SPEECH OF QUEEN ABOUT FAMILY PLANNING

GOOD DAY TO ALL. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OVER
ESPECIALLY THE COUPLES TO LISTEN TO ME AS I AM GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME THOUGHTS
ABOUT FAMILY PLANNING. BUILDING A FAMILY OF HIS OR HER OWN IS EVERYONE’S DREAM. BEING A
COUPLE COHABITING WITH EACH OTHER, SEX IS INVOLVED. TO HAVE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH OUR
PARTNER IS NATURAL AND WELL-ACCEPTED IN OUR SOCIETY. IT IS ONE OF THE BASIC NEEDS OF HUMAN
WHERE IN THE MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS, SEX IS PLACED ON LEVEL 1, THE PHYSIOLOGICAL
NEEDS TOGETHER WITH FOOD, WATER, CLOTHING AND SHELTER.

HOWEVER, AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, I HAVE OBSERVED HERE IN OUR BARANGAY THAT

THERE IS INCREASE OF UNWANTED PREGNANCIES AND LARGE FAMILY SIZE WHICH IS ALARMING. THERE
ARE CONSEQUENCES IF WE CANNOT CONTROL THIS SITUATION. FOR THE UNWANTED PREGNANCY, IT
MAY RESULT TO LOW BIRTHWEIGHT CAUSED BY STRESS DURING PREGNANCY; WOMEN MAY
EXPERIENCE SUBSTANCE-RELATED ISSUES LIKE THEY MAY CONTINUE TO DRINK OR USE SUBTANCES
BEFORE THEY REALIZE THEY ARE PREGNANT WHICH MAY PUT THE CHILD AT RISK FOR FETAL ALCOHOL
SYNDROME AND OTHER MEDICAL CHALLENGES; AND POORER DEVELOPMENTAL SCORES WHERE
WOMEN LACK PARENTING OR FINANCIAL PREPARATION. AND FOR THE LARGE FAMILY SIZE, THE
CONCERN IS HOW WE RAISE OUR CHILDREN ESPECIALLY THOSE DISPROPORTIONATELY LOW-INCOME
EARNERS. HOW CAN WE SATISFACTORILY PROVIDE THE BASIC NEEDS OF OUR FAMILY AS WELL AS FOR
THE FUTURE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN? IF THESE WILL NOT BE ADDRESSED, IT WILL LEAD TO
RAMPANT ABORTION WHICH IS NOT ACCEPTED IN OUR SOCIETY.

THE TWO SITUATIONS WE ARE FACING TODAY, THE UNWANTED PREGANCY AND LARGE FAMILY
SIZE MAYBE THE RESULT OF LACK OR INADEQUATE INFORMATION ABOUT FAMILY PLANNING OR BIRTH
CONTROL. WITH THESE, I WILL GIVE TO YOU SOME CONTRACEPTION OR BIRTH CONTROL OPTIONS TO
PREVENT WOMEN OF PREGNANCY FOR YOU TO DECIDE WHAT SUITS YOU BEST AND OF COURSE MUCH
BETTER IF YOU CONSULT YOUR GYNECOLOGIST.

FIRST, WE HAVE THE CONDOMS WHICH ARE EXCELLENT CONTRACEPTIVE METHOD TO PREVENT
PREGNANCY AND ARE THE ONLY METHOD THAT ADDITIONALLY PROTECTS AGAINST THE SPREAD OF
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STI), SUCH AS AIDS OR SYPHILIS. IT COMES IN MALE AND FEMALE
VARIETIES. THE PROS IN USING CONDOM IS THAT IT IS GENERALLY INEXPENSIVE, EASY TO PUT ON,
HORMONE FREE, AND DO NOT CAUSE ANY CHANGES TO THE BODY ASIDE FROM BEING THE BEST
PROTECTION AGAINST STIs. ITS CONS ARE THAT PEOPLE MAY BE ALLERGIC TO THE CONDOM MATERIAL,
WHICH IS USUALLY LATEX. AND ALSO, CAN CAUSE DISCOMFORT FOR SOME COUPLES AND CAN TEAR
DURING INTERCOURSE IF NOT USED PROPERLY. ITS SIDE EFFECT IS THE RISK OF ALLERGY FOR THOSE
WHO ARE SENTIVITY ON THE CONDOM MATERIALS.

SECOND, IS THE ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE PILL OR BIRTH CONTROL PILL. IT IS THE METHOD
COMMONLY USED BY WOMEN TO PREVENT PREGNANCY IT HAS HORMONES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO
THOSE PRODUCED BY THE OVARIES, AND WORKS BY PREVENTING OVULATION FROM OCCURRING
(WHICH MEANS THERE IS NO EGG AVAILABLE TO BE FERTILIZED). THE ADVANTAGES OF USING THIS
METHOD IS THAT IT PERMITS SEXUAL SPONTANEITY AND DOESN’T INTERRUPT SEX. IT CAN ALSO BE
USED FOR THREATING MANY SYMPTOMS LIKE DECREASING MENSTRUAL BLOOD FLOW, HELPING WITH
PERIOD PAIN, REGULATING THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE, IMPROVING ACNE, REDUCING EXCESS HAIR
GROWTH, AND HELPING WITH PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME SYMPTOMS. ORAL BIRTH CONTROL PILLS
CAN ALSO PLAY A ROLE PREVENTING PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE, CYSTS, AND OVARIAN CANCER.
ITS DISADVANTAGES, ALTHOUGH IT IS A VERY EFFECTIVE AND SAFE METHOD, IT WILL ONLY WORK TO
PREVENT PREGNANCY IF TAKEN EVERY DAY AT THE SAME TIME, WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. ALSO, IT IS
NOT SUITABLE FOR WOMEN WHO CAN’T TAKE ESTROGEN- CONTAINING CONTRACEPTION. THE SIDE
EFFECTS OF TAKING BIRTH CONTROL PILL IS THAT WOMEN MAY EXPERIENCE NAUSEA, BREAST PAIN,
OCCASIONAL SPOTTING, DECREASED BLOOD FLOW, AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION.

THIRD, IS THE INTRAUTERINE DEVICE (IUD). IT IS A T-SHAPED PLASTIC CONTRACEPTIVE METHOD

THAT IS INSERTED INTO THE UTERUS BY THE GYNECOLOGIST. IT CAN REMAIN IN THE UTERUS AND BE
EFFECTIVE FOR UP TO 3 TO 10 YEARS SOME IUDS CONTAIN HORMONES THAT ARE GRADUALLY
RELEASED TO PREVENT PREGNANCY. ITS PROS IS THAT IT DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH INTERCOURSE
AND IS A GOOD OPTION FOR WOMEN WHO FORGET TO TAKE THE PILL EVERYDAY AT THE SAME TIME.
ITS CONS IS THAT IT NEEDS TO BE INSERTED BY A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND IN SOME CASES IT CAN
LEAD TO ANEMIA. THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS IS THAT IT MAY CAUSE PAIN FOR A FEW DAYS AFTER
BEING INSERTED, CAUSE LIGHT BLEEDING IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS AND MAY INCREASE THE RISK
OF VAGINAL INFECTIONS.

FOURTH IS THE CONTRACEPTIVE IMPLANT. IN THIS METHOD, A SMALL AND FLEXIBLE ROD IS
PLACED UNDER THE SKIN IN A WOMAN’S UPPER ARM BY A GYNECOLOGIST. THE IMPLANT RELEASES
HORMONE PROGESTERONE INTO THE BLOOD SLOWLY, PREVENTING OVULATION AND MAKING IT
DIFFICULT FOR SPERM TO ENTER THE WOMAN’S UTERUS. ITS ADVANTAGES ASIDE FROM PREVENTING
PREGNANCY, IT CAN REDUCE PERIOD-RELATED ABDOMINAL PAIN. THE IMPLANT DOES NOT INTERFERE
WITH INTERCOURSE OR BREASTFEEDING. IT IS AN EXCELLENT OPTION FOR WOMEN WHO OFTEN
FORGET TO TAKE THE PILL, HAVE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, OR HAVE GASTGROINTESTINAL
PROBLEMS. ITS DISADVANTAGES IS THAT IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE METHOD AND REQUIRES A HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL FOR PLACEMENT. THE SIDE EFFECT OF WHICH IS IT MAY CAUSE IRREGULAR SPOTTING,
BLOTCHY SKIN, NAUSEA, HEADACHES, AND MOOD SWINGS.

FIFTH IS THE CONTRACEPTIVE INJECTION. THE INJECTION CONTAINS A SYNTHETIC VERSION OF

THE HORMONE PROGESTOGEN. IT IS GIVEN INTO A WOMAN’S BUTTOCKS OR THE UPPER ARM, AND
OVER THE NEXT 12 WEEKS THE HORMONE IS SLOWLY RELEASED INTO THE BLOODSTREAM THAT
PREVENTS OVULATION. IT’S PROS, THE INJECTION LASTS FOR UP TO THREE MONTHS, VERY EFFECTIVE,
PERMITS SEXUAL SPONTANEITY AND DOESN’T INTERRUPT SEX. IT’S CONS, THE INJECTION VMAY CAUSE
DISRUPTED PERIODS OR IRREGULAR BLEEDING. THE SIDE EFFECT IS THAT IT CAN DELAY FERTILITY AND
INCREASE APPETITE AND SOMETIMES SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE HEADACHES, ACNE AND HAIR LOSS.

SIXTH IS THE CONTRACEPTIVE RING OR VAGINAL RING. THIS METHOD CONSISTS OF A FLEXIBLE
PLASTIC RING CONSTANTLY RELEASING HORMONES THAT IS PLACED IN THE VAGINA, WITH ITS
PLACEMENT SIMILAR TO INSERTING A TAMPON. THE RING IS KEPT FOR 21 DAYS, AND THEN REMOVED
FOR 7 DAYS IN TIME FOR A PERIOD TO COME AND GO. A NEW RING IS PLACED AFTER MENSTRUATION.
THE ADVANTAGES O USING THE METHOD IS THAT IT IS EASY TO USE AND DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH
INTERCOURSE. IT IS EASILY REVERSIBLE AND EASY TO REGAIN FERTILITY, AND ADDITIONALLY DOES NOT
ALTER THE VAGINAL FLORA. ITS DISADVANTAGES IS THAT IT DOES NOT PROTECT AGAINST STD, IT CAN
LEAD TO WEIGHT GAIN AND IT CANNOT BE USED IN MANY CASES, SUCH AS LIVER PROBLEMS OR HIGH
BLOOD PRESSURE. ITS SIDE EFFECTS, WOMEN EXPERIENCE ABDOMINAL PAIN, NAUSEA, DECREASED
LIBIDO, PAINFUL PERIODS, AND AN INCREASE RISK FOR VAGIVAL INFECTIONS.

SEVENTH IS THE VAGINAL DIAPHRAGM. IT IS A SMALL, SOFT SILICON DOME PLACED INSIDE THE
VAGINA TO STOP SPERM FROM ENTERING THE UTERUS. THE DIAPHRAGM CAN BE RE-USED UP TO 2
YEARS, AS LONG ASS IT IS PROPERLY WASHED AFTER USE. THE PROS OF USING THIS METHOD IS THAT IT
DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH SEX AND CAN BE INSERTED UP TO 24 HOURS BEFORE INTERCOURSE.
FURTHERMORE, IT REDUCES THE RISK OF PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE. WHILE FOR THE CONS, IT
NEEDS TO BE PLACED AT THE MOST 30 MINUTES BEFORE INTERCOURSE AND REMOVED AT THE MOST
FOR 12 HOURS AFTER INTERCOURSE. IT MUST BE REINSERTED EVERY TIME THERE IS INTIMATE
CONTACT. THERE IS NOTED SIDE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH USING A VAGINAL DIAPHRAGM.

EIGHTH IS THE FEMALE STERILIZATION OR VASECTOMY. THIS METHOD REQUIRES SURGERY AND
A PERMANENT CONTRACEPTIVE THAT PREVENTS WOMEN AND MEN FROM HAVING CHILDREN FOR THE
REST OF THEIR LIVES. THIS METHOD IS ONLY RECOMMENDED ONCE THE DECISION TO NOT HAVE ANY
MORE CHILDREN HAS BEEN MADE. THE ADVANTAGES OF THIS METHOD IS THAT WOMEN WILL NOT BE
ANXIOUS ABOUT PREGNANCY. THE DISADVANTAGES IS THAT HOSPITALIZATION IS REQUIRED AND
RECOVERY TAKES ABOUT 2 WEEKS.

WE HAVE ALSO THE SO-CALLED NATURAL METHODS. THESE ARE THE CALENDAR METHOD,
TEMPERATURE METHOD, MUCUS METHOD AND WITHDRAWAL METHOD. ALL OF THESE METHODS
REQUIRE ABSTAINING FROM SEX DURING THE WOMAN’S FERTILE WINDOW, WHICH IS WHEN THE
WOMAN IS MORE LIKELY TO BECOME PREGNANT.
 YOU ARE NOW AWARE OF THE DIFFERENT CONTRACEPTIVE OR BIRTH CONTROL METHODS. IT IS
NOW YOUR TIME TO CHOOSE WHAT METHOD SUITED FOR YOU IN ORDER TO PREVENT UNWANTED
PREGNANCIES AND LARGE FAMILY SIZE.

THAT YOU VERY MUCH AND I HOPE YOU HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM ME. LET US HELP ONE
OTHER SO THAT WE CAN BE A PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN OF OUR BARANGAY.

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