Topical family planning & HIV prevention

 Family Planning Series – Week 3: Local / Topical Methods & HIV Prevention 

Family planning isn’t only about avoiding pregnancy — it’s about protecting health and making safe choices for the future.

🔹 Local / Topical Methods in Family Planning

These are methods used directly in the vagina before intercourse:

Spermicides (gels, foams, creams).

Vaginal suppositories (pessaries) with spermicide.

Vaginal sponge or diaphragm with spermicide.

👉 All of these methods help prevent pregnancy by killing sperm or blocking them — but ❌ they do not protect against HIV or other STIs.

Sometimes they may even irritate vaginal tissues, which can increase the risk of infection.

🔹 Condoms: The Only Dual Protection

Male condoms and female condoms protect against both pregnancy and HIV/STIs.

Consistent and correct condom use reduces HIV transmission risk by >90%.

Condoms remain the cornerstone of HIV prevention worldwide.

🔹 If exposure already happened (unprotected sex, condom break):

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP):

✔ Start as soon as possible, within 72 hours.

✔ 28-day course of antiretroviral drugs.

✔ Available in hospitals and HIV clinics.

✔ Follow-up HIV testing is required.

💡 Key Message for Youth:

Pills, injections, implants, local gels or suppositories = pregnancy prevention only.

Condoms are the only family planning tool that also protects from HIV/STIs.

After risky exposure, PEP is your safety net — but timing is critical.

#DrRababCares 

#FamilyPlanning #HIVPrevention #YouthHealth #Condoms #PEP #WomensHealth #ForestParkHospital

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