit with your religious or moral beliefs?

Is the condom the best method for you?

Do you want to discuss this method with your clinician, family planning clinic staff,
partner, friend, or family member?

Depo-Provera (“The Shot”)

Effectiveness (chances of NOT getting pregnant): More than 99%

What is Depo-Provera?

It is an injection given every 3 months.

It contains synthetic progesterone.

It stops ovulation, and/or thickens the cervical mucus to prevent sperm from passing through.

It is a reversible method of birth control given only by prescription.

Advantages of Depo-Provera:

Does not interfere with sex.

Only need to get a shot 4 times a year.

May stop menses or make them very light.

Excellent alternative for women 35 and older who smoke.

Reduces the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer.

Disadvantages of Depo-Provera:

Irregular or unpredictable bleeding or spotting.

Possible hair loss.

Weight gain, especially right after pregnancy.

It may delay your chances of getting pregnant after the shots are stopped. It can take between six and eighteen months for menstruation and ovulation to return consistently. This does not mean that you are protected from pregnancy during this time. Use alternate protection, such as condoms.

Does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

You must go to the clinic or doctor’s office 4 times a year.

How Do I Decide?

Is getting a shot a problem for you?

Do you have any medical problems that will prevent you from taking Depo-Provera?

Do you have liver disease, breast cancer or blood clots in your arms, legs or lungs?

Do you have sex frequently or not very often, if not very often do you want extra
hormones in your body all the time?

Does this method fit with your religious, or moral beliefs?

Is the Depo-Provera shot the best decision for you?

Do you want to discuss this method with your clinician, family planning clinic staff,
husband, partner, friend, or family member?

NuvaRing (“The Ring”)

Effectiveness

99% chance of NOT getting pregnant
Less than 1 per 100 women may become pregnant with proper use.

What is the NuvaRing?

The NuvaRing is a comfortable, flexible contraceptive ring that is about two inches in diameter and contains synthetic low dose hormones (progestin and estrogen); these hormones are similar to those produced by a women’s body.
The NuvaRing is placed directly into the vagina; hormones are released from the ring and are directly absorbed through the walls of the vagina then distributed into the bloodstream.
Pregnancy is prevented because the ring prevents the ovaries from producing mature eggs.
The ring is a reversible method of birth control available only by prescription.

Advantages of NuvaRing

Does not interfere with sex. Ability to remove the ring at leisure.
No need to remember to put it on daily/weekly. Month long protection (3 weeks in, 1 week out)
Exact positioning of the NuvaRing is not critical; however the ring should be placed high in the vault of the vagina.
Muscles within the vagina allow the ring to stay in place during sex and/or exercise.
Reduces menstrual flow and cramping.
Decreases acne outbreaks.
Reduces the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer.
Ability to become pregnant immediately after discontinued use, if seeking pregnancy.

Disadvantages of NuvaRing

Not a good choice if patient is uncomfortable with touching herself.
Increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots (in lungs, legs, or arms), especially if you smoke more than 15 cigarettes a day, or are over 35 and smoke.
Patient may experience vagina discomfort and discharge.
If the ring is kept out of the vagina longer than 3 hours on any day during the 21 day period (3weeks) pregnancy can occur; therefore a back-up method (condoms) is recommended for 7 days.
Does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases.

How Do I Decide?

Are you comfortable touching your genitalia to place and remove the ring?
Are you smoking more than 15 cigarettes a day? If yes this method may not be good for you.
Do you have liver disease, breast cancer and/or blood clots in lungs, legs, or arms?
Are you taking any medications that may interfere with the effectiveness of the ring? (Consult with a clinician)
Does this method fit with your religious or moral beliefs?

Ortho Evra (“The Patch”)

Effectiveness

95% – 99% chance of NOT getting pregnant
Between 1 and 5 per 100 women may become pregnant with proper use.

What is the Patch?

The Patch contains synthetic hormones (progesterone and estrogen); these hormones are similar to those produced by a women’s body.
The patch is placed directly on the skin; these hormones are released from the patch directly through the skin into the bloodstream.
Pregnancy is prevented because the patch stops ovulation and/or thickens the cervical mucus and stops sperm from passing through.
The patch is a reversible method of birth control available only by prescription.
The patch is less effective in women weighting more than 198lbs.

Advantages of the Patch

Does not interfere with sex.
No need to remember to put it on daily. Apply a new patch once a week.
Reduces menstrual flow and cramping.
Decreases acne outbreaks.
Reduces the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer.
Ability to become pregnant immediately after discontinued use, if seeking pregnancy.

Disadvantages of the Patch

May cause slight skin irritation at the patch site.
Increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots (in lungs, legs, or arms), especially if you smoke more than 15 cigarettes a day, or are over 35 and smoke.
Possible mood swings or depression.
Women are encouraged not to use creams, lotions, or oils near the patch site these agents may cause the patch to detach.
Does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
“Recent news stories overstate the blood clot risk from the Ortho Evra contraceptive patch, experts tell WebMD.” For more information visit:

How Do I Decide?

Can you remember to put on a new patch once a week?
Are you smoking more than 15 cigarettes a day? If yes this method may not be good for you.
Do you have liver disease, breast cancer and/or blood clots in lungs, legs, or arms?
Does this method fit with your religious or moral beliefs?

Oral Contraceptives (“The Pill”)

Effectiveness

95% – 99% chance of NOT getting pregnant.

Between 1-5 per 100 women may become pregnant with proper use.

What is the Pill?

Synthetic hormones (progesterone and/or estrogen) like those produced by the body to regulate the menstrual cycle.

Pregnancy is prevented because the pill stops ovulation and/or thickens the cervical
mucus by stopping sperm from passing through.

Reversible method of birth control given only by prescription.

Advantages of the Pill:

Doesn’t interfere with sex.

Regulates the menstrual cycle.

Reduces menstrual flow and cramping.

Decreases acne outbreaks.

Reduces the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer.