FAMILY PLANNING

Family Planning

Family Planning

Introduction

In Spain the common perception about Family Planning is that Informed consent in family planning includes knowledge of mechanism of action. Some techniques of family planning occasionally work after fertilization. Knowing about post fertilization effects may be important to some women before choosing a certain family planning method. The objective of this survey is to explore women's attitudes towards effects of family planning methods in Spain, and beliefs and characteristics possibly associated with those attitudes.

Discussion

To ensure women's right to a free choice in family planning (FP), the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that information related to FP should include, at a minimum, the following for each method: effectiveness, correct use, mechanism of action, side-effects, health risks and benefits (Romo 2004), reversibility, and protection against sexually transmitted infections. According to obtainable evidence, some FP methods, including oral contraceptives, emergency contraception, and intrauterine devices, can act before and occasionally after fertilization. Post fertilization effects may include structural and biochemical endometrial changes as well as alterations in fallopian tube motility. These effects may prevent implantation or pre-implantation embryonic development (Romo 2004). The contribution of post fertilization effects to the overall effectiveness is potentially different for different methods. Some authors have pointed out that post fertilization effects could be an important issue for some women, especially those who believe that human life begins at fertilization. Apart from individual convictions, the preferences may differ by cultural background (Gasman 2006).

An anonymous, self-administered, 30-item questionnaire about FP methods and medical and surgical abortion was administered to participants. The questionnaire was initially developed in English and translated into Spanish. Participation in the study was solicited at healthcare centers in Pamplona. The response rate was 80%. Forty percent of women would not consider using a method that may work after fertilization but before implantation and 57% would ...