Contraception

 

If you're thinking about having sex, you need to be thinking about contraception first. Contraception is what's used during sex to prevent pregnancy. We've put together a list on the various contraceptive options with details and advice on using each one:

Contraception is free for most people in the UK so it's worth finding one that suits you.
 

Condoms

Condoms act as a barrier, physically blocking a man's sperm from entering a woman's womb. They are also the only contraception that protect against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

The male condom is a thin sheath of latex rubber or polyurethane that fits over a boy's erect penis. The female condom is made of polyurethane and loosely lines the girl's vagina. If used correctly and consistently, male condoms are 98% effective. This means that two out of 100 women using male condoms as contraception will become pregnant in one year.

Always buy condoms that have the CE mark on the packet. This means that they've been tested to the high European safety standards. Condoms that don't have the CE mark won't meet these standards, so don't use them. 

The Pill

The Pill is the most popular form of contraception in the UK. It's taken either as a contraceptive method to prevent against pregnancy or to make periods easier to manage.

There are two types:

The combined pill

This contains two hormones: oestrogen and progestogen. It is the more effective of the two and makes a girl's periods lighter and more regular. It is usually taken for 21 days then have 7 days off (but not all pills are the same so follow your instructions)

The mini-pill

This is a progestogen-only pill. This is slightly less effective than the combined pill and it doesn't make periods easier. In fact, it can make them unreliable or disappear altogether. It is taken at the same time every day, with no break.

IUD (An intrauterine device)

An IUD is a small T-shaped plastic and copper device that’s inserted into a woman's womb. It works by preventing sperm from surviving in the cervix, womb or fallopian tubes. It may also prevent a fertilised egg from implanting in the womb. Depending on the type, an IUD can last from three to 10 years and between that time it is 99% effective. Once it's in place, you don't have to think about contraception every day or each time you have sex. It used to be called a coil.

Contraceptive injection

The injection contains progestogen which thickens the mucus in a woman's cervix, which stops sperm reaching an egg. It also thins the lining of the womb so that an egg can't implant itself there. In some women, the injection stops ovulation (the release of an egg). The contraceptive injection protects you against pregnancy for eight weeks or 12 weeks, depending on the type you use. If used correctly it's more than 99% effective. The injection is a good alternative to the pill if you'd prefer not to take tablets every day.

Contraceptive implant

This is a small (40mm), flexible tube containing progestogen. The implant is inserted under the skin of your upper arm and it lasts for three years, although you can have the implant removed at any time.

It stops the release of an egg from the ovary and is more than 99.9% effective. Like the injection, the implant is a good alternative to the pill if you'd prefer not to take tablets every day.

 

 

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