Family Planning

Earliest Time That a Woman Can Start a FamilyPlanning Method After ChildbirthFamily PlanningMethodLactationalAmenorrhea MethodFully orNearly FullyBreastfeedingImmediatelyPartiallyBreastfeeding orNot Breastfeeding(Not applicable)Vasectomy Immediately or during partner’s pregnancy ‡Male or femalecondomsSpermicidesCopper-bearing IUDFemale sterilizationLevonorgestrel IUDDiaphragmFertility awarenessmethodsProgestin-only pillsProgestin-onlyinjectablesImplantsCombined oralcontraceptivesMonthly injectablesCombined patchCombined vaginalringImmediatelyWithin 48 hours, otherwise wait 4 weeksWithin 7 days, otherwise wait 6 weeks4 weeks after childbirth6 weeks after childbirthStart when normal secretions have returned(for symptoms-based methods) or she has had3 regular menstrual cycles (for calendar-basedmethods). This will be later for breastfeedingwomen than for women who are notbreastfeeding.6 weeks afterchildbirth §6 months afterchildbirth §Immediately if notbreastfeeding §6 weeks after childbirthif partially breastfeeding §21 days after childbirth ifnot breastfeeding §6 weeks after childbirthif partially breastfeeding §‡If a man has a vasectomy during the first 6 months of his partner’s pregnancy, it will beeffective by the time she delivers her baby.§Earlier use is not usually recommended unless other, more appropriate methods are notavailable or not acceptable.After Childbirth29322Maternal and Newborn Health