Counseling

A family planning agency must provide counseling to assist members in achieving their family planning goals. Such counseling may include discussing general health, human anatomy, physiology, reproduction, and all available methods of contraception. Specific information about the safety of a method (potential side effects or complications), its effectiveness, its acceptability to member and partner, and its correct usage must be given. Surgical procedures must be discussed if the member prefers a permanent method of contraception. Follow-up counseling may include reinforcement of contraceptive instructions and reproductive information, discussion of member concerns or problems, and additional education.