Every day, thousands of women in the UK rely on contraception to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.
But, with over 15 methods of contraception available, choosing the right method can be overwhelming.
To help you make that decision easier, here’s a summary of the most popular and effective methods of contraception. We’ve broken them down into three main categories:
- Hormonal contraception
- Barrier contraception
- Alternative methods
Hormonal Contraception
There are a number of methods of hormonal contraception, including the contraceptive pill, an injection, an implant, a patch and the coil.
This type of contraception uses one or two hormones to prevent eggs from being released from your ovaries.
Hormonal contraception also increases cervical mucus production and thins the lining of your womb. This makes it harder for sperm to enter and reach an egg and for the womb lining to accept it.
Although they have similar effects on the body, these methods differ in the way they are administered and how long they last. Some may be better suited to your lifestyle than others.
The Pill
The pill is the most widely used method of contraception and many women find it easy to fit it into their daily routine. The pill can be 99% effective when taken consistently.
All contraceptive pills contain hormones. And there are several different types of pill to choose from. There are two main types: a combined pill, which contains the hormones oestrogen and progestogen, and a progestogen-only pill.
Some pills you take every day throughout the month. Whereas others you take for 21 consecutive days followed by a seven-day pill-free period.
If either of these options are suitable for you, you can buy them online following an assessment with our online doctor to avoid waiting for an appointment.
Read our guide to different contraception pills here.
Start your assessment to see what contraceptive pill is right for you
The Implant
The implant is a small plastic rod which is inserted under the skin of the upper arm. It slowly releases hormones into the bloodstream to provide effective contraception for up to three years.
It can be implanted by a trained nurse, making it an accessible, long-lasting form of contraception.
The Injection
With this method, a hormone is injected into the bloodstream to provide contraception for up to 12 weeks.
This can be carried out in your local surgery, providing 99% effective contraception when given every three months.
The Patch
The contraceptive patch releases a hormone into the bloodstream over the course of a week.
A single patch is applied to the skin, usually the upper arm, each week for three weeks followed by one patch-free week.
The patch is sticky and therefore shouldn’t come off even when wet, for example when you bathe or swim.
The Hormonal and Copper Coil
Coils are small, T-shaped devices that are inserted into the uterus.
There are two types of coil available in the UK: intrauterine devices (IUDs), which contain copper, and intrauterine systems (IUSs), which contain hormones.
They provide a longer lasting form of contraception. You can keep IUDs in place for up to 10 years and IUSs in place for up to eight years, depending on the type.
Barrier Methods
Barrier methods include the male or female condom, which physically prevent the sperm from reaching the egg. They are the only form of contraception that stops the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.
Male Condoms
Male condoms are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy, when used correctly.
However, 15 in every 100 people a year who use condoms as contraception become pregnant. This is because people can use them incorrectly, or the condom can burst or slip off. In reality, this makes them 85% effective.
You can buy condoms in regular supermarkets or get them free of charge from sexual health clinics, pharmacies and GP practices.
Female (Internal) Condoms
Internal condoms are up to 95% effective at preventing pregnancy. However, they’re 79% effective if they’re not used correctly. That means 1 in 5 women who use them for a year will get pregnant.
Alternative Methods
The newest type of contraception, which are gaining popularity, are fertility tracking apps. The biggest – Natural Cycles – has recently gained approval to market itself as a contraceptive and has shown to be 93% effective. Although this method is accessible to the public it is not yet available on the NHS.
These apps work using a complex algorithm to track your menstrual cycle based on fluctuations in your day to day temperature. This data is then used to build a personal profile of your menstrual cycle, predicting when you will be most fertile and when contraception should be used.
They can also be used to guide ovulation if you are planning to start a family.
Sterilisation
Sterilisation may also be an option if planning a family is not on your agenda. This involves a surgical operation to block your fallopian tubes preventing egg release and any possibility of pregnancy.
Men can also undergo a similar procedure – vasectomy – to prevent sperm release.
Both female and male sterilisation is permanent and cannot be reversed. So you should think about this option carefully.
Summary
- Hormonal contraception includes methods like the pill, implant, injection, patch, and intrauterine systems (IUS).
- Male and female condoms act as physical barriers to prevent sperm from reaching the egg. Condoms also protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
- Fertility tracking apps, such as Natural Cycles, predict fertile days based on temperature changes.
- Sterilisation (for both men and women) offers permanent solutions to avoiding pregnancy.
- There are many options to choose from. If you don’t feel like one is working for you, you can always try another. Stop by your local pharmacy or GP practice to discuss these options further.
See our wide selection of contraceptive pill brands online
References
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception
https://thefoodmedic.co.uk/2018/06/can-we-rely-on-fertility-tracking-apps
https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/methods-of-contraception/internal-condoms
The information contained in this article is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. If you have any concerns about your health, please speak to your pharmacist or doctor.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on May 17, 2019. It has been updated for accuracy, readability and comprehensiveness.
