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Most of us know the basics and the importance of contraception, but let's have a deeper look into the effects and forms to find a method that's right for you!
1. There are both hormonal and non-hormonal forms of birth control
Due to a variety of reasons, some people cannot use hormonal birth control, so there are a range of contraception options both with and without hormones available to choose from.
HORMONAL
The Contraceptive Pill
The Implant
The Patch
The Injection
The Vaginal Ring
The Morning-after Pill
The Hormonal Coil (IUS)
NON -HORMONAL
Condoms
The Diaphragm
The Copper Coil (IUD)
Tubal Litigation
Natural Cycles (Temperature Monitoring)
2. There are two main forms of the contraceptive pill - and they work in different ways
While there are hundreds of brands of contraceptive pills on the market, they are all made up of two types.
The Combined Pill
This pill contains both oestrogen and progesterone. It aims to prevent ovulation and separates sperm and the egg. It is common to have a period whist taking the combined pill, and the way you take it varies depending on the brand you use.
MONOPHASIC - All of the pills in this pack are exactly the same, you take it for 21 days and then break for 7 to have a period.
PHASIC - The level of hormones within these pills varies, so the tablets must be taken in the specific order. To help with recognising different pills they are often in different colours. Similarly to monophasic, a 7 day break is taken for a period.
EVERY DAY - There are 28 pills in this pack as opposed to 21, and 7 of them are 'dummy' pills to enable a period to occur. They must be taken in the specific order also.
Progesterone-only Pill (Mini Pill)
This pill omits oestrogen, which is ideal for people who need to avoid this hormone. It works similarly to the combined pill, however it does need to be taken every day to be effective. As a result of this, it is likely for periods to become lighter, irregular or possibly stop altogether; do not worry if you haven't bled in a while!
3. The Morning-after Pill is only effective before you ovulate
The most popular form of emergency contraception is the "morning-after pill". It should not be used as a regular form of contraception and does work differently than the contraceptive pill. There are two types - ellaOne and Levonelle, and they both work to delay or prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovaries). Therefore, if ovulation has already occurred, these pills will be ineffective in attempting to prevent a pregnancy from occurring.
Levonelle needs to be taken within 3 days of having sex, while ellaOne can be taken up to 5 days after having sex. The pills reduce in effectivity the later you take them post intercourse, and do not continue to protect you from pregnancy moving forward.
4. There are two types of Contraceptive Coils
There is both a hormonal and non-hormonal coil available as forms of contraception.
IUD - Copper Coil
The IUD (Intrauterine Device) is a small plastic t-shaped device which has copper wire would around the centre and is inserted in the uterus. The Copper Coil is a non-hormonal form of contraception, and can also be used as a form of emergency contraception following unprotected sex. Copper is toxic to sperm, so it repels them from reaching the uterus. Once inserted, it is effective and can last to around 5 years. It typically makes periods heavier and last longer.
IUS - Mirena Coil
The IUS (Intrauterine System) is similar to the copper coil, except it contains a slow release of progestogen (like progesterone hormone). The coil aims to prevent ovulation and deter sperm from reaching the egg. Similar to the progesterone-only pill, the IUS reduces periods.
5. You can only get pregnant during 6 days out of your monthly cycle
We have all heard conflicting information about when during our cycle we are most fertile. However there are actually only 6 days out of an average 28 day cycle that fertilisation can occur. Let me break this down:
Ovulation occurs typically during the middle of your cycle (with the first day of your period being Cycle Day 1) so roughly Day 14. Ovulation only lasts for up to 24 hours - this is when the one egg is released from your ovaries into the uterus this month. After these 24 hours, the egg dissolves and is released through your period the next cycle. So this is one possible day, but the remaining 5 days are due to the fact that sperm can live for up to five days in the uterus. So if you had sex on day 10 of your cycle, that sperm could stay there until day 14 when the egg is released, thus the chance of becoming pregnant. If your body typically ovulates earlier than day 14, then there is a possibility that you could become pregnant from sex on your period.
Body temperature fluctuates significantly during a menstrual cycle. Temperatures typically drop just before ovulation occurs, and then rise significantly following the fertile window. Natural Cycles is a method of contraception which utilises this information, combined with the technique of temperature monitoring, to deduct when you are fertile and not. You can check out their website here to learn more about this hormone-free contraception method.
6. Hormonal birth control can cause some prescription medications to be ineffective
It is important to always consult your doctor before using any hormonal forms of birth control as some medications (such as anti-depressants) can interfere with them and make either medication ineffective.
7. The "Pull-out Method" is not effective for contraception
The main reason for this is due to a substance called "pre-ejaculatory fluid" which can enter the vagina before ejaculation. It is not possible to prevent this from occurring and also the timing of withdrawal is often miscalculated, so make sure to look at alternative methods of contraception to ensure you are protected.
8. Condoms come in different sizes
The myth that some people cannot wear a condom due to their size is usually inaccurate and due to the fact that they are not wearing the right size. A condom that measures too short or narrow is more likely to feel uncomfortable or slip off, and this is the same with being too long or wide. Condoms play a vital role in preventing the spreading of STIs, which is something that no other contraceptive options can offer. So do not be deterred from using them, just make sure your partner measures appropriately.
9. The Pill is less effective on a higher BMI
If your weight is on the higher end of the BMI scale, hormonal contraception such as the pill and more are proven to be less effective. It is important to discuss with your doctor whether a non-hormonal contraception might therefore be more effective for you. This also applies for the morning-after pill, so opting for an IUD might be the more effective route in an emergency.
10. No method of contraception is 100% effective
Despite our best efforts to protect ourselves from pregnancy, there is always a chance that a contraceptive method can fail. Different methods have varying rates of effectiveness, with most sitting in the 90-99% range, and these figures also differ between perfect or typical use. Keep this in mind when engaging in sexual activity and make sure you have safe steps in place to follow if pregnancy is to occur.
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