Not ready for your next pregnancy yet? Contraception or family planning are great options to consider to prevent unintended pregnancies.

Family planning is when a couple or person is able to anticipate and attain the desired number of children or space their pregnancies between each other. With our family planning services, we support your decisions about when, or if, you want to have children (or more children).

Contraceptives (contraception) are a form of birth control and used as part of family planning and have multiple methods by which a woman can prevent pregnancies. Depending on the individual, some may experience varying side effects and effectiveness.

If you are not ready for your unplanned pregnancy, we can help you find the right solution including termination of pregnancy (TOP).

Contraceptive counselling is an exchange of information between you and your healthcare provider to introduce available contraceptive methods. During these counselling sessions, you will be able to share your concerns and ask questions, and your healthcare provider will be able to discuss the pros and cons of each method. These sessions will not only provide you with accurate information about each method but will also educate you on correct and consistent method use

Contraceptive devices such as Implanon and Mirena IUD (intrauterine device) are inserted/implanted into you to release progestational hormones to prevent the sperm from reaching the egg and preventing a pregnancy. These implants can sometimes suppress ovulation as well. These implants can be removed once you are ready to have a baby with no effects on future pregnancies.

Unlike contraceptive devices, oral contraceptive pills (also known as birth control pills) are the most common method of contraception and taken orally daily at a specific time. Currently, there are three types of contraceptive pills, a) combined estrogen-progesterone, b) progesterone-only and c) continuous-use pills. Their effectiveness depends on consistent use daily at a specific time.

Tubal ligation or tubal sterilisation involved having your tubes tied up and is a form of permanent contraception/birth control and, in most cases, cannot be reversed. The fallopian tubes are either cut, tied or blocked to ensure permanent prevention of pregnancy. This procedure can be done even after childbirth or in combination with other abdominal surgeries (such as Cesarean section birth). If you wish to reverse this procedure, it will require major surgery and may not be effective.

In the event you are already pregnant and do not wish to continue with the pregnancy, we provide termination of pregnancy (TOP) services.

Benefits of using contraceptives:

• Reduce pregnancy-related risks
• Reduce teenage pregnancy
• Healthy babies (prevent pregnancies that are too close together or poorly timed)

Benefits of family planning:

• Allows a couple to have children (or more children) when they are ready
• Gives mothers more time with their husband and children
• Gives mothers enough time for treatment and recovery if they are suffering from any illnesses or injury
• Lightens the burden on fathers’ responsibility in supporting their family