Family planning is defined as "individuals' and couples' ability to anticipate and achieve their desired number of children, as well as the spacing and timing of their births."
Oral contraceptive pills, implants, vaginal rings, injectables, patches, intra uterine devices, condoms, male and female sterilization, lactational amenorrhea methods, withdrawal and fertility awareness based methods are all forms of contraception. These methods work in different ways and have varying degrees of effectiveness in preventing unintended pregnancy. The number of pregnancies per 100 women using the method per year is used to assess method effectiveness.