Since men, as well as women, play key roles in reproductive health, communication is necessary for making responsible, healthy decisions. Communication enables husbands and wives to know each other's attitudes toward family planning and contraceptive use. It allows them to voice their concerns about reproductive health issues, such as worries about undesired pregnancies or STDs.
Communication also can encourage shared decision-making and more equitable gender roles.
Sometimes, however, communication between partners may not be desirable. For example, a woman may use contraception covertly because it would be unwise and even dangerous for her to inform or try to involve her partner.