BACKGROUND: Family-planning policies have focused on contraceptive approaches to avoid unintended pregnancies, postpone, or terminate pregnancies and mitigate population growth. These policies have contributed to significantly slowing world population growth. Presently, half the countries worldwide exhibit a fertility rate below replacement level. Not including the effects of migration, many countries are predicted to have a population decline of >50% from 2017 to 2100, causing demographic changes with profound societal implications. Policies that optimize chances to have a child when desired increase fertility rates and are gaining interest as a family-building method. Increasingly, countries have implemented child-friendly policies (mainly financial incentives in addition to public funding of fertility treatment in a limited number of countries) to mitigate decreasing national populations. However, the extent of public spending on child benefits varies greatly from country to country. To our knowledge, this International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS) consensus document represents the first attempt to describe major disparities in access to fertility care in the context of the global trend of decreasing growth in the world population, based on a narrative review of the existing literature.
OBJECTIVE: The concept of family building, the process by which individuals or couples create or expand their families, has been largely ignored in family-planning paradigms. Family building encompasses various methods and options for individuals or couples who wish to have children. It can involve biological means, such as natural conception, as well as ART, surrogacy, adoption, and foster care. Family-building acknowledges the diverse ways in which individuals or couples can create their desired family and reflects the understanding that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to building a family. Developing education programs for young adults to increase family-building awareness and prevent infertility is urgently needed. Recommendations are provided and important knowledge gaps identified to provide professionals, the public, and policymakers with a comprehensive understanding of the role of child-friendly policies.
METHODS: A narrative review of the existing literature was performed by invited global leaders who themselves significantly contributed to this research field. Each section of the review was prepared by two to three experts, each of whom searched the published literature (PubMed) for peer reviewed full papers and reviews. Sections were discussed monthly by all authors and quarterly by the review board. The final document was prepared following discussions among all team members during a hybrid invitational meeting where full consensus was reached.
RESULTS: Major advances in fertility care have dramatically improved family-building opportunities since the 1990s. Although up to 10% of all children are born as a result of fertility care in some wealthy countries, there is great variation in access to care. The high cost to patients of infertility treatment renders it unaffordable for most. Preliminary studies point to the increasing contribution of fertility care to the global population and the associated economic benefits for society.
CONCLUSIONS: Fertility care has rarely been discussed in the context of a rapid decrease in world population growth. Soon, most countries will have an average number of children per woman far below the replacement level. While this may have a beneficial impact on the environment, underpopulation is of great concern in many countries. Although governments have implemented child-friendly policies, distinct discrepancies in access to fertility care remain.

The postpartum period is the perfect time to access family planning services. WHO guidelines contraindicate combined hormonal contraceptives postpartum in breastfeeding patients between 6 weeks and 6 months after delivery (Medical Eligibility Criteria category 3). On the contrary, the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines do not contraindicate their use in women who breastfeed from 6 weeks to 6 months postpartum. New combined hormonal contraceptives with natural estrogens have never been studied in this setting. Guidelines agree on the prescription of the progestin-only pill postpartum in non-breastfeeding women (category 1). Differences are found in women who breastfeed. In non-breastfeeding women, an implant is considered safe (category 1) by all guidelines, without any distinction in time. Regarding postpartum breastfeeding women, the guidelines for implants give quite different indications but are still permissive. Intrauterine devices are viable options for postpartum contraception but guidelines give different indications about the timing of insertion. Postplacental intrauterine device placement can reduce the subsequent unintended pregnancy rate, particularly in settings at greatest risk of not having recommended postpartum controls. However, it has yet to be understood whether this approach can really have an advantage in high-income countries. Postpartum contraception is not a \'matter of guidelines\': it is the best customization for each woman, as early as possible but at the ideal timing.

Historical evidence that fetal red blood cell (RBC) exposure during early spontaneous or induced abortion can cause maternal Rh sensitization is limited. A close reading of these studies indicates that forgoing Rh immunoglobulin administration before 12weeks gestation is highly unlikely to increase risk of Rh (D) antibody development, and recent studies indicate that fetal RBC exposure during aspiration abortion <12 weeks gestation is below the calculated threshold to cause maternal Rh sensitization, and the amount of fetomaternal hemorrhage during dilation and evacuation procedures up to 18weeks gestation is adequately treated with 100mcg of Rh immunoglobulin. We provide updated recommendations for Rh immunoglobulin administration based on this new evidence.

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is a highly-effective, injectable contraceptive method that requires injections every 12 to 15 weeks. The need for return visits to a healthcare provider may present barriers to access, use, and continuation of DMPA. Studies demonstrate that self-administration of subcutaneous DMPA (DMPA-SC) outside clinical settings is safe, effective, feasible, acceptable, and can improve continuation. Based on existing evidence and potential to improve contraceptive access and autonomy, the Society of Family Planning recommends that DMPA-SC self-administration be made widely available as an additional option for patients. Provider-administered DMPA must also remain available to meet patients\' individual needs and preferences.

Public health professionals, particularly those in state and local health departments, do not always have clear understandings of their roles related to politically controversial public health topics. A process of consensus development among public health professionals that considers the best available evidence may be able to guide decision making and lay out an appropriate course of action.
In May 2020, a group of maternal and child health and family planning professionals working in health departments, representatives of schools of public health, and members of affiliated organizations convened to explore values and principles relevant to health departments\' engagement in abortion and delineate activities related to abortion that are appropriate for health departments. The convening followed a structured consensus process that included multiple rounds of input and opportunities for feedback and revisions.
Convening participants came to consensus on principles to guide engagement in activities related to abortion, a set of activities related to abortion that are appropriate for health departments, and next steps to support implementation of such activities.
The experience of the convening indicates that consensus processes can be feasible for politically controversial public health topics such as abortion.

The rapid spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has posed complex challenges to global public health. During this pandemic period, access to essential services including post-abortion care (PAC) has been disrupted. Along with the clinical management of the disease in women, protection of the healthcare workers and medical staff from nosocomial infection is important to ensure infection control. Thus, in order to implement the proper contraceptive measures and to reduce the rate of repeated abortion, the family planning group of minimally invasive gynecological branch of the Liaoning Medical Association organized a committee of experts to formulate guidance and suggestions to ensure the timely treatment and surgery of women opting for abortion, the implementation of PAC, implementation of safe contraceptive measures after surgery, and the protection of healthcare professionals and medical staff from infection. We believe these guidelines might be helpful for obstetrics and gynecology departments in China and globally, as well for women who wish to undergo abortion during these unprecedented times.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common chronic immune-mediated neurological disorder in young adults, more frequently found in women than in men. Therefore, pregnancy-related issues have become an object of concern for MS professionals and patients. The aim of this work was to review the existing data to develop the first Argentine consensus for family planning and pregnancy in MS patients.
METHODS: A panel of expert neurologists from Argentina engaged in the diagnosis and care of MS patients met both virtually and in person during 2019 to carry out a consensus recommendation for family planning and pregnancy in MS. To achieve consensus, the procedure of the \"formal consensus-RAND/UCLA method\" was used.
RESULTS: Recommendations were established based on published evidence and expert opinion focusing on pre-pregnancy counseling, pregnancy, and postpartum issues.
CONCLUSIONS: The recommendations of these consensus guidelines are intended to optimize the management and treatment of MS patients during their reproductive age in Argentina.

中国15~24岁青少年占总人口的17.1%，由于初次性行为的年龄提前，而结婚、生育的年龄后移，使青少年人群一旦发生非意愿妊娠，多以人工流产为结局。为避免人工流产对青少年身心健康的不利影响，特制定《青少年避孕服务指南》，以促进青少年知情选择和持续使用高效避孕方法，有效避免非意愿妊娠。本指南建议由专门的医疗机构和接受过培训的服务提供者，遵循不歧视、保密和知情同意的原则，按照本指南建议的服务流程向青少年服务对象提供友好和规范的避孕服务。服务提供者应依据青少年选择避孕方法的原则，指导青少年优先选择并落实长效可逆避孕方法（宫内避孕或皮下埋植），特别是在人工流产后、产后和寻求紧急避孕等现场服务的时机。对选择短效复方口服避孕药或临时避孕方法（避孕套、外用避孕药等）的青少年，应指导坚持和正确使用，以降低使用失败率。本指南强调选择任何其他避孕方法的青少年均应同时坚持使用避孕套，以减少包括HIV在内的性传播感染的风险。.

Healthcare systems vary greatly between countries. International, evidence-based guidelines for the management of multiple sclerosis (MS) may need to be adapted for use in particular countries. Two years ago, the authors published a comprehensive consensus guideline for the management of MS in Qatar. Since that time, the availability of disease-modifying treatments for relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), and our understanding of how to apply those treatments, has increased. The authors present an update to our guidance, focussing on the management of relapsing-remitting RRMS. In particular, the authors consider the optimal use of different DMTs in patients presenting with mild, medium or high disease activity.

To explore healthcare providers\' views on barriers to and facilitators of use of the national family planning (FP) guideline for FP services in Amhara Region, Ethiopia.
Qualitative study.
Nine health facilities including two hospitals, five health centres and two health posts in Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia.
Twenty-one healthcare providers working in the provision of FP services in Amhara Region.
Semistructured interviews were conducted to understand healthcare providers\' views on barriers to and facilitators of the FP guideline use in the selected FP services.
While the healthcare providers\' views point to a few facilitators that promote use of the guideline, more barriers were identified. The barriers included: lack of knowledge about the guideline\'s existence, purpose and quality, healthcare providers\' personal religious beliefs, reliance on prior knowledge and tradition rather than protocols and guidelines, lack of availability or insufficient access to the guideline and inadequate training on how to use the guideline. Facilitators for the guideline use were ready access to the guideline, convenience and ease of implementation and incentives.
While development of the guideline is an important initiative by the Ethiopian government for improving quality of care in FP services, continued use of this resource by all healthcare providers requires planning to promote facilitating factors and address barriers to use of the FP guideline. Training that includes a discussion about healthcare providers\' beliefs and traditional practices as well as other factors that reduce guideline use and increasing the sufficient number of guideline copies available at the local level, as well as translation of the guideline into local language are important to support provision of quality care in FP services.