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Family planning gives you the chance to decide if and when you want to have a child and how many children to have. It also gives you time to check your family medical history for inherited conditions, like sickle cell anaemia, before you pass them on to your child.

How do you prevent pregnancy?
Women and men have very different options for preventing pregnancy. Women can use birth control pills, IUDs, diaphragms and condoms. It's very important to talk openly and honestly with your partner about safer sex.

There are several different types of birth control. Learn more about:

• Hormonal birth control methods (the Pill and the Injection) 
  Women who smoke should not use the pill.
• Barrier birth control methods
• Emergency contraception
• Tubal sterilisation (“Getting your tubes tied”)