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Fact Sheet
Contraception Choices
What is contraception?
Contraception means prevention of pregnancy.
There are a number of different methods and it is
important to choose one that best meets your needs
and circumstances.
Considerations when choosing contraception should
include accurate information about:
ellecriveness in pre_nancy prevenrion
|ealr| issues w|ic| may limir some c|oices
ease ol use
side ellecrs includin_ c|an_es ro usual periods
|enelrs or|er r|an conrraceprion
cosr and availa|iliry
reversi|iliry
prorecrion a_ainsr sexually rransmissi|le inlecrions (STs)
The nost e||ectve reversLe nethods are the |t and
|orget" ong-actng reversLe contraceptves (LARCs)
ntrauterne devces (|UDs) and contraceptve npants.
Ds and implanrs:
are suira|le lor women ol any a_e
can |e used |y mosr women, even il r|ey |ave any
si_nilcanr |ealr| issues
can |e removed easily ar any rime |y a rrained |ealr|
professional and are immediately reversible on removal.
involve an inserrion and removal procedure |y a docror
or nurse
provide no prorecrion a_ainsr STs
IUDs include a hormone releasing device or copper
devices.
The hormonal IUD Mirena is a small T-shaped
device r|ar is lrred inside r|e urerus (wom|).
ver a S year rimelrame, ir slowly releases a
very low dose of progestogen hormone into
the uterus. Periods usually become lighter or
may srop w|en usin_ a |ormonal D.
T|e |ormonal D is .8% ellecrive.
The Copper intrauterine device (CuD) is a small
device made from plastic and copper that
is lrred inside r|e urerus. T|ey srop sperm
from reaching the egg and any fertilised
egg from sticking to the wall of the uterus.
They have no hormones and therefore have
no effect on the normal female cycle but periods may
|ecome |eavier w|en usin_ a copper D. CuDs are
.2% ellecrive.
Ds need ro |e replaced every S10 years dependin_ on
their type or can be removed easily at any time.
The contraceptive implant mplanon NXT is
inserred direcrly under r|e skin, on r|e
inner arm a|ove r|e el|ow, w|ere ir
continuously releases a low dose of a
progestogen hormone into the blood
stream over a 3 year timeframe.
T|e implanr works |y prevenrin_ ovularion (e__ release
lrom r|e ovary). Devices need ro |e replaced every 3
years or can |e removed earlier il required. sin_ an
implant will change a womans usual bleeding pattern
for some women this will mean little or no bleeding at
all |ur a|our 1 in S women |ave irre_ular or persisrenr
|leedin_. mplanrs are .% ellecrive.
Contraceptive injections: Depor
medroxypro_esrerone acerare (DMFA) is
_iven |y an in|ecrion inro a muscle every 12
weeks. r prevenrs pre_nancy |y sroppin_
ovulation. Periods may stop while using
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DMFA and r|ere may |e a s|orr delay in rerurn ro usual
fertility.
DMFA is 4.8% ellecrive.
Visit www.shfpa.org.au for more information.
$horter actng hornona nethods ncude the
contraceptve vagna rng NuvaRng, the ConLned
ora contraceptve p (The l) and the lrogestogen-
ony contraceptve p (nn p).
A re_ular prescriprion is needed lor |ormonal mer|ods
ol conrraceprion. None ol r|ese mer|ods provide
prorecrion a_ainsr STs. Some women can'r use r|e
combined pill or ring because of health conditions or
side effects.
All r|ree mer|ods are 1.7% ellecrive.
The contraceptive vaginal ring NuvaFin_ is
a soft plastic ring which slowly releases
low doses ol rwo |ormones, oesrro_en
and a progestogen. These hormones
are like those used in the combined oral
conrraceprive ('r|e Fill'). T|e rin_ is sell
inserted and remains in the vagina for
three weeks and then removed and replaced with the
nexr rin_ a week larer.
Combined oral contraceptive pill (r|e CC
Fill) commonly relerred ro as 'T|e Fill',
is an oral conrraceprive raken daily. r
contains the hormones oestrogen and
a progestogen. These hormones are
similar to those naturally produced by
the female body. The pill may help with acne or heavy
periods. Pills rely on regular and consistent daily use to
be effective.
Progestogen-only contraceptive pill (FF)
somerimes relerred ro as 'T|e MiniFill'
is an oral conrraceprive raken daily. r
conrains a low dose ol pro_esro_en,
similar to those naturally produced by the
lemale |ody. T|e FF can |e used |y mosr women,
even il r|ey |ave any si_nilcanr |ealr| issues. Fills rely
on regular and consistent daily use to be effective.
Barrer nethods are condons and the daphragn.
They prevent senen |ron enterng the uterus and can
Le an e||ectve nethod o| contracepton when used
consstenty and correcty.
Condoms are the only method that offers protection
from both unintended pregnancy and STIs.
The male condom is a s|ear| made ol larex or
polyurer|ane, w|ic| is rolled onro r|e erecr penis |elore
sex. T|e male condom is 828% ellecrive lor pre_nancy
prevention and consistent use is very important if they
are the sole method of contraception. Condoms can be
used in conjunction with other methods to
increase contraceptive effectiveness.
The female condom is a polyurethane
s|ear|, w|ic| is inserred inro r|e va_ina
|elore sex. r |as rwo lexi|le rin_s ro
keep ir in place in r|e va_ina. T|e lemale condom is 7
S% ellecrive.
The diaphragm is a solr, domes|aped silicone
cap wir| a lexi|le rim, w|ic| is placed
in r|e va_ina |elore sex ro cover r|e
cervix and srop sperm _errin_ inro r|e
urerus. A diap|ra_m s|ould |e lrred lor
the right size by a doctor or nurse and
instructions provided on how to use it.
T|e diap|ra_m is 884% ellecrive.
Other nethods ncude. Lactatona anenorrhoea
nethod (LAM), Fertty awareness Lased nethods
(FABMs) and wthdrawa. |n typca use these are ess
e||ectve than other nethods.
LAM is the use of breastfeeding as a contraceptive
method. Breastfeeding reduces the probability of
ovularion (e__ release) occurrin_, r|erelore reducin_ r|e
chance of a pregnancy.
LAM is 8% ellecrive w|en all 3 crireria are mer:
mensrrual periods |ave nor rerurned
_ave |irr| less r|an o monr|s a_o
lully |reasrleedin_ ( nor leedin_ r|e |a|y wir| any lood
or milk supplemenrs)
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FABMs do not rely on the use of hormones or devices.
FABMs include any mer|od |ased on r|e idenrilcarion
of the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle to indicate
w|en sexual inrercourse s|ould |e avoided ro prevenr
pre_nancy. FABMs are 7S.o% ellecrive and require
specilc educarion lrom experrs in r|is leld.
Withdrawal is where the man takes his penis
our (wir|draws) lrom r|e woman's va_ina |elore |e
e|aculares (comes). r is also known as coirus inrerruprus.
Wir|drawal is 787% ellecrive and is nor recommended
as a reliable form of contraception.
Energency contracepton (EC) can reduce the rsk o|
unntended pregnancy a|ter unprotected sex.
EC s not a nethod o| reguar contracepton. Usng
a reaLe |orn o| contracepton s the Lest ongong
protecton aganst unpanned pregnancy.
T|ere are rwo rypes ol EC r|e emer_ency conrraceprion
pill (ECF), a pill conrainin_ a pro_esro_en |ormone and
r|e CuD.
The ECP can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected
sex |ur ir is mosr ellecrive il raken in r|e
lrsr 24 |ours. W|en raken in r|e lrsr 72
|ours (3 days), ir prevenrs a|our 8S% ol
expecred pre_nancies.
Visit www.shfpa.org.au for more information.
A copper intrauterine contraceptive device
(CuD) can also |e used as EC. W|en
inserred in r|e lrsr 120 |ours (S days) alrer
sex, ir prevenrs a|our % ol expecred
pre_nancies. A CuD r|en provides
immediate and ongoing contraception.
lernanent contracepton (stersaton) |or nen or
wonen nvoves a sna operaton Ly a surgca doctor
wth genera or oca anaesthesa
Srerilisarion is permanenr conrraceprion w|ic| can'r |e
reversed. Srerilisarion mer|ods are .S% ellecrive.
Female sterilisation (ru|al li_arion) involves an
operation blocking the Fallopian tubes to stop the
passa_e ol r|e ovum (e__). r is usually perlormed wir| a
general anaesthetic.
Male sterilisation (vasecromy) involves an operarion
on the vas deferens to prevent sperm formed in
r|e resres lrom |oinin_ r|e e|aculare luid. r can |e
perlormed under local anaesr|eric, olren wir| li_|r
sedation.
Ths |actsheet gves an overvew o| the varous nethods
avaaLe n Austraa. Detaed n|ornaton aLout a
o| these nethods s avaaLe on the weLstes and
at the cncs o| the sexua heath and |any pannng
organsatons sted Leow.
$exua Heath & Fany lannng Austraa
Dscaner
$exua Heath & Fany lannng Austraa has taken every care to
ensure that the n|ornaton contaned n ths puLcaton s accurate
and up-to-date at the tne o| Leng puLshed. As n|ornaton and
knowedge s constanty changng, readers are strongy advsed to
con|rn that the n|ornaton conpes wth present research, egsaton
and pocy gudenes. $HFlA accepts no responsLty |or d||cutes
that nay arse as a resut o| an ndvdua actng on ths n|ornaton and
any reconnendatons t contans.
Verson 1/May13