Simply put, family planning is deciding how many children you want to have and when you want to have them, then taking necessary steps to make that plan a reality. Depending on where you are in life, family planning may mean finding the right type of contraception to help you avoid pregnancy as you get your college degree or start your career. It also may mean finding an effective way to space your pregnancies once you start having a family, or taking steps to ensure you can no longer become pregnant once you’re done having children. For some women, family planning means avoiding any pregnancy, either through the use of birth control or by taking permanent measures.