7 Domains of Family Planning
with Dr. Kirtly Jones and Dr. Katie Ward
7 Domains of Family Planning
with Dr. Kirtly Jones and Dr. Katie Ward
Navigating the Complexity Of Family Planning
Family planning is more than choosing whether or when to have children—it is an ongoing process shaped by health, identity, relationships, resources, and personal goals. From preparing a body for pregnancy to preventing one entirely, people make reproductive decisions across different stages of life, yet the depth and complexity of these choices are often overlooked.
7 Domains of Family Planning examines this spectrum through seven core aspects of well-being: physical, emotional, social, intellectual, financial, environmental, and spiritual health. Each episode dives into one domain at a time, blending expert guidance with real-world experiences to illuminate the factors that influence how individuals build (or prevent building) their families. Whether exploring fertility, contraception, personal values, or long-term planning, this series offers a grounded, multidimensional look at the choices that shape reproductive lives.
The Episodes
E101: The Physical Domain of Family Planning
In the physical domain of family planning, Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, open the seven-episode series by breaking down what "family planning" truly means. They explore the physical health factors that influence fertility, the medical considerations for preparing the body for pregnancy, and the full spectrum of contraceptive methods designed to prevent it. Reproductive needs shift across different phases of life; every individual's reproductive life plan is unique, and people can begin shaping a plan that reflects their goals, values, and physical health.
E102: The Emotional Domain of Family Planning
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.
E103: The Social Domain of Family Planning
In the social domain of family planning, Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, are joined by Jessica Sanders, PhD, assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of Research at the ASCENT Center for Reproductive Health. Together, they explore how family planning decisions are shaped by layers of influence—from intimate partner dynamics and community access to poverty, misinformation, and shifting laws. The conversation examines how social forces enter even the most private decisions, and why understanding these pressures is essential for supporting truly informed, equitable reproductive care.
E104: The Intellectual Domain of Family Planning
In the intellectual domain of family planning, Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, examine how we come to "know" what we believe about reproduction, contraception, and choice. Drawing on history, ethics, and Katie's own deep dive into evolutionary science, the conversation unpacks how research evolves, why bad science sometimes sticks, and how misinformation gains traction.
E105: The Financial Domain of Family Planning
In the financial domain of family planning, Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, are joined by Shireen Ghorbani, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Utah, to discuss how economic factors influence reproductive choices and outcomes. The conversation highlights the critical role of education, intention, and access in ensuring that individuals can have children when—and if—they choose. Whether contraception or infertility support, financial foresight and accessible health care can empower individuals to shape their futures.
E106: The Environmental Domain of Family Planning
In the environmental domain of family planning, Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, explore how both biological and geographic environments influence reproductive health. Joined by urologist Kelli Gross, MD, the conversation examines male fertility, environmental toxins, air pollution, lifestyle factors, and the growing questions around sperm health. In the second half, David Turok, MD, discusses how geography, provider training, and access barriers shape contraceptive options—particularly in rural and frontier communities.
E107: The Spiritual Domain of Family Planning
In the spiritual domain of family planning, Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, are joined by Margaret Battin, PhD, distinguished professor of philosophy and medical ethicist, to examine where personal belief meets professional responsibility. They explore how clinicians honor their own moral compass while fulfilling obligations to patients, how religious teachings can both guide and constrain reproductive choices, and how individuals reconcile faith with lived reality.
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