What Are the Benefits of Family Planning in the

Philippines?
Family planning in the Philippines is a relatively new development in this predominantly Catholic
country. Because of heavily entrenched Catholic beliefs, family planning--the idea that women get
pregnant when they want to--has had many detractors. However, there is now an increasing number of
advocates preaching the benefits of family planning and urging the government to implement family
planning policies.

History
1. The Catholic church's influence in the Philippines has prevented many from seeking family
planning advice and methods. Since the late 1970s, the population in the Philippines has doubled.
Since 2001, the population has jumped from 77 million to 90 million, according to the Wall
Street Journal. If access to family planning does not increase, says Population Action
International, the population is expected to rise to 170 million in the next 30 years. Today,
advocates are reaching out to the government to educate the public about family planning and
implement family planning programs. Along with the economic benefits of family planning, it
also reduces maternal deaths, enables women to work outside the home and socialize with others.

Economic Benefits
2. The Philippines, which is already experiencing a serious rice shortage, would be able to decrease
its dependence on foreign imports such as rice with fewer mouths to feed. Additionally, the
Philippine government would be able to save millions in state revenue that would otherwise go
toward addressing unintended pregnancies. The government spends 8.2 billion Philippine pesos
in medical care for unintended pregnancies. If family planning were put in effect, it would only
spend 0.6 billion Philippine pesos on unintended pregnancies and 4 billion on contraceptive
services and supplies. That is a savings of almost 4 billion Philippine pesos.

Reducing Maternal Deaths

3. Many women die from pregnancy (or delivery) because they are too young (under 18 years old),
too old (older than 35 years), have pregnancies that are too close to each other (less than 3 years
apart) or have had too many pregnancies. According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, as many as
2,100 maternal deaths in the Philippines each year could be prevented with family planning. It
could also prevent deaths related to ill-health resulting from unintended pregnancies. About 4,000
women die in the Philippines each year because of pregnancy-related causes.

Work Benefits
4. According to Family Health International, family planning users are more likely to work than
non-users because it gives women the time to seek work opportunities outside the home. Women
in the Philippines have said that larger family size increase their household responsibilities and
make them unable to seek paid work. More children also require more income, thus a vicious
cycle is formed. Filipina women said they need more money to care for their children, but more
 children prevent them from seeking work opportunities. Family planning provides a solution to
both issues.

Social Benefits
5. Women in the Philippines who use family planning are more likely to join community activities,
religious organizations and take part in community projects, the Family Health Organization says.
Filipina women say these activities enabled them to socialize, interact with peers and generally
raised their self-esteem. Family planning also increased their status at home, with many Filipina
women saying they are equal decision-makers, enabling them to work and travel outside their
communities.

Different Methods of Family Planning

Types
1. Family planning can be achieved through abstinence, barrier methods of birth control, condoms,
oral contraceptives, sterilization, insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD), withdrawal, hormone
shots and implants and contraceptive patches and rings. If unprotected sex has already taken
place, a woman can prevent pregnancy by taking emergency contraceptive pills. Barrier methods
include cervical caps and diaphragms--also known as female condoms. An IUD can contain
hormones or just be made of copper. Natural family planning is when a woman tracks her
menstrual cycle and avoids intercourse on her fertile days.

Function
2. The purpose of family planning is to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. Barrier methods of birth
control block sperm from reaching the egg, preventing fertilization. Male condoms prevent sperm
from even touching the vagina. Oral contraceptives release synthetic hormones that either stop
ovulation or create a cervical mucous barrier that sperm can’t penetrate. Patches, shots, rings and
implants work the same way but use different ways of ingesting the hormones. An IUD creates a
hostile environment for sperm, and emergency contraceptive pills interfere with an egg's
development. Natural family planning is achieved by avoiding intercourse on a woman's fertile
days. This can be calculated by tracking vaginal discharge or body temperature.

Effects
3. Side effects may be common with methods of birth control containing hormones. Certain oral
contraceptives may cause bloating, weight gain and increased risk of blood clots. Emergency
contraceptive pills may cause nausea, vomiting or ectopic pregnancy, and may affect the duration
of the next menstrual cycle. Male and female sterilization are permanent methods of birth control
but neither negatively affect the body.

Benefits
 4. Besides protecting against unwanted pregnancy, condoms, spermicides and cervical caps may
decrease risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease. Many methods of family planning are
effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy. Hormone shots, female and male sterilization, IUDs,
hormone implants and rings are more than 98 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. Natural
family planning can be effective, but you have to be diligent about tracking the menstrual cycle.

Considerations
5. It can be difficult to choose the right method of family planning for you. Decide whether you
want one or more kids in the future. Do you want something permanent or something that will
last for a few years? Do you want to avoid synthetic hormones? Can you remember to take a pill
every day--at the same time of day? Know that the only 100 percent effective method of birth
control is abstinence and most others don't prevent against STDs. Talk to your physician about
which method would be best for your family.

Natural Family Planning Method: The Different Method

Four Basic Methods

Sperm can live from two to seven days in a woman's reproductive
system, and an egg can live from one to three days (usually 24 hours). Your unsafe period
(the time period in which you can get pregnant) lasts for about nine days. These methods
use that information for birth control purposes.

Basal Body Temperature Method

A woman's body temperature varies throughout her menstrual cycle. This
temperature variation is mediated by the hormone progesterone and, to a minor
extent, the hormone LH. You can use this information to predict ovulation.
Using a special thermometer, called a basal body
thermometer, you must take your temperature every morning BEFORE getting
out of bed and record this on a chart (such as the one below). Your
temperature rises between 0.4°F and 0.8°F on the day of ovulation. (Your
temperature will begin to rise on Day 13 of a 28 day cycle and continue to
rise until approximately day 15 - these are the three days you are
COMPLETELY UNSAFE.) From the day after ovulation until a few days
before your period, it will remain elevated. Your temperature will begin to
drop a few days before your period. You should refrain from intercourse seven days before the
temperature rise until four days after.

Just because temperature changes are very accurate in predicting the day of ovulation, they do not
predict it before it happens. To be completely safe, you should consider unsafe days from the first day
of your period until the fourth day after the temperature rise. Don't forget, sperm can live up to
seven days after intercourse.

You can use Ovulation predictor kits with the temperature charts to more accurately pinpoint your day of
ovulation. They work by detecting the small amounts of LH that is present in the urine before
ovulation. There is a rise in the amount of LH in the body approximately 24 hours before ovulation.
This increase is registered by a color change. You must follow manufacturer's directions precisely to
get the best results.

Cervical Mucus Method

Cervical Mucus has regular, cyclic pattern changes. The cycle starts with the beginning of a
period and ends at the beginning of the next period. Normally cloudy and tacky, it becomes
clear and slippery (similar to egg whites) before ovulation. It will also be stretchy between
your fingers (spinnbarkeit). To use these changes for birth control, you must be religious in
observing YOUR pattern changes. Beginning with your
period, the days you are having your period are considered unsafe because the
blood can disguise changes in the mucus pattern. After your period, you may have
a few days when there is no mucus. These are called dry days and are safe. The
amount of mucus then begins to increase once the egg starts to ripen. Mucus will
be cloudy, sticky and white to yellowish in color. These are also safe days. Then
the mucus changes to the slippery, clear pattern a few days before ovulation. This
is the beginning of an unsafe (THE MOST UNSAFE) time. The amount of mucus
becomes the greatest just before ovulation. The mucus may suddenly become
cloudy and sticky again. It also may completely disappear just before your period. From the beginning
of the change in your mucus pattern until it disappears or changes (four days after the greatest volume)
are the days you must not have intercourse. Once you are familiar with the mucus changes, you then
only need to watch for changes until you are sure that you have ovulated.

Calendar Method
This method is also known as the 'Rhythm Method' or fondly as 'Baby Roulette'.

You must chart your menstrual cycles on a calendar for several months. If
your periods are the SAME LENGTH every month, you may be able to predict
the day of ovulation. Your 'unsafe days' are both BEFORE and AFTER
ovulation. Because the egg lives for 24 hours, sperm need to either be there
to meet it or arrive shortly after ovulation for you to get pregnant. You are
unsafe from 7 days before your day of ovulation to 4 days after ovulation.
This is because sperm can live up to seven days in you. They have consistently
been found alive and well five days after intercourse.

Post Ovulation Method

PREDICTING YOUR OVULATION DAY
 Ovulation ALWAYS occurs 12-16 DAYS BEFORE YOUR
PERIOD (Usually 14 days). Based on the average of
14 days, you MAY be able to predict the day you will
ovulate. Counting backwards to Day 14 gives you your
probable ovulation day. Because the egg lives for 24
hours, sperm need to either be there to meet it or
arrive shortly after ovulation. Sperm can live up to
seven days after intercourse. The Chart may help
you find your Ovulation Day. This is not an absolute
prediction of your ovulation day, but based on the 14
day method of calculating.

Artificial Family Planning Methods

Condoms: Condoms are the most commonly used male contraceptive to escape pregnancy.
Using condoms during sexual intercourse acts like a barrier for sperms to enter the vagina,
thus restricting their contact with the egg. In recent times, even female condoms are
available in the market. Along with birth control, a condom also helps in the prevention of
sexually transmitted diseases. There have been cases where condoms have failed to avoid
pregnancy, but this is mostly due to defective condoms or incorrect use of the condom.

Birth Control and Emergency Pills: Another method of artificial family planning is the use
of birth control pills by women. Birth control pills also known as oral contraceptives, stop the
development of the egg and also helps in the thickening of the cervical mucus in the uterus,
thus restricting the passage of the sperms to the egg. This can be an effective method if the
pills are taken regularly and in the correct manner. If contraceptives do not work out,
another way of precluding pregnancy is to take emergency contraceptive pills. If a couple
has indulged in unsafe sex, the woman can take emergency pills to reduce the chances of
getting pregnant.

Intrauterine device (IUD): The IUD or Copper T as it is commonly known is a very

convenient, safe and reversible method of family planning which does not require a daily
routine. It is a small device made of metal, copper or plastic that is inserted into the uterus
of a woman of reproductive age, for as long as she does not want a pregnancy. Normally
once it is inserted, it stays in place for 5 to 10 years and inhibits the entry of sperms into the
inner recesses of the vagina and also prevents fertilization. It is the most popular and widely
used female contraceptive method . The IUD should be inserted and removed (when
pregnancy is desired) by a qualified medical practitioner, to avoid complications.

Sterilization: refers to permanent contraception by surgical procedures, to avoid future

pregnancies. It is a method of birth control suited for couples who do not want to have any
more children or couples who don't want to have even a single child. Vasectomy is the
procedure for men and tubectomy or tubal ligation for women. It is by far the safest and
most effective method of pregnancy control, though irreversible. Sterilizing is done
permanently and is a full proof method.

Artificial family planning methods, like IUDs or contraceptives to postpone or avoid a

pregnancy are effective, if used in the correct manner. However, these methods can cause
certain side effects, especially oral contraceptives. Women who take birth control pills may
experience nausea, weight gain, vomiting, ectopic pregnancy, etc. Regular use of
contraceptive pills may also make conception difficult, if couples want to have a baby later.
Sometimes over use of birth control pills can lead to infertility in women. One of the
problems with condoms is that they are made of latex and people who have latex allergy are
not able to use them.

Any method of family planning, be it natural or artificial, does not affect the sex life of the
couple. However, no method is full proof and there have been rare cases where women have
become pregnant even after using contraception. So, the best way would be consult one's
gynecologist for the appropriate family planning method to stay away from a pregnancy that
is undesirable.