Contraception - choices

 

Summary

You can discuss your contraception options with a GP or health nurse. Different contraception methods may suit you at different times in your life.

Methods of contraception that are available include: implants, intrauterine devices (IUDs), injections, pills, vaginal rings, barrier methods, sterilisation, emergency contraception and natural methods. 

Condoms are the best available protection against sexually transmissible infections (STIs).

On this page

What is contraception?

How to choose contraception to suit your needs

Contraceptive protection from STIs

Long-acting reversible contraception

Oral contraceptive pills

Vaginal ring

Barrier methods of contraception

Permanent methods of contraception

Natural methods of contraception

Emergency contraception

Information in community languages

Where to get help

What is contraception?

whether you can stop the method yourself or need to see a health practitioner

the effort and time involved.

Some methods require more effort than others. Weigh the pros and cons and think about how each method meets your current and future needs. For example, if you decide on the pill, you need to remember to take it every day. If you choose an implant or IUD, once it has been inserted, it can last for a few years. Unless there are issues, you don’t need to think about it until it needs to be replaced.

Talk about your options with a GP or reproductive health nurse.

Contraceptive protection from STIs

As well as preventing an unintended pregnancy, it is also important to practise safer sex.

Not all methods of contraception give protection from STIs.

The best way to lessen the risk of STIs is to use condoms. Condoms (external or internal) can be used for vaginal, anal and oral sex to help stop infections from spreading.

Long-acting reversible contraception

Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) gives safe, effective contraception over a number of years.

Their lifespan varies depending on the type of LARC you use.

LARC available in Australia includes:

contraceptive implant

copper and hormonal IUDs.

IUDs and implants are the most effective (more than 99%) contraception available to prevent pregnancy. They also require replacement less often than any other method.

LARC methods do not protect you from STIs. Practise safer sex by using condoms.

Contraceptive implants

A contraceptive implant is a LARC method, available in Australia as Implanon NXT™.

It is a small plastic stick (about 4 cm long) that is placed under the skin of your upper arm. It slowly releases a low dose of the hormone progestogen, which stops your ovaries releasing an egg each month.

You will notice a change to your period, or it may stop altogether.

The implant lasts for 3 years and is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

It can easily be removed and won’t stop you from getting pregnant in the future.

It is safe to use if you are breastfeeding and can be inserted straight after the birth of your baby.

have a body mass index (BMI) over 35 kg/m2

are at risk of deep vein thrombosis, heart disease or stroke

have severe liver disease

have received treatment for breast cancer.

If you are breastfeeding, do not use the pill until your baby is 6 weeks old. Also, after birth, the combined pill is generally not recommended until your baby is 3-6 weeks old.

Check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to find out what options will work for you.

based lubricants (lube) as oil-based ones can make them break.

Condoms can be used with other forms of contraception.

External condoms are cheap and available without a doctor’s prescription from pharmacies, supermarkets, sexual health clinics and vending machines in some venues.

Internal condom

The internal condom (also known as female condom or femidom) is a loose non-latex pouch with a flexible ring at each end that sits in the vagina, to stop sperm from getting into the uterus.

If the internal condom is used the right way each time you have sex, it is 95 % effective at preventing pregnancy.

Internal condoms come in one size. They are stronger than external condoms and can be put in several hours before having sex. Use a new condom each time you have sex.

Using this method may take some practice.

Internal condoms are more expensive than external condoms. They are available from some retail outlets and sexual health clinics.

Diaphragm

A diaphragm (sold as Caya™ in Australia) is a soft, shallow, silicone dome that fits in the vagina. It is used with a special gel. You need to insert the diaphragm into the vagina so that it covers the cervix (the opening to the uterus) to stop sperm from getting through.

It needs to stay in place for at least 6 hours after sex. Do not leave the diaphragm for any more than 24 hours.

It is available in one size and may not fit everyone (around 1 in 7 people).

If used the right way, this method is 86% effective.

A diaphragm does not protect you or your partners from STIs.

Do not use a diaphragm that is past its use by date or has been used for 2 years or more.

You do not need a script to get a diaphragm – it can be bought from some pharmacies, sexual health and family planning clinics and online.

Diaphragms can be tricky to insert. It is recommended that a doctor or a nurse checks that you are able insert it correctly before it is used as contraception. Check with a doctor or nurse to find out if the diaphragm is a good option for you.

If you have recently had a baby, it is best to wait 6 weeks before using a diaphragm.

Two types of emergency contraceptive pills are available at pharmacies (chemists) without a prescription:

ulipristal acetate (sold as EllaOne) – taken up to 5 days (120 hours)

levonorgestrel (various brands) – taken up to 4 days (96 hours).

Ulipristal has been clinically demonstrated to be more effective than levonorgestrel.

Emergency contraceptive pills are not recommended as your usual method of contraception. Ask your GP or reproductive health nurse for further advice.

Information in community languages

The following is available from Health Translations Directory:

Contraception – your choices (PDF) by Royal Women's Hospital, Victoria

Arabic

Chinese (simplified)

Hindi

Spanish

Urdu

Vietnamese

Contraceptive options – what can I choose (PDF) by Sexual Health Victoria (formerly Family Planning Victoria)

Easy English

Where to get help

Your GP (doctor)

Your school nurse or welfare coordinator. Some secondary schools provide access to an adolescent health trained GP on site

Your local community health service

Your pharmacist (including after hours Victorian Supercare Pharmacies)

Some public hospitals have clinics including family planning, sexual health and women’s health