Family Planning | Biology Class 12 - NEET PDF Download

What is Family Planning?

The family planning programs were initiated in India in 1951 and were periodically assessed over the past decades. The programmes were improved and covered reproduction-related areas under the popular name Reproductive and Child Healthcare (RCH) programmes. It was launched in 1997.

This approach is devised for the wellness of women and her family, globally. Various contraceptive methods help in dealing with unwanted pregnancies. Few other schemes under family planning are – awareness and the protection against sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS. 

Family planning refers to practices that help individuals to attain certain objectives:

• To avoid unwanted Births
• To Bring about wanted birth
• To regulate the interval between pregnancies
• To determine the number of children in the family India is the first country in the world to launch a family planning programme in 1952. In 1977 it changed into a family welfare programme "To improve the quality of life of people."

Small family norm
1970  slogan was – ‘‘Do ya Teen Bas’’
1980  slogan was – ‘‘Sons or Daughter - Two will do’’   ‘‘Second after 3 years’’.

Major Tasks of RCH Program

• Creating awareness among the people about reproduction related aspects.
• Providing facilities and support for building up a reproductively healthy society. Governmental and non-governmental agencies have taken various important steps to create awareness among people about reproduction-related aspects.
• In schools, introducing sex education is a good step to provide the right information for adolescents to discourage them from believing in myths and misconceptions about sex-related issues. Adolescents should be informed about reproductive organs, adolescence and related changes, safe and hygienic sexual practices, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), AIDS, etc.
• Married couples or those in the marriageable age group should be educated about available birth control options, care of pregnant mothers, postnatal care of the mother and child, the importance of breastfeeding, equal opportunities for the male and the female child, etc. This will lead to the formation of socially conscious healthy families of the desired size.
• Successful implementation of action plans like providing medical assistance and care to reproduction-related problems, pregnancy, delivery, STDs, abortions, contraception, menstrual problems, infertility, etc., needs strong support and infrastructural facilities.
• Statutory Ban on Amniocentesis: It is a prenatal diagnostic technique in which a sample of amniotic fluid is taken from the uterus of a pregnant woman to detect the early development of the foetus. The benefits of amniocentesis are the diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities and developmental disorders of the foetus. However, it is being misused for the sex-determination of a foetus that leads to female foeticides. Therefore, the statutory ban on amniocentesis for sex determination keeps checking on female foeticides.

Contraceptive Method

Methods which prevent unwanted birth or pregnancies are called contraceptive methods. (two types)

• Temporary method or spacing method
• Permanent or Terminal method

1. Chemical Method

In this method, chemicals are used which are spermicidal agent or surface-active agents which attach themselves to spermatozoa and inhibit O₂ uptake and kill sperm.

Example: 
Vaginal Foam/tablets = 'Today'

Cream or Jelly = ‘‘Nim – 76’’, (DIPAS)

These medicines are composed of chemicals like ZnSO₄, KMnO₄, Boric acid, Lactic acid, Citric acid. These chemicals completely destroy sperm so they are called spermicides. 

2. Mechanical or Barrier Method

Ovum and sperms are prevented from physically meeting with the help of barriers.

For Males: 
Condom - Made up of latex. They also act as a barrier between sperm and egg hence fertilization is absent. Protection from contracting STDs and AIDS.

For Female: 

Intra Uterine Devices (IUD): 
These devices are inserted by doctors or expert nurses in the uterus through vagina.

IUCD – Intra Uterine Contraceptive Devices:

Cu made IUCD are used.

IUDs are available as

• Non-medicated IUDs (e.g. Lippes loop)
• Copper releasing IUDs (CuT, Cu7, Multiload 375)
• Hormone releasing IUDs (Progestasert, LNG-20)

Mechanism:

IUDs increase phagocytosis of sperms within the uterus and the Cu ions released suppress sperm motility and the fertilising capacity of sperms. The hormone-releasing IUDs in addition, make the uterus unsuitable for implantation and the cervix hostile to the sperms. IUDs are ideal contraceptives for females who want to delay pregnancy and/or space children. It is one of the most widely accepted methods of contraception in India.

3. Hormonal Method

This is the most effective method (almost 100% effective)

Most widely used contraceptive method. In this method, oral pills and injections are used.

Female Oral Pills

• Mala–N, Mala–D – Daily oral pills
• Saheli – Weekly oral pills. Non-steroidal pill. (Mfd. by Hindustan Latex Ltd.)
• Quinestrol – Monthly The daily oral pills are started from 5^th day of Menstruation cycle for 1 to 21 days Hormonal pills are given and Iron or Fe pills are given in last 7 days for recovery of blood loss in menstruation flow.

In the composition of an oral pill

• Norethisterone acetate (Synthetic progesterone) 
• Ethynyl estradiol (Synthetic Estrogen) 

Mechanism: The action of oral pill is to prevent the Ovulation from ovary this is achieved by blocking the pituitary secretion of gonadotropin (FSH and LH) that is necessary for ovulation. Progesterone only preparations render the cervical mucosa thick and scanty this inhibit sperm penetration. So fertilization is absent.

Male Pill

Gossypol – Made from cotton seeds. This pill prevents spermatogenesis. Now it has been banned because it causes permanent azospermia (preventing spermatogenesis) Progesterone hormone can be used in male oral pills.

Injection 

– DMPA – (depot – medroxyprogesterone acetate) (Depot = slow release) Subcutaneous injection/ Norplant.

In these injections, a high level of progesterone Hormone is present which Inhibit the secretion of gonadotropins so ovulation is absent.

4. Natural Method

• Rhythm or Periodic abstinence method –  I^st 7 days after Menstruation Cycle (M.C.) and 7 days before M.C. is called safe period because in these 14 days ovum is absent in fallopian tubes. Hence fertilization usually does not occur.
• B.B.T. (Basal Body Temp.) – At the time of ovulation BBT ­  by 1/2°C due to ­in BMR
• Withdrawal or Coitus interruptus – During sexual intercourse, if male withdraws his penis from the vagina just before ejaculation.
• Lactational amenorrhea – High concentration of prolactin may lead to inhibition of menstrual cycle in lactating mothers.

5. MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy)

Now it has been banned by M.T.P. act 1971 But in few cases M.T.P. is permissible.

It is relatively safe during the I^st trimester and more risk in II^nd trimester Condition of MTP. 

• Medical – When pregnancy might endanger to mother's life.
• Eugenic – When a child is born with a serious illness.
• Humanitarian – Where pregnancy is the result of rape.
• Socioeconomic – If the mother is having more than 2 to 3 children.
• Failure of contraceptive devices. 

6. Permanent or Terminal Method

It is a surgical method/Sterilisation – Block gamete transport thereby prevent conception.

Female sterlisation – 85% Male sterlisation – 10 to 15%

For Male: Vasectomy To cut off vas deferens. So ejaculation of sperm does not occur.

For Females: Tubectomy – To cut off fallopian tubes.

Tubal ligation – To ligate fallopian tubes.