With 15 types of contraception available for free via the NHS it can be difficult to decide which one you’d prefer to use. Clinics that specialise in family planning methods can help you make a decision that is based on a range of factors mentioned here, so you get the best contraception for your lifestyle and wellness, as there are health conditions that rule out some methods.
Effectiveness
All the techniques have a slightly different effectiveness rate, so if you know that you definitely don’t want to get pregnant, then picking hormone-based methods could benefit your wellbeing more. These techniques use hormones to stop you ovulating, meaning there is no egg for sperm to fertilise. Hormones can be placed under the skin via contraceptive implants and injections or in some intrauterine devices (IUDs) that are put in your womb by specially-trained staff.
Patches put on your skin, the combined and progestogen-only pills also use hormones to stop ovulation with all of these being at least 99 per cent effective. With those you take or insert yourself it’s important to use them correctly to keep them as working as well as they can. Barrier methods are less effective, with male condoms working 98 per cent of the time and female varieties being 95 per cent effective. Diaphragms and caps are between 92 per cent and 96 per cent effective, while the hormone-free IUD has a success rate of 99 per cent.
Health
If you’re over 35 and smoke you may not be recommended the combined pill, as it could cause health problems. Instead, you may be able to choose from progestogen-type methods, such as the IUD and contraceptive implants, injections and the mini pill. Also you may be advised to avoid all hormone methods if you’ve suffered from various health conditions like breast cancer and migraines. Overweight people may prefer to avoid the contraceptive injection as this has been linked with mild weight gain.
Convenience
If you don’t mind remembering to take combined pills every day, or using barrier methods each and every time you have sex, then these techniques may suit you more. The contraceptive implants and IUDs are useful if you feel that you might forget to take tablets or aren’t confident using barrier methods effectively. IUDs, implants, injections and patches sometimes don’t need replacing for years, depending on the type you use, so are very convenient for some. All these contraceptives give you more control over your family planning, although condoms are the only method that can protect your sexual health from infections, so you may be advised to use them with other contraceptive techniques.
What to Think About When Choosing Contraception
