Women's Health
What's your method?

According to the Family Planning Association many women spend less than five minutes choosing a method of contraception. So here's our at-a-glance guide to what's available

Hormonal methods

Combined pill

What is it? A tablet that contains the hormones oestrogen and progestogen.

How effective is it? More than 99 percent

Pros and cons Can improve premenstrual symptoms and heavy, painful periods. Must be taken every day for 21 days, followed by a seven-day break. Missing pills can reduce its effectiveness (as can vomiting and diarrhoea). Not suitable for everyone.

Mini pill

What is it? A tablet that contains progestogen only.

How effective is it? 99 percent

Pros and cons Suitable for more women than the combined pill. Can improve premenstrual symptoms and heavy, painful periods. Must be taken every day, usually within three hours of the same time. Late pills, vomiting and diarrhoea can reduce its effectiveness.

Patch

What is it? A skin patch that releases oestrogen and progestogen.

How effective is it? More than 99 percent

Pros and cons Patches must be changed once a week for three weeks, followed by a seven-day break. They can sometimes cause skin irritations. And like the combined pill, they're not suitable for everyone.

Injection

What is it? An injection of progestogen.

How effective is it? More than 99 percent

Pros and cons Long-lasting method (the injection lasts eight or 12 weeks). Can cause side effects and make periods longer and heavier (or stop). Fertility takes up to two years to return to normal after your last injection.

Implant

What is it? A small tube implanted in the upper arm that releases progestogen.

How effective is it? More than 99 percent

Pros and cons Long-lasting method (up to three years). May change your periods and cause occasional side effects. Must be fitted by a nurse or doctor. Fertility returns once the implant is removed.

IUS

What is it? A plastic t-shaped device inserted in the uterus that releases progestogen.

How effective is it? More than 99 percent

Pros and cons Lasts for five years. May make periods stop or become lighter and shorter. Can cause irregular bleeding initially, as well as some side effects. Must be fitted and removed by a nurse or doctor (fertility returns within a month after removal).

Ring

What is it? A flexible ring inserted in the vagina that releases oestrogen and progestogen.

How effective is it More than 99 percent

Pros and cons Easy to use. Must be replaced once a month (lasts three weeks, then you have a week off). Can cause similar side-effects as combined pill.

Non-hormonal methods

Condom (male and female)

What is it? A sheath made from latex or polyurethane that stops sperm getting to an egg.

How effective is it? 98 percent (male condoms) and 95 percent (female condoms)

Pros and cons Side-effect free and widely available, they also protect against sexually-transmitted infections (STIs). Can be difficult to use and may split if not used properly. Latex condoms can cause allergies.

Diaphragm/cap

What is it? A latex or silicone dome that fits inside the vagina (caps are slightly smaller than diaphragms).

How effective is it? 92-96 percent.

Pros and cons Fiddly to use, but they protect against some STIs as well as cervical cancer. Latex types can cause allergies.

IUD

What is it? A plastic and copper device that's fitted in the uterus (also called a coil).

How effective is it? More than 99 percent

Pros and cons Lasts up to 10 years. Can be removed at any time (fertility returns to normal after removal). Must be fitted by a nurse or doctor, and the procedure can be uncomfortable. Can make periods heavier and longer.

Natural family planning

What is it? A method that helps you calculate when you can have sex without getting pregnant.

How effective is it? Up to 99 percent.

Pros and cons You have to learn the method properly for it to be effective, and it could take three to six months to master. No side effects. But if you have sex during your fertile period, you must use another contraception method.

Sterilisation (male and female)

What is it? Surgical procedure that blocks fallopian tubes in women and tubes that carry sperm to the penis in men.

How effective is it? Only one in 2,000 men and one in 200 women experience failure (in tiny number of cases, the tubes can rejoin).

Pros and cons Permanent method. No side effects. Only suitable for people who are certain they don't want any more children.

Advice resource

For more in-depth information on contraception – and to find a clinic near you – check out the following:

Family Planning Association (fpa) 0845 122 8690 (0845 122 8687 in Northern Ireland), www.fpa.org.uk

NHS Choices: www.nhs.uk

Brook (advice for under-25s): 0808 802 1234, www.brook.org.uk

Talk Choice: www.talkchoice.co.uk

Women's Health Information: www.womens-health.co.uk