Why is family planning so important?

macfranc007 November 09, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Vivian Falae

Family planning is the essential pillar of any family, as well as a useful tool for many women. Today, we are going to talk about the importance of family planning with the emphasis on the women. Continue reading to find out what family planning actually is, what types there are and why it is important for women.

Importance of family planning to the mother

What is family planning?

According to the Wikipedia family planning definition, it is a practice that allows one to control the amount of children and the time between the births. In other words, it is a way for a woman to decide whether she wants to have children, how many children she wants to have and when.

In general, family planning includes such practices as the use of contraception, reproductive education, family counselling, infertility management and so on. However, most of the time the term ‘family planning’ is used as a synonym (or rather euphemism) of contraception. Therefore, we are going to consider them interchangeable in our article.

Despite being around for many years, family planning is not present everywhere. For instance, family planning in Nigeria is only beginning to find its footing, as the country is torn between democratic and religious views. In some countries, some forms of it are prohibited or even punishable. Nevertheless, the situation with contraception and reproductive awareness has significantly improved over the last few centuries.

Types of family planning

There are tons of different family planning methods out there. Here are the most popular options:

Hormonal birth control. This is one of the most popular, reliable and accessible forms of family planning. Women that go for this option either take contraceptive pills every day or get an injection every three months. By introducing new hormones to the body, these contraceptives reduce the chance of pregnancy to less than 1%. However, one missed pill/injection can ruin everything.
Reversible contraception with a long-lasting effect. If you cannot trust yourself to take the pill regularly, or do not plan to have kids in the nearest future, then consider this option. You can go for an implant form of contraception that can last you for up to five years or for an intra uterine device that can last for up to twelve years.
Barrier contraception. This form of family planning creates a physical barrier that prevents the sperm from penetrating the egg. Such contraceptives include condoms (both male and female), cervical caps, diaphragms, etc. They also prevent most of the sexually transmitted diseases.

Emergency contraception. Almost every woman has heard the term ‘morning after pill’ at least once in her life. This is a way to avoid an unwanted pregnancy if other forms of contraception somehow did not work. It is only fit for emergencies (hence the name) and should not be used very often.
Natural family planning. This type mostly relies on how much a woman knows her body. This involves tracking ovulation and menstruation in order to choose ‘safe’ days for intercourse. It is much riskier than all the other methods but popular nonetheless (especially in the countries where other methods of contraception are prohibited).
Permanent contraception. If a woman decides not to have kids in the future and is certain that she will not change her mind, she can opt for surgical sterilisation, or tubal litigation. After the operation, she will never be able to have kids again.

These days, women have many types of family planning to choose from, depending on their goals and preferences. But why is family planning so important? What benefits does it have? Let’s talk about that.

Benefits of family planning

Family planning is a very important instrument in controlling the size of the population or reducing infant mortality. But what are the advantages of family planning for women specifically? Let’s see:

For some women, pregnancies can be dangerous. Therefore, family planning is vital for them. It helps women avoid any health risks that are related to pregnancy, including the side effects of early or late childbearing, issues connected to poor spacing between births and even the risk of unsafe abortions.
Some forms of family planning can help in prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. They can also help women that are already infected to avoid getting pregnant and transmitting the disease to their child.
At the same time, other forms of family planning can normalise the hormone levels in a woman’s body. This means a stable menstrual cycle, less dramatic mood swings and much clearer skin.

One of the biggest reasons why family is important is the fact that it can prevent underage girls from getting pregnant. Girls that give birth in their teenage years have greater risks of harming their own health and the health of the baby. Moreover, they often have to abandon their education in order to take care of the child, which negatively affects the prospects of such family.
Most importantly, family planning allows women to decide for themselves whether they want children or not. With family planning, they can control the size of their family and devote more attention to themselves and their loved ones.

Family planning gives women control over their own bodies and reproductive organs. It also provides them with important information on how it all works, which is a benefit in itself. This gives them power to live their own lives the way they want to. Women who opt for family planning can pursue education, build careers and engage in social activities without worrying about their (future) children.
And last, but definitely not least, family planning can make intimate life less stressful and much more enjoyable. When a couple does not have to worry about whether their most recent intercourse will result in an unplanned baby, they can have way more fun in bed.

As you can see, family planning is a very important and beneficial practice for any woman out there. It is something that should be easily accessible for everyone, and we hope that it soon will be. So go ahead and educate yourself further on the topic of family planning. Good luck!