CONTRACEPTION AT A GLANCE
- There are a lot of contraception options out there - the question is what one suits you best?1
- You might find yourself asking: Which method will be best for me and my lifestyle?1
WHAT IS IT?
What Is Contraception?
The definition of contraception is a method or device used to prevent pregnancy. A woman can get pregnant if a man's sperm reaches one of her eggs (ova).19
Contraception tries to stop this happening by: keeping the egg and sperm apart, stopping egg production, stopping the combined sperm and egg (fertilized egg) attaching to the lining of the womb.19
With 15 methods to choose from, you can find one that suits you best.19
WHAT DO I DO IF…
THE CONDOM BROKE
I FORGOT MY PILL
WE HAD UNPROTECTED SEX
DON’T MYTH WITH ME
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Many women have heard that it's good to have a break from hormonal contraception. Women might want to check that their periods are still normal, or to give their bodies a rest.20
It does no harm to be on contraception for many years. There is no medical need to have a break from hormones, and it's safe to be on hormonal contraception as long as a woman wants to (unless her health changes).20
Even if hormonal contraception changes the pattern of periods, fertility will come back once contraception is stopped.20
Most combination pills come in 28-day or 21-day packs. Take 1 pill every day for 28 days (four weeks) in a row, and then start a new pack on day 29. The last pills in 28-day do not have hormones in them called "reminder".2
Take 1 pill every day for 21 days (3 weeks) in a row. Then don’t take any pills for seven days (week 4). There is no reminder (hormone-free) pills.2
Progestin-only pills only come in 28-day (4 week) packs. All 28 pills have hormones. You must take every pill in a progestin-only pack to be protected from pregnancy there is no hormone-free week.2
Having an IUS fitted can be uncomfortable, but you can have a local anesthetic to help. Discuss this with a doctor beforehand. Some women experience headaches, acne and breast tenderness after having the IUS fitted. Some women experience changes in mood and libido, but these changes are very small.21
*IUS : Intra-uterine system
Pulling out is exactly what it sounds like: pulling the penis out of the vagina before ejaculation. If semen (cum) gets in your vagina, you can get pregnant. So, ejaculating away from a vulva or vagina prevents pregnancy. But you have to be sure to pull out before any semen comes out, every single time you have vaginal sex, in order for it to work. The best way to make the pull- out method effective is to use it with another type of birth control.22
*AKA : as known as
If you have taken all pills correctly and have a very light or miss a period, keep taking your pills. If you miss two periods in a row, call the clinic. If you miss any pills and miss a period, call the clinic. You may need a pregnancy test.23
Douching is not an effective method of contraception. After ejaculation, the sperm enter the cervix and are out of reach of any douching solution. Also, douching is not recommended as it can disrupt the delicate bacterial balance of the vagina, causing irritation or infection.24
