Your guide to contraception
The Injection
How good is it?
It is over 99% effective in stopping pregnancy. This means that about one female in every hundred will get pregnant in a year.
How does it work?
It gives you a dose of the hormone progestogen which puts your ovaries to sleep. It thins the lining of the womb so the womb can't hold a fertilised egg and thickens the mucous at the entrance to the womb helping to stop any sperm getting in.
How do you use it?
You have an injection at the top of your bottom cheek every 12 weeks.
Good points
Once you've had the injection you don't have to worry about contraception for twelve weeks.
It may lower your risk of cancer of the womb.
Your periods may stop.
Bad points
It doesn't protect you against sexually transmitted infections.
You might have some irregular bleeding during the first few months.
It may cause some weight gain.
As with all hormonal contraception you may have some minor side effects like spots, headache and sensitive breasts.
What stops it working?
Once you have had the injection nothing can stop it working. It is very good for people who are taking drugs that interact with other forms of hormonal contraception.
The only time it may not work well is if you are late getting your next injection.
Will it affect me getting pregnant in the future?
It won't stop you getting pregnant in the future but sometimes it can take a few months or up to a year before you could become pregnant.
The implant is the size and shape of a match and has the hormone progestogen inside it. It releases this hormone slowly over three years.
How good is it?
It is over 99% effective. This means that about one female in every hundred will get pregnant in a year.
How does it work?
The implant delivers a small amount of the hormone progestogen daily. This thins the lining of the womb so the womb can't hold a pregnancy and thickens the mucous at the entrance to the womb helping to stop any sperm getting in.
How do you use it?
You need to see a nurse or doctor who is trained to fit the implant. Choices nurses are able to fit them. You will have a small injection on the inside of your upper arm to numb the skin (local anaesthetic) and then the implant is fitted just under the skin.
Good points
Once it's fitted you don't need to think about contraception for three years but you will still need to use condoms to protect you against sexually transmitted infections.
Your periods may stop.
Bad points
Some people have irregular bleeding for the first few months but this tends to settle down eventually.
Some people get minor side effects such as spots, tender breasts and mood changes.
What stops it working?
Some medicines including drugs used to treat HIV/AIDS and fits (epilepsy) can make the implant less effective.
Will it affect me getting pregnant in the future?
No, you will produce an egg again quite soon after you have had it removed and your periods should go back to how they were before the implant was fitted within a few weeks.
How good is it?
It is over 99% effective. This means that about one female in every hundred will get pregnant in a year.
How does it work?
The progestogen in the intrauterine system thins the lining of the womb so the womb can't hold a pregnancy and thickens the mucous at the entrance to the womb helping to stop any sperm getting in. In some women it stops the production of an egg.
How do you use it?
You need to see a nurse or doctor who is trained to fit it. You have a brief examination and then the device is put into your womb through your vagina.
Good points
Once it's fitted you don't need to worry about contraception for 5 years.
Your periods may be lighter or you may have no periods.
Bad points
It doesn't protect you against sexually transmitted infections.
You may have irregular bleeding for the first few months
Some people get minor side effects such as spots, tender breasts and mood changes.
What stops it working?
No other medicines affect it. It will only stop working if it moves out of place, which is very unusual.
Will it stop me getting pregnant in the future?
No. Once it is taken out you will have periods the same as you did before it was inserted.
Intrauterine Device (IUD/Coil)
This is similar in shape and size to the IUS but it has no hormone. It has copper on it which sperm don't like.
How good is it?
It is over 99% effective. This means that about one female in every hundred will get pregnant in a year.
How does it work?
It works by stopping the sperm from getting to the egg. If an egg does get fertilised it helps to stop it from embedding in the womb.
How do you use it?
You need to see a nurse or doctor who is trained to fit it. You have a brief examination and then the device is put into your womb through your vagina.
Good points
You don't have to worry about contraception from the time it is put in (but it doesn't protect you from sexually transmitted infections). It will work for between 5 and 10 years depending on which type of coil you have.
Bad points
Some people have heavier periods when they have a coil in place but their periods are the same pattern as they were before it was fitted.
It doesn't protect you against sexually transmitted infections.
There is a small chance of infection during the first few days after fitting.
What stops it working?
It isn't affected by any medicines. It will only stop working if it moves out of place, which is very unusual.
Will it affect me getting pregnant in the future?
You can become pregnant again as soon as the coil is removed.
* Page under construction*
Further information on contraceptive methods will be updated soon. If you require further information urgently, please visit us in clinic, call the office number on 0116 2898969 or visit: http://www.fpa.org.uk/