​​Family Planning

• About Family Planning
• Why is family planning important to you as an individual?

Birth Control Methods and Choices

• Relative Effectiveness of Birth Control Methods
• Abstinence
• Contraceptive Implant
• Intrauterine Contraception
• Progestin-only Contraceptives
• Combined Hormonal Methods
• Emergency Contraception
• Breastfeeding
• Natural Family Planning or Fertility Awareness Methods
• Barrier Methods
• Withdrawal
• No Method
• Sterilization

Making a decision about your pregnancy

• Overview
• Disclaimer
• Fetal Development
• Pregnancy
• Adoption
• Abortion Methods
• Family Planning
• Resources
• Glossary
• References

Health Provider Resources

• FAQ
• Signature Form
• ITOP Report Form (for 2023 and earlier)
• ITOP Report Form (for 2024 and later)
  
• Printable Version of the Informed Consent Website

No Method

When no method is used, the risk of an unplanned pregnancy is very high. It is expected that for every 100 sexually active women who are not using a method 85 will become pregnant within one year. Women who plan their pregnancies have a better opportunity to be in control of their health and provide for a healthy pregnancy by eating well and avoiding alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

Advantages of not using any method to avoid unplanned pregnancy include:

• There are no advantages and the risk is great.

Possible disadvantages and side effects of not using a method include:

• Dealing with many life altering consequences of an unplanned pregnancy.
• No protection from HIV/AIDS or other STDs such as Chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis, warts, hepatitis, or HPV.

Possible health risks include:

• The health risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth vary from person to person.

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