Abstract

PIP: Couples in the Philippines are free to choose the family planning method that best satisfies their health needs and religious beliefs. All service delivery outlets of the Philippines Department of Health and participating agencies should have all approved, safe, effective, and legal family planning methods available. Oral contraceptives (OCs), IUDs, tubal ligation, and vasectomy are at least 92% effective. OCs protect against pelvic infection and reduce the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer. Older OC users who smoke face an increased risk of blood clotting, stroke, and heart attack. The progestogen-only pill is the best OC for lactating women. The IUD can be effective for 6 years assuming no pain or other side effects. Breast feeding mothers can use the IUD safely. IUD contraindications are anemia, active cervical or pelvic infection, abnormal vaginal bleeding, and genital cancer. Condoms protect against pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. When practiced correctly, natural family planning methods are 70-90% effective. They are the cervical mucus method, basal body temperature method, sympto-thermal method, and breast feeding. Norplant contraceptive implants are available to Philippine women on a trial basis. They release a progestin slowly into the blood stream, suppressing ovulation and thickening cervical mucus. The long-acting contraceptive injectables are DMPA, Cycloprovera, and HRP 102. Women must receive an injection every 3 months to protect against pregnancy. The first injection should occur within the first 5 days of the menstrual cycle. Women choosing tubal ligation and men choosing vasectomy should be sure in their decision because they are permanent methods and sterilization reversal procedures are rare in the Philippines. Men with diabetes, an infection at the incision site, clotting disorders, enlarged or painful testicles, and an inguinal hernia should not have a vasectomy.