What type of contraception are you

Some you may have heard about or tried, while other options might be new to you. Finding the contraception that works best for your personal lifestyle and family planning can be very rewarding because it lets you direct your life the way you want. With so many possibilities, where do you start? What should you keep in mind? Generally, there are five categories of birth control methods. Each method works in a different way, like preventing sperm from getting to an egg or discouraging your body from releasing eggs.

But every contraceptive technique has the same primary goal of helping you avoid unwanted pregnancy. Only condoms protect against STIs when used correctly. Common methods include birth control pills you take every day, a patch you replace every week, a vaginal ring you change every month or a shot your doctor gives you every three months. All of these methods require a prescription. Emergency pills are available from the chemist with no prescription. They must be started within three days 72 hours after unprotected sex and they work best if taken as soon as possible after sex.

Women have the injection every 12 weeks for contraception. It can be used when breastfeeding. Some women will have side-effects, such as mood changes, tummy discomfort and headaches, which can last for up to 12 weeks.

Depo Provera is This is a small plastic rod, which is inserted underneath the skin on the inside of the upper arm. It slowly releases the synthetic hormone progestogen, which stops the ovaries releasing an egg each month. Most women will have a different bleeding pattern and some stop bleeding altogether. Some women will notice skin changes, mood changes or minor weight gain. It will last for three years and is a very effective method for preventing pregnancy The IUD affects sperm movement and survival in the uterus womb so that they cannot reach the egg to fertilise it.

The IUD also changes the lining of the womb endometrium so that it is not suitable for pregnancy. This prevents a fertilised egg from developing.

Both men and women can have an operation to make them sterile. The woman's operation involves blocking the fallopian tubes. It is done through the abdomen and is called a tubal occlusion and tubal ligation. The male operation is called a vasectomy. The operations are more than 99 per cent effective and are permanent.

This method is for people who have already had all the children they want. There are also now tiny inserts that can be placed inside a woman's tubes by means of a special instrument. This procedure is done through the vagina and can be done while the woman is awake. The rhythm or Billings methods, fertility awareness, mucus, ovulation and temperature methods all provide ways for your to monitor where you are at in your cycle and when you are fertile. These methods are most effective when you have regular periods.

If they are done perfectly these methods are between 95 to However, 5 in 20 women 25 per cent may get pregnant using these methods. This is when the man takes his penis out of the vagina before he ejaculates and sperm is released from the penis. This doesn't work if he forgets to withdraw his penis or is not quick enough.

Also there may be some sperm in the pre-ejaculate fluid that comes out of his penis before he ejaculates. If he ejaculates at the entrance to the vagina some sperm may still swim inside and a woman could still get pregnant with this method. Mifepristone, also called RU or the 'abortion pill', is used to terminate end a pregnancy up to nine weeks.

Abortion is one of the most common and safest types of surgery in Australia. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only.

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Skip to main content. Sexual health. Home Sexual health. Contraception - choices. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Choosing the right contraception for you Contraceptive protection from STIs Long acting reversible contraception Combined contraceptive pills and vaginal rings Barrier methods of contraception Permanent methods of contraception Natural methods of contraception Emergency contraception Where to get help.

There are many contraceptive methods available in Australia, including implants, intrauterine devices IUDs, both copper and hormonal , injections, pills, vaginal rings, barrier methods male and female condoms and diaphragms , female and male sterilisation, emergency contraception and natural methods natural family planning.

Choosing the right contraception for you When you are choosing the method of contraception that is right for you, it is important to have accurate information and to talk openly about your options with any partner. Contraceptive protection from STIs As well as preventing an unintended pregnancy, it is also important to practise safer sex.

Long acting reversible contraception Long acting reversible contraception LARC gives safe, effective contraception over a number of years how long varies, depending on the type. Both IUD types are safe in breastfeeding and are not affected by other medications.

Combined contraceptive pills and vaginal rings Combined hormonal contraception contains synthetic forms of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. These methods are generally not recommended for those who are at risk of heart disease, such as people who smoke who are over 35 years of age Combined pill The combined pill is taken as a daily tablet.

Vaginal ring The vaginal ring has similar hormones to the combined pill. Mini pill The mini pill contains a synthetic form of only one hormone, progesterone. Barrier methods of contraception Barrier methods of contraception stop sperm from getting into the uterus. Options include: male condom female condom diaphragm. Male condom The male condom is a latex or non-latex covering that is put over the erect penis, stopping sperm from getting into the vagina.

Female condom The female condom is a loose non-latex pouch with a flexible ring at each end that sits in the vagina, stopping sperm from getting into the uterus. Permanent methods of contraception Sterilisation is a permanent method of contraception that involves having a surgical procedure.

Male sterilisation — vasectomy Vasectomy involves cutting the tubes that carry sperm to stop sperm from moving from the testes to the penis. Natural methods of contraception Natural methods or fertility awareness methods of contraception include rhythm, symptothermal, cervical mucus observation and basal temperature methods.

Fertility awareness methods are not recommended in some circumstances — for example if you: have a fever, vaginal infection or polycystic ovary syndrome regularly travel through different time zones are under stress. Emergency contraception There are various types of emergency contraception that you can use after unprotected sex.

There are two types of emergency contraceptive pill, both available at pharmacies without a prescription: ulipristal UPA-EC is intended to be taken up to five days hours after unprotected sex levonorgestrel LNG-EC is intended to be taken up to four days 96 hours after unprotected sex.

No prescription is required for either of these emergency contraceptive pills. Where to get help my options can provide information on the phone about a range of private and public clinics and services Tel. Give feedback about this page.

Was this page helpful? Yes No. View all sexual health. Related information. Contraception overview - Chinese. Family Planning Victoria.

Reach Out. The law, young people and contraception - Legal aid Victoria updated April