Family planning is an important thing that everyone, especially young women, should be taking into consideration regardless of what size they want their family to be.
Family planning can help empower women to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.
Here are some of the reasons why it’s an important health service for women to access.
Planning for your pregnancy
Seeing a doctor before you conceive is a great way to ensure you are taking all the necessary steps to give you and baby the best chance at a healthy and happy pregnancy journey.
Your obstetrician or GP can give you advice on any lifestyle changes that can assist you in this goal, including recommending vitamins, assessing your current prescription medication, recommending diet changes, or suggesting you no longer smoke or drink alcohol.
Your doctor can also run any tests or review of you and your partner’s medical history, to ensure there aren’t any risks or complications you need to be aware of.
This planning stage can make a huge difference in your pregnancy journey, and can help couples feel more confident and in control of their lives.
Assessing fertility issues
If you are struggling to conceive after trying for over a year, it may be a good idea to get your reproductive health checked. Family planning can be a great way to catch any fertility issues early, allowing your doctor to offer effective advice and treatments as soon as possible.
This can be a particularly sensitive topic, so having a specialist who understands these problems can be lifesaving for many couples.
If you have experienced miscarriages or complicated labour, your doctor can also help you with spacing your pregnancies and helping you plan the safest timeline for your next conception.
Family planning services can help couples achieve the family of their dreams, especially if they have been struggling to conceive naturally.
Fertility assessment will often include being able to identify and treat both female and male infertility and offer options such as ovulation induction, IUI, IVF and ICSI.
Pregnancy prevention
Preventing an unplanned pregnancy is essential for the health care of many women. There is a multitude of reasons someone may want to prevent conceiving, either temporarily or permanently.
Birth control should always be a personal decision, and your doctor should be able to help you choose an option that best suits your health needs.
Contraception can also be incredibly beneficial for more reasons than just pregnancy prevention.
It can help with reducing the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and certain birth control may also help women who suffer through painful periods or other hormonal issues.
Affordable Family Planning Sunshine Coast
Every couple should be able to have a happy and healthy family, and an obstetrician gynaecologist is specialised in helping you achieve that.
Dr Kelvin Larwood owns and operates clinics in Buderim and Noosa, Sunshine Coast and is passionate about helping people build their families.
You can learn more about the services he offers here, and book your next appointment today.