Family planning is frequently used to mean that people plan when to have children,^[1] using birth control^[2][3] and other techniques to implement that plan. Other techniques commonly used include sexuality education^[4][3], prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections^[3], preconceptional counseling^[3] and management, and infertility management^[2].

Family planning is sometimes used as a synonym for the use of birth control, though it often includes more.

It is most usually applied to the circumstance of a monogamous female-male couple who wish to limit the number of children they have and/or to control the timing of pregnancy (also known as spacing children).
 

Definitions

"FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES: Educational, comprehensive medical or social activities which enable individuals, including minors, to determine freely the number and spacing of their children and to select the means by which this may be achieved."^[4]

Planning Children

Raising a child uses significant amounts of resources: time^[5], social, financial^[6], environmental. Planning can help assure that resources are available.

Planning for Health

See also: Maternal health

Waiting until mother is at least 18 years old before trying to have children improves maternal and child health.^[7]

If additional children are desired, it is healthier for both the mother and child to wait at least 2 years after the previous birth before attempting to conceive (but not more than 5 years).^[7] After a miscarriage or abortion, it is healthier to wait at least 6 months.^[7]

Finances

See also: Family economics

Childbirth and prenatal health care cost averaged $7,090 for normal delivery in the US in 1996.^[8] US Department of Agriculture estimates that a US family will spend an average of $11,000 to $23,000 per year for the first 17 years of child's life on a child born in 2007.^[5] (Total inflation adjusted estimated expenditure: $196,000 to $393,000, depending on household income.)