This flow chart of Providing Quality Family Planning Services: Recommendations of CDC and the U.S. Office of Population Affairs (QFP) lays out a clinical pathway for determining the client’s needs for family planning services.

• First, the clinician will assess the reason for the visit, the source of primary care, and the reproductive life plan.

• If the reason for the visit is related to preventing or achieving pregnancy, the clinician will provide the following services as appropriate:
  • Contraceptive services
  • Pregnancy testing and counseling
  • Achieving pregnancy services
  • Basic infertility services

• Clinicians should also provide sexual transmitted disease services and preconception health services per clinical recommendations.

• Additionally, clinicians should provide or refer clients for related preventive health services, per clinical recommendations.

• If the initial reason for the visit is not related to preventing or achieving pregnancy, then clinicians will assess the need for services related to preventing or achieving pregnancy. If services are not needed at that visit, clinicians will reassess the need at subsequent visits.