198 Family Planning
As well as saving lives, family planning has other benefits
Mothers and babies
will be healthier,
because risky
pregnancies are
avoided.
Fewer children means more
food for each child.
Waiting to have children can allow
young women and men time to
complete their education.
Fewer children can mean
more time for yourselves
and your children.
Family planning can also help you and your partner enjoy sex more, because
you are not afraid of unwanted pregnancy. And some methods have other health
benefits. For example, condoms can help protect against the spread of sexually
transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. Hormonal methods can help with irregular
bleeding and pain during a woman’s monthly bleeding.
All of the family planning methods found in this chapter
are used safely by millions of women.
On page 201 there is a chart that shows how well each
method works to prevent pregnancy and to protect against
STIs. The chart also shows the possible side effects for each
method and other important information about how the
method must be used. Each method has stars to show how
well it prevents pregnancy. Some methods have fewer stars
because they are often used incorrectly. When a man and
a woman use a method correctly every time they have sex,
the method will work better.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012