Obstetrics and Gynecology - A. M. Hromova 2000

Modern family planning methods

Given that family planning remains one of the most pressing medico-social issues of the 20th century, the International Planned Parenthood Federation was established in 1952. Operating in over 134 countries worldwide, it is the largest non-governmental Organization holding consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council.

According to the WHO definition, family planning encompasses a set of measures aimed at simultaneously addressing several objectives:

- preventing unintended pregnancies;

- controlling the timing of a child's birth relative to the parents' age;

- regulating the intervals between pregnancies;

- having only desired children.

Currently available contraceptive agents are classified as follows:

1. Traditional contraceptive Methods: barrier (or mechanical), Spermicides (or chemical), natural (or biological), and withdrawal (coitus interruptus).

2. Modern contraceptive methods: intrauterine and hormonal.

Voluntary surgical sterilization represents a distinct approach to birth control.

A number of requirements are imposed on all contraceptives. First, they must demonstrate high contraceptive efficacy, be easy to use, affordable, aesthetic, and discreet. Second, contraceptive agents must be reversible, meaning they should ensure sterility only for the desired period.

To determine contraceptive efficacy, the Pearl index is used, which represents the number of pregnancies occurring per 100 women using a specific contraceptive method over the course of 1 year. It can be calculated using the following formula:

R = кількість зачать х 1200/час спостереження, де R - коефіцієнт вагітності.

This indicator is evaluated as follows: the lower the Pregnancy rate (R), the higher the contraceptive efficacy and reliability of the method.