Family Planning Services

The term “family planning” might have several definitions depending on the way you look at it. In many cases, it refers to the public health service aimed at decreasing unwanted pregnancies and helping women control if and when they have children. And it is true there are governmental agencies as well as other organizations that provide family planning services for little or no cost to women who meet certain qualifications. However, family planning services are not just those public health services available through special programs.

The broader definition of the term covers any services that allow women to control when she gets pregnant if she wishes to get pregnant at all. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, about 45% of all pregnancies each year in the US are unintended. Family planning is all about empowering women to make conscious choices about their reproductive health. Any woman can get family planning services from her OB/GYN. But what kinds of things are included in the broader definition of family planning services?

General Reproductive Health
Many women’s health services may be considered a part of family planning. Things like pelvic exams, pap smears, pregnancy testing, counseling, and breast exams are all things your OB/GYN routinely provides. They are also part of family planning. The health of your reproductive system is a critical part of planning for future pregnancies.

Birth Control
Birth control counseling and management is often what most people associate with family planning. And while the term is often used to describe this particular service, it is not sole purpose of family planning services. However, birth control in any form is a key part of family and pregnancy planning because it provides women with more options. OB/GYNs can give counseling on all types of hormonal or non-hormonal birth control including:

Oral contraceptives
Barrier contraceptives
Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
Contraceptive implants
Other hormonal options (skin patches or vaginal rings)
Natural methods
Fertility Awareness

Fertility awareness is a type of birth control. However, rather than a prescribed medication or device, it is a method. Fertility awareness is also called natural family planning (NFP), or the rhythm method. There are different methods people follow including the Sympto-Thermal Method, the Ovulation Method, and the Billings Method.

These methods may vary in some ways, but the general idea is the same. A woman’s menstrual cycle is tracked to determine the days she is most likely to get pregnant each month. For a couple wanting to prevent pregnancy, they will then practice what is called periodic abstinence on those days and not have sex.

Pregnancy Spacing
Pregnancy spacing is another important part of family planning services. Pregnancy spacing is sometimes called birth spacing, or inter-pregnancy interval. How soon a woman gets pregnant again after a prior pregnancy can have an impact on both maternal and infant health. According to the March of Dimes, it’s best to wait 18 months between giving birth and getting pregnant again. Too little time between pregnancies increases the risks of premature birth.

Other aspects of family planning, like birth control counseling or fertility awareness, can help with pregnancy spacing. Birth spacing may also be a factor for women who have had difficulty getting pregnant or for women older than 35. The 18-month window may not be right for those women. That’s pregnancy spacing is an important part of family planning.

Assisted Reproductive Technology
Actual fertility treatments or ART procedures don’t really fall under the umbrella of family planning services. These services wouldn’t be covered by insurance as part of an appointment for pregnancy planning. Government or low/no-cost programs do not include fertility treatments as part of their family planning services. However, seeing your OB/GYN will likely be one of the first things you do when you are having difficulty conceiving. And any service that involves discussion or counseling on planning to have a baby qualifies as pregnancy planning, so we’re including it here. Many OB/GYN practices offer fertility evaluations and some offer treatment. Sometimes your doctor will refer you to a fertility specialist for further evaluation and treatment.