There are several issues to consider when deciding which method of contraception is right for you.
Once you’ve read this information, go to your GP or local contraceptive (or family planning) clinic to discuss your choices.
And remember, the only way to protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is to use a condom every time you have sex. Other methods of contraception prevent pregnancy but don't protect against STIs.
Click on the questions below to go directly to the answers.
How effective are the different methods?
The list below shows how effective each of the 15 different methods is, and how often you need to use them or think about them (frequency of use).
The effectiveness of each method is worked out by calculating how many women get pregnant if 100 women use the method for a year. For example, if a particular contraceptive method is 99% effective, one woman out of every hundred who uses it will get pregnant in a year.
Some methods listed below, such as the Pill, include the term ‘if used correctly’. This is because people who use these methods have to use them every time they have sex, or remember to take or apply them every day, week or month. If the method isn’t used correctly it won't be as effective.
- Contraceptives that are more than 99% effective:
Contraceptive injection (renewed every three months).
Contraceptive implant (up to three years).
Intrauterine system, or IUS (up to five years).
Intrauterine device, or IUD, also called the coil (up to five years).
Female sterilisation (permanent).
Male sterilisation (permanent).
- Contraceptives that are more than 99% effective if used correctly:
Contraceptive patch (renewed each week for three weeks in every month).
Vaginal ring (renewed each week for three weeks in every month).
Combined pill (taken every day for three weeks out of every month).
Progestogen-only pill (taken every day).
- 99% effective if used according to teaching instructions:
Natural family planning (operates on a monthly basis).
- 98% effective if used correctly:
Male condom (every time you have sex).
- 95% effective if used correctly:
Female condom (every time you have sex).
- 92-96% effective if used correctly:
Diaphragm with spermicide (every time you have sex).
Cap with spermicide (every time you have sex).
Can you make contraception part of your daily routine?
If you’re a well-organised person with a reasonably regular routine, then you have a wide choice of contraception. This is because you're less likely to forget about your contraception, for example forgetting to take a pill or to reapply a patch.
You may want to use a method that you only need to use when you have sex, such as the male and female condom, or you may prefer a method that you need to take every day, such as the Pill. Or you may want to consider methods such as the patch, injection or implant, which you don’t need to use every day or each time you have sex.
The list below shows how often you need to use, replace or take each contraceptive method. Once you've looked at the list, ask your GP, or doctor or nurse at your local clinic, for more details.
- Methods that are used each time you have sex:
Male and female condoms.
Diaphragm or cap.
- Methods that are taken every day:
Pill (the combined pill or the progestogen-only pill).
- Methods that are replaced every week:
Contraceptive patch.
- Methods that are replaced every month:
Vaginal ring.
- Methods that are renewed every three months:
Contraceptive injection.
- Methods that are renewed up to every three years:
Contraceptive implant.
- Methods that are renewed up to every five years:
Intrauterine device (IUD).
Intrauterine system (IUS).
Would you prefer contraception that you don’t have to remember every day?
Not all contraceptives have to be taken every day like the Pill.
You don't have to think about some contraceptives for months or years. These methods need to be inserted by a health professional into your uterus (IUD or IUS), or your arm (the implant):
- Intrauterine device (IUD): up to five years.
- Intrauterine system (IUS): up to five years.
- Contraceptive implant: every three years.
- Contraceptive injection: every three months.
Other contraceptives need to be changed or replaced every month or week:
- Vaginal ring: worn for three weeks out of every four.
- Contraceptive patch: a new patch is used each week for three weeks out of every four.
Other contraceptives are used or inserted just before sex:
- Diaphragm or cap.
- Male or female condom.
Ask your GP, or a doctor or nurse at your local contraceptive clinic, for more details.
Are you comfortable inserting contraceptives into your vagina?
If you're a woman, are you comfortable inserting contraceptives into your own vagina? If so, you could consider using:
- female condoms,
- a diaphragm or cap, or
- a vaginal ring.
If you don't mind a health professional inserting a contraceptive through your vagina and into your uterus, and you'd like a method that's longer-term, you could consider using:
- Intrauterine device (IUD).
- Intrauterine system (IUS).
Contraceptives that don’t need to be inserted through your vagina are:
- the contraceptive implant,
- the contraceptive injection,
- the contraceptive patch, and
- the Pill (combined or progestogen-only).
Do you mind if your periods change?
Some contraceptives can affect your periods. Some may make your periods lighter or more infrequent. Others may make your periods heavier or more irregular. Ask your GP, or doctor or nurse at your local clinic, for more details.
Contraceptives that can make your periods lighter include:
- the Pill (the combined pill or the progestogen-only pill),
- contraceptive patch,
- intrauterine system (IUS), and
- vaginal ring.
Do you smoke?
Smokers can use most types of contraception, but if you’re a smoker and you’re over 35 years old, some contraceptives (such as the combined pill or the vaginal ring) might not be suitable for you. Ask your GP, or a doctor or nurse at your local clinic, for more details.
If you're over 35 and you smoke, you can consider the following types of contraceptive:
- intrauterine device (IUD),
- intrauterine system (IUS),
- contraceptive implant,
- contraceptive injection,
- contraceptive patch, and
- progestogen-only pill.
Are you overweight?
Your weight won’t affect most types of contraception, and contraception won’t make you put on weight. However, the contraceptive injection has been linked to a small amount of weight gain if used for two years or more.
What if you can't use hormonal contraceptives?
Some contraceptives work by using hormones that are similar to the hormones that women produce naturally. These hormones are oestrogen and progestogen.
Contraceptives that contain these hormones are not suitable for some women, for example, those who have medical conditions, such as breast cancer, circulatory problems or migraine.
Not all contraceptive methods use hormones, and there are a number of methods that work in other ways, including:
- intrauterine device (IUD),
- male or female condoms, and
- diaphragm or cap.
What if you can't use contraceptives that contain oestrogen?
Contraceptives that contain oestrogen are not suitable for women who:
- are over 35 and who smoke,
- are very overweight,
- take certain medicines, or
- suffer from certain medical conditions, such as migraines.
If you can't use contraceptives that contain oestrogen, there are plenty of other options, including:
- intrauterine device (IUD),
- intrauterine system (IUS),
- contraceptive implant,
- contraceptive injection,
- contraceptive patch, or
- progestogen-only pill.
Are you taking medicines for other conditions?
Some contraceptives can be affected if you’re taking other medicines, but there are plenty of options. Ask your GP, nurse or your local clinic for more details.
Contraceptives that are not affected by other medicines are:
- intrauterine device (IUD),
- contraceptive injection,
- diaphragm or cap, and
- male or female condoms.
Do you want to get pregnant in the near future?
All methods of contraception can be stopped if you want to have a baby. Your fertility may take longer to return to normal after using certain methods. If you want your fertility to return to normal as soon as you stop using contraception, then consider these methods:
- contraceptive implant,
- intrauterine system (IUS),
- intrauterine device (IUD),
- diaphragm or cap, and
- male or female condoms.
You can get pregnant as soon as you stop taking the progestogen-only pill or using the vaginal ring. But consider delaying trying to get pregnant for a couple of months while your body adjusts.
If you’re using the combined pill or the contraceptive patch, it can take a few months for your fertility to get back to normal.
It can take up to a year for your fertility to return to normal after stopping the contraceptive injection. But most women's fertility will return to normal in a few months.
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