What is contraception?

Contraception is designed to prevent pregnancy. A woman can only get pregnant if a man’s sperm reaches one of her eggs. Contraception is designed to stop this from happening by keeping the sperm and the egg apart, stopping egg productions, and stopping the combined sperm and egg from attaching from the lining of the womb.

Different types of contraception

There are a variety of different contraception’s that you can use in order to stop yourself from getting pregnant. Condoms are the best ones as they also protect both you and your partners sexual health.

Below are non-permanent methods of contraception.

Caps

A cap or a contraceptive diaphragm is a circular dome that is made from thin, soft silicone. It is designed to be inserted into the vagina before sex. It covers the cervix so sperm is unable to get into the womb, meaning that it cannot fertilise an egg.

If you use a cap correctly with spermacide it can be between 92-96% effective at preventing pregnancy.

One of the benefits of contraceptive diaphragms is that they do not have any serious health risks. You also only have to think about it when you have sex, so you do not need to worry about constantly taking a pill.

Some negatives include the fact that some women develop cystitis when they use the cap.

Combined pill

The combined oral contraceptive pill, or the pill, is a very common method of contraception. The pill contains artificial versions of female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which women produce naturally in their ovaries.

The pill works by thickening the mucus in the neck of the womb, making it harder for sperm to penetrate the womb and reach an egg. It also thins the lining of the womb, meaning that there will be less chance of a fertilised egg implanting into the womb and being able to grow.

If used correctly, the pill is over 99% effective. Some women find it difficult to remember to take the pill every day, and it becomes much less effective if it is not used correctly.

Condoms (female)

Female condoms are made from soft, thin synthetic latex or latex. They are designed to be worn inside the vagina to prevent semen from getting into the womb. If used correctly, the female condom can be 95% effective. Female condoms protect against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

Female condoms are designed to be placed inside the vagina before there has been any contact with the penis. It is best to always buy condoms that have the CE mark on them.

Female condoms are a barrier method of contraception and prevent sperm from meeting the egg.

Condoms (male)

Condoms are the only type of contraception that can fully prevent pregnancy and protect against sexually transmitted infections.

Male condoms are made from very thin latex rubber, polisoprene or polyurethane. These are designed to stop a man’s semen from coming into contact with his sexual partner.

When used correctly condoms are 98% effective. They are widely available and you can get them for free from chemists or sexual health clinics.

Contraceptive implant

The contraceptive implant is a small, flexible plastic rod, and is designed to be placed under the skin in your upper arm by a doctor.

The contraceptive in place releases progesterone into the users bloodstream and is designed to prevent pregnancy. The implant usually lasts for around three years.

The implant is more than 99% effective, and once in place you don’t need to think about it again for another three years.

Contraceptive injection

The contraceptive injection releases the hormone progestogen into your bloodstream to preven pregnancy. Depo-Provera is the most commonly one given in the UK and lasts for 13 weeks.

If used correctly, the contraceptive injection us more than 99% effective. It is very useful for women who find it difficult to take the pill at the same time every day.

There are some side effects which include weight gain, headaches, mood swings, breast tenderness and irregular bleeding.

Contraceptive patch

The contraceptive patch is a small sticky parch that releases hormones into your body through your skin. When used correctly the patch is more than 99% effective. Each patch lasts one week, and you can change your patch every week for three weeks.

The patch can cause a rise in blood pressure, and some temporary side effects like headaches can develop. The patch may also protect against some types of cancers.

Intrauterine device (IUD)

IUDs are a small t-shaped plastic and copper device that is put into the womb by a doctor. It releases copper that prevents you from getting pregnant.

The IUD is more than 99% effective and can last for 5 to 10 years depending on the type. It can be put in at any time during your menstrual cycle, as long as you’re not pregnant. It can also be taken out at any time by a doctor.

The down sides of having an IUD is that your periods can be heavier, longer and sometimes more painful. There is also a small risk of getting an infection after it has been fitted.

Intrauterine system (IUS)

An IUS is a small, T-shaped plastic device that is put into your womb by a doctor or nurse. It releases progestogen which stops you from getting pregnant, and lasts for 3 to 5 years.

When inserted correctly the IUS is more than 99% effective. It can also make your periods lighter, shorter or stop altogether.

However, like any form of hormonal contraception there are some side effects, including mood swings and skin probelms.

Natural family planning

Natural family plannin is a method of contraception where a woman monitors her fertility signals throughout her cycle.

If followed correctly then it can be up to 99% effective. The biggest benefit of this method is that there are no physical side effets, and you can use it to plan when you want to get pregnant.

Progestogen-only pill

The progestogen-only pill prevents pregnancy by thickening the mucus in the cervix to stop sperm reaching an egg. It contains the hormone progestogen, and you will need to take it daily.

If taken correctly this pill is 99% effective. This pill is usually used by women who cannot use an oestrogen based pill. If you are sick after taking this pill, then it won’t be effective.

Vaginal ring

The vaginal ring is a small soft, plastic ring that is designed to be placed inside your vagina. It releases a continuous dose of oestrogen and progestogen into the bloodstream in order to prevent pregnancy.

It is more than 99% effective, and one ring provides contraception for a month so you don’t have to think about it daily.

There are two permanent methods of contraception that mean you will be unable to have children.

Female sterilisation

Female sterilisation is an operation to permanently prevent pregnancy. It works by blocking or sealing the fallopian tubes, which prevents the speak from reaching the eggs.

This method is more than 99% effective and you don’t have to think about protecting yourself against pregnancy every time you have sex. It also doesn’t affect your hormone levels and you will still have periods.

Male sterilisation (vasectomy)

A vasectomy is a surgical procedure to cur or seal the tubes that carry a man’s sperm. This will permanently prevent the chances of pregnancy.

Where can I get contraception?

If you would like to get contraception then many people can get free contraception from a local sexual health clinic. You can also get contraception from online sex toy shops or physical stores like chemists.

If you have any more questions on contraception then please feel free to contact us and one of our sexual health experts will get back to you as soon as possible.