Contraception is a cornerstone of reproductive health, offering the power of choice and the ability to plan your family and future. Understanding your options and how they align with your personal health needs and lifestyle will help you to make an informed decision.
In Australia, contraception use is widespread, reflecting a strong awareness and acceptance of family planning practices. However, despite the high usage rates of contraception, there are still cases of unintended pregnancies, highlighting the need for improved education and access to a broader range of contraceptive methods. Dr Huang provides personalised guidance around your contraceptive options tailored to your personal preferences and family planning.
The contraceptive pill remains one of the most popular methods, used by around 33% of Australian women of reproductive age. However, there is a growing trend towards long acting reversible contraception (LARCs), such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants, due to their higher efficacy and longer duration of action.
The choice of a particular method of contraception can depend on:
It is important to know that there are many contraceptive options available. Consulting with your GP or a fertility specialist and giving yourself adequate time to trial a particular method can help to determine the right choice for you.
Bear in mind that most birth control methods prevent pregnancy; however, most methods of birth control do not offer protection against sexually transmitted infections except for barrier contraception such as condoms.
With a range of methods available, you can find an option that best fits your lifestyle and health needs. Ongoing education, open conversations with healthcare providers, and access to comprehensive services are vital in navigating the complex landscape of contraception. By staying informed and proactive, you can ensure that you are making the best decisions for your reproductive health and wellbeing.
Many family planning techniques are available without specialist input, though it will be helpful to ensure you have an accurate understanding of how these methods prevent pregnancy.
Abstinence refers to refraining from sexual intercourse. It is the only family planning method that is 100% effective in preventing a pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted infections.
This method relies on monitoring of the female partner’s physiological signs that indicate ovulation, such as her basal body temperature or cervical mucus changes. She then abstains from unprotected intercourse around the time of ovulation.
The withdrawal method involves completely removing the man’s penis from the woman’s body before he ejaculates. This approach has a comparatively lower pregnancy prevention success rate of around 80%, as it relies on the man timing his withdrawal accurately. Sperm may also be present in pre-ejaculate, released into the woman’s body before the man experiences full ejaculation and attempts to withdraw.
Barrier methods are one of the most common approaches to family planning, including male condoms, female condoms, diaphragm, cervical cap, and contraceptive sponge. These devices may be used in conjunction with a spermicidal (sperm killing) gel to increase their effectiveness. Barrier methods can also help to prevent contracting a sexually transmitted infection.
Other forms of contraception require a doctor, whether GP or gynaecologist, to prescribe or administer. These include long-acting reversible contraceptives, an increasingly popular option of family planning among Australian women, and permanent contraception.
An oral contraceptive pill may contain progesterone only (the mini pill or Slinda) or a combination of oestrogen and progesterone. The progesterone-only pill prevents sperm from reaching the egg for fertilisation, while the combined pill prevents ovulation altogether. To be effective, the pill must be taken daily. Around 9% of women fall pregnant while on the pill due to forgetting to take it regularly, being on another medication that interferes with the pill’s absorption, or from diarrhoea or vomiting that passes the pill too rapidly from the body.
An IUD is a device that is placed inside your uterus to prevent pregnancy. It is either made of copper or contains a slow-release progesterone hormone, both of which create an environment unconducive for sperm to fertilise an egg or for a pregnancy to take place. IUDs are a form of long-acting reversible contraception and, depending on the type, may need replacement only once every 5, 8 or 10 years. As a form of family planning, IUDs are 99% effective.
Contraceptive implants are small, flexible rods inserted under the skin of your inner upper arm that slowly release a progestogen hormone to prevent pregnancy. As a type of long-acting reversible contraceptive, these devices have a lifespan of three years before needing replacement. A contraceptive implant is over 99.8% effective at family planning.
Other hormonal methods of contraception containing oestrogen and/or progesterone can include injections and vaginal rings. These methods work by preventing your ovaries from releasing an egg, or changing your cervical mucus to make it impenetrable to sperm.
Tubal ligation for women (cutting and sealing the fallopian tubes) and salingectomy (removal of fallopian tube), or vasectomy for men (cutting and sealing the vas deferens) are permanent forms of contraception, also known as sterilisation. These surgical procedures are recommended only for individuals who are confident they do not want any children in the future. In certain cases, a tubal ligation or vasectomy can be undone but the reversal is not guaranteed to be successful.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Testing may help identify ovulation issues, hormone imbalances, ovarian reserve concerns and other factors affecting fertility.
