Oral contraceptives. Introduced in 1960, "the Pill" has played an instrumental role in family planning for nearly fifty years, preventing countless pregnancies and helping to control the timing of others in large numbers; by some estimates, eight out of ten women in the United States use it at some point in their lives.
Family planning is often used as a euphemism for birth control, though its connotations are somewhat different. It is most usually applied to the circumstance of a monogamous heterosexual couple who wish to limit their number of children, to control the timing of pregnancy (also known as spacing children), or both. Inherent in the idea is that the couple does have at least one child, that is, they use birth control to plan, not to prevent, a family.
Family planning may include more or less permanent abstinence, or the marginally effective withdrawal method, or methods of sexual satisfaction other than genital intercourse, More commonly, however, it is considered to be a system that allows a couple to have sexual intercourse on a long-term, regular basis, during which the man normally reaches orgasm and ejaculation in the woman's vagina, while nevertheless sharply and reliably reducing the chance that she will become pregnant until such time as the couple wish. Family planning thus often incorporates methods of birth control that either prevent fertilization or work after fertilization to prevent the implantation of an embryo. The essence of family planning, then, is to make intercourse purely a means of expressing love, building stability in the relationship, and sharing physical pleasure, and not a means of reproducing (except at particular, chosen times.)
Contraceptives should be provided to clients in accordance with approved method-specific guidelines and by service providers who have been trained in the provision of that method.
All clients who choose a family planning method should be informed of the appropriate follow up requirements and encouraged to return to the service provider should they have any concerns. Service providers should follow the established referral system when making client referrals.
All family planning service providers should maintain adequate records to identify each client, the type of contraception provided and any special circumstances associated with its provision.
Supervision is an essential component of program evaluation. It helps ensure that the needs of clients are being met and service delivery guidelines are being followed. The supervisor is a team member who promotes staff motivation, helps in problem solving and ensures that the rights of service providers and clients are observed.
Maintenance of an effective logistic and supply system helps staff at service delivery points (SDPs) avoid both understocking and overstocking. In order to maintain quality services, SDP staff should adhere to procedures for proper storage and handling of contraceptive commodities as well as other supplies. Culled from: http://www.reproline.jhu.edu/english/6read/6multi/sdg/cfps.htm
