When it comes to family planning, decisions about which contraceptives to use can feel deeply personal—and they should be. These choices involve more than just pregnancy prevention; they’re about health, comfort, and mutual respect in a relationship. As a partner, your role isn’t to decide for them—it’s to support them, without pressure, in whatever choice they make.
Here’s how you can do that with empathy and understanding:
1. Start with an Open, Judgment-Free Conversation
Honest communication is key. Ask your partner how they feel about different contraceptives, and listen without interrupting or trying to sway their decision. Everyone has unique experiences with birth control—some may worry about side effects, others may prefer non-hormonal options.
What matters most is that your partner feels heard and respected throughout the decision-making process.
2. Learn Together About Family Planning Options
Show your support by learning about family planning methods together. Explore both short-term and long-term options—from condoms, oral contraceptive pills, injectables, and implants, to IUDs, bilateral tubal ligation, and vasectomy.
You can visit reliable resources like trust.ph, which offers easy-to-understand information about contraceptives and other sexual and reproductive health services. By learning together, you both make informed decisions as a team.
3. Acknowledge the Physical and Emotional Impact
Choosing and using contraceptives can affect your partner physically and emotionally. Hormonal methods, for instance, can cause mood changes or other side effects. Instead of dismissing their experiences, acknowledge them. Ask, “How are you feeling with this method?” or “Would you like to talk to a doctor about other options?”
Small gestures like these can go a long way in showing you care.
4. Share Responsibility
Family planning isn’t just a “women’s issue.” Men and partners should take equal responsibility. Offer to buy condoms, schedule clinic visits together, or consider male contraceptives like the no-scalpel vasectomy if you’re both ready for a permanent option.
When both partners share the load, it removes the pressure from one person and reinforces the idea that contraception is a shared commitment.
5. Support Their Choice—Even If It’s Different From Yours
You might have personal preferences, but the ultimate decision belongs to the person using the contraceptive. Avoid guilt-tripping or making them feel obligated to choose what you want. Trust that they know what’s best for their body.
Support means respecting boundaries, being patient through trial-and-error, and offering reassurance no matter what they decide.
6. Normalize Talking About Contraceptives
In many Filipino relationships, topics like contraceptives and family planning are still considered taboo. The more openly you talk about it, the healthier your relationship becomes. Normalize these conversations in a way that feels safe and non-judgmental—it helps strengthen trust and intimacy between you and your partner.
The Bottom Line
Supporting your partner’s contraceptive choice is about respect, communication, and shared responsibility. Whether you’re exploring options for the first time or adjusting to a new method, what matters most is that both of you feel empowered, informed, and respected.
For reliable and non-judgmental information about family planning and contraceptives, visit trust.ph your trusted source for all things sexual and reproductive health and rights in the Philippines.
