Family planning

Family planning is the deliberate control of whether and when to have children. It includes contraception, fertility care, and counseling.

Contraception: Methods and devices used to prevent pregnancy. It is the most common way to plan whether and when pregnancy occurs.
Hormonal contraception: Pregnancy prevention using hormones that suppress ovulation or alter reproductive conditions. It can prevent ovulation and make fertilization less likely.
Maternal health: The health of people during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Pregnancy timing and spacing can influence health risks and care needs.
Abortion: The ending of a pregnancy before birth. It concerns decisions after pregnancy begins, rather than preventing or pursuing conception.
Emergency contraception: Methods used after sex to reduce the chance of pregnancy. It offers a time-sensitive option when regular contraception was absent or failed.
Intrauterine device: A contraceptive device placed inside the uterus. It provides long-acting pregnancy prevention without daily action.
Unintended pregnancy: A pregnancy that occurs when it was not wanted or was mistimed. Preventing or addressing unintended pregnancy is a central aim of family planning.
Pronatalism: Policies or beliefs that encourage people to have more children. It contrasts with approaches centered on individuals’ preferred family size.
Fertility treatment: Medical interventions that help people achieve pregnancy. It supports family-building when conception is difficult.
Barrier contraception: Methods that physically block sperm from reaching an egg. Barrier methods prevent sperm transport and can be used at each sexual encounter.

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