Planning your family is a deeply personal decision, especially when choosing when to have children and — perhaps more importantly — when (and how) not to. Here are some things to keep in mind as you’re figuring out what might work best for you and your family.

FIGURE OUT YOUR OWN PREGNANCY TIMING

Choosing if and when to have kids can be daunting, especially for women. A lot of things can factor into the decision, including how old you are when you get pregnant. Physically speaking, women in their mid-to-late 20s and early 30s appear to have the greatest chances of having a healthy pregnancy. For many, the likelihood of getting pregnant at that age remains strong, while their risks for major pregnancy-related health concerns remain lower than when they’re older (35+) or younger (under 17).

But just because timing works out physically doesn’t mean that is the best time for every woman to start her family. Other factors — including your financial situation, personal health, career goals, or relationships — are all important considerations when choosing the best moment in life to have children for you personally. Until that time, however, it’s important to use family planning methods to prevent an unintended pregnancy.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT FAMILY PLANNING METHOD FOR YOU

In 2019, 42.1 percent of pregnancies in Florida weren’t intentional, so if you aren’t planning on having children any time soon, it’s important to use a family planning method to prevent pregnancy if you think you will be sexually active. Before starting any of them, however, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about what might work best for you and your family, as different methods — especially hormone-based contraceptives — can result in side effects or health risks for women, and some might be expensive or not covered by health insurance.

IUDs And Implants

Part of choosing the right family planning method is weighing how effective certain methods are with any potential side effects or discomfort (physically or emotionally) that might come with them. The most effective non-permanent methods are using an implant or intrauterine device (IUD). These devices are 20 times more effective than other forms of family planning — like birth control pills, diaphragms, or vaginal rings —  and comparable to sterilization (i.e., Getting a vasectomy or your “tubes tied”).

IUDs work by inserting a T-shaped object inside the uterus for up to 5 or 10 years, depending on the device. In some cases, the IUD releases a small amount of hormones to prevent pregnancy, though hormone-free options are available. Implants work in a similar way, only these are thin rods embedded under the skin on your arm, slowly releasing small amounts of hormones for up to 3 years. In addition to being highly effective, implants and IUDs can work for years without having to think about them or remember to take anything.

That being said, these methods might not be right for everyone. While side effects tend to be fairly minimal for implants and IUDs, some women can sometimes feel pain or discomfort with them, especially right after insertion. They can also affect how frequently your period arrives, how long it lasts, and how intense or painful it gets. Hormone-based IUDs and implants might also cause some to go through emotional ups and downs — a common issue with women who tend to be more sensitive to hormone changes.

Hormone-Based Methods

Other hormone-based methods include traditional oral contraceptive pills (aka “birth control pills”), as well as patches, injections, and vaginal rings — all of which offer varying combinations of hormones that may affect women differently. These methods vary widely on how frequently they’re needed and how effective they are, but are typically easier to use and more effective than physical barrier methods.

Physical Barriers

Some family planning methods try to block and or kill sperm in an effort to further prevent it from getting into the woman’s body. These include male and female condoms, diaphragms, and sponges. Barriers rely heavily on people using them correctly in order to be effective. As a result, out of every 100 women who use these methods, 18+ will still get pregnant in a year.

Alternative Methods

Other family planning methods to prevent pregnancy don’t use any additional devices, chemicals, or barriers. These “natural” methods rely on men withdrawing themselves from their partner after starting sex but before ejaculating, or tracking your period to determine which days you are fertile and avoiding sex or using condoms on those days. Some couples find these forms of family planning more comfortable, but they are significantly less effective than other methods of contraception.

Another technique often used by families is something called the lactational amenorrhea method, where women exclusively breastfeed on demand around the clock for the first six months of a baby’s life. This tends to be more effective than withdrawal or tracking fertility, but it’s much more temporary — typically only working while the baby is exclusively breastfeeding.

IF HAVING MULTIPLE CHILDREN, TRY TO HAVE THEM 2-5 YEARS APART

Medical experts recommend women wait at least 18 months (and no more than 5 years) after having a baby before getting pregnant again — a process known as “birth spacing.” That’s because research shows children born too close together or too far apart have a higher risk of health concerns, like being born too early or too small. This is especially true for babies born to moms who got pregnant within six months of giving birth. Pregnancy and childbirth are physically demanding. Even if you had a smooth labor and delivery, your body still needs time to recover before starting the process all over again.