Family planning is the consideration of the number of children a person wishes to have, including the choice to have no children, and the age at which they wish to have them. Things that may play a role on family planning decisions include marital situation, career or work considerations, financial situations.

According to the World Health Organization, family planning allows people to try to attain their desired number of children, if any, and to determine the ideal spacing of their pregnancies. 1 Whether it’s done purposefully or subconsciously, family planning has helped countless women and families, regardless of their situation or their desire to have children.

Family planning allows people to attain their desired number of children, if any, and to determine the spacing of their pregnancies. It is achieved through use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of infertility.

The objectives of family planning involve timing the first pregnancy, planning the spacing between births, and limiting family size. T here are different contraceptive methods and treatments for infertility that can be used to achieve the objectives of family planning.