Contraception

WHEN IT COMES TO CONTRACEPTION, IT’S ALWAYS

GOOD TO HAVE OPTIONS!

Contraception, sometimes called ‘birth control’, aims to prevent pregnancy. A person can get pregnant if another person’s sperm fertilises one of their eggs, usually during sex. There are lots of different methods of contraception available, and they all work in slightly different ways to stop fertilisation from happening.

BARRIER METHODS

Barrier methods of contraception prevent pregnancy by physically stopping sperm from meeting an egg. These methods include:

l EXTERNAL CONDOMS. A thin latex or synthetic latex cover worn over an erect penis.

HORMONAL METHODS

Hormonal methods of contraception prevent pregnancy by using artificial versions of the hormones, oestrogen and/or progesterone. l COMBINED ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE PILL or ‘the pill’. A pill containing artificial oestrogen and progesterone. Taken every day for 3 weeks, then stopped for 1 week, and then restarted after the 1-week break.

99% effective*.

l PROGESTOGEN ONLY PILL, ‘POP’ or ‘the mini pill’. A pill containing artificial progesterone only. Taken every day at the same time, with no break between packets of pills.

99% effective*.

98% effective*.

l INTERNAL CONDOMS or ‘femidoms’. A thin latex or synthetic latex cover worn inside the vagina.

95% effective*.

l CONTRACEPTIVE PATCH. A small, sticky patch worn on the skin (a bit like a nicotine patch!) that releases artificial oestrogen and progesterone. Each patch is worn for 1 week, and after 3 weeks of wearing patches, you have 1 week off without a patch, and then restart after the 1-week break.

99% effective*.

l VAGINAL DIAPHRAGMS and CERVICAL CAPS. A thin, silicone, circular dome inserted into the vagina alongside a gel/ cream that kills sperm (spermicide).

92-96% effective*.

l VAGINAL RING. A small, flexible, plastic ring inserted into the vagina that releases artificial oestrogen and progesterone. Each ring lasts for 3 weeks, and after the 3 weeks you remove the ring to have 1 week ringfree, and then restart with a new ring after the 1-week break. 99% effective*. »Oral Contraception

LONG-ACTING REVERSIBLE CONTRACEPTION (LARC)

Long-Acting Reversible Contraception does what the name says; it works over a long period of time! l THE INTRAUTERINE DEVICE (IUD), ‘the coil’ or ‘the copper coil’. A small T-shaped plastic and copper device inserted into the uterus by a trained healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or nurse). Lasts for 5-10 years.

99% effective*.

l THE INTRAUTERINE SYSTEM (IUS) or ‘hormonal coil’. A small T-shaped plastic device inserted into the uterus by a trained healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or nurse) that releases artificial progesterone. Lasts for 3-5 years.

99% effective*.

l THE IMPLANT. A small, flexible, plastic rod placed under the skin in the upper arm by a trained healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or nurse), that releases artificial progesterone. Lasts for 3 years.

99% effective*.

l THE INJECTION. An injection given by a trained healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or nurse), that releases artificial progesterone. Lasts for 8-13 weeks.

99% effective*.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING

Natural family planning, sometimes called ‘fertility awareness’ is a method of contraception where a person monitors and records different fertility signals during their menstrual cycle, to work out when they are likely to get pregnant. Fertility signals include things like the length of a person’s menstrual cycle, daily body temperature, and changes to the cervical mucus.

On days when a person is fertile, they would avoid pregnancy by either not having sex (abstaining), or using another method of contraception like a barrier method. To use this method effectively it needs to be taught by a qualified fertility awareness teacher, and it takes between 3-6 menstrual (monthly) cycles to learn this method.

99% effective*.

PERMANENT CONTRACEPTION

Permanent contraception, or sterilisation, is an operation that’s carried out to permanently prevent pregnancy. It works by stopping sperm from meeting an egg. Once it’s done, sterilisation is very difficult to reverse, and because of this it’s only for people who do not want to ever have children afterwards. There are two types of permanent contraception: 1 TUBAL OCCLUSION closing the fallopian tubes that carry an egg from the ovaries to the uterus. 2 VASECTOMY closing the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the penis.

99% effective*.

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION Emergency contraception can be used to prevent pregnancy in situations where one person’s semen (which contains sperm) may have come into contact with another person’s genital area, which could then lead to an egg becoming fertilised. This includes after unprotected sex or if someone suspects that their contraception might have failed (e.g. a condom has split or a missed contraceptive pill). There are two types of emergency contraception:

1THE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE or ‘morning after’ pill. A pill which works by stopping or delaying the release of an egg from the ovaries (ovulation). The pill needs to be taken within 3-5 days after the contact with semen occurs, and the sooner it’s taken the more effective it will be. Hormonal IUS 2 THE EMERGENCYCopper IUD INTRAUTERINE DEVICE (IUD). The IUD (please see LARC) can be inserted up to 5 days after contact with semen occurs, and can then be left in as an ongoing form of contraception. It’s the most effective method of emergency contraception. So there are many contraceptive options available, but which one is the best one? Well, it all depends on you! Everyone is unique, and what works for one person, may not work for another. Things you might consider when choosing which method of contraception you want to use, include; how effective each method is, as well as personal factors like your age, health, lifestyle and personal preference. A good place to start is to book an appointment with your GP, prison doctor or local sexual health service. All contraceptive services are free and confidential, and the trained healthcare professionals at these services will be able to talk everything through with you, so that you can make the best choice for you. Try not to be put off if the first method of contraception you try isn’t quite right, you can always stop and try a different method when you’re ready. Remember, you’ve always got options! *This is how effective each method is when they are always used correctly.