E102: The Emotional Domain of Family Planning

Family planning may sound like a logical process—timelines, contraceptive options, fertility planning, spreadsheets of pros and cons—but for most people, the emotional weight far outweighs the math. Fear, hope, excitement, shame, relief, grief, joy, and uncertainty often coexist, shaping decisions in ways data alone cannot capture.

In the emotional domain of family planning, Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, are joined by Annabel Sheinberg, Director of The Turnaway Project, to examine the deeply human side of reproductive decision-making. Together, they explore the emotional complexity behind contraception, abortion, infertility, and adolescent reproductive choices. They discuss the emotional nuances of adolescent confidentiality, the reality that multiple conflicting feelings can be true at once, and how people navigate some of life's most personal decisions.