Contraception

Contraception, also known as birth control, stops a male's sperm from fertilising a female's ovum (egg). By using contraception, you can have sex while preventing an unplanned pregnancy.

Many different types of contraception are available. It is important to choose the method that best suits your needs and your lifestyle. Condoms and the contraceptive pill (sometimes called 'the pill') are popular, but there is a whole range of other options available.

There are many options available for contraceptives that work in different ways.

Different contraceptive methods work differently, and their effectiveness depends on:

• how it works
• how well you take it (for example, remembering to take or use it on time)

Most birth control methods aren't 100% effective, but some methods are more reliable than others. Knowing how effective each option is can help you choose the best one for you.

Long-acting, reversible contraception (LARC) methods include implants and IUDs. They don't rely on your remembering to take or do anything. This makes them more reliable than the pill or condoms. Condoms and the pill are less effective because they can easily be forgotten or not used in the proper way.

Read more about IUDs (Opens in new tab) and contraceptive implants (Opens in new tab).

When the pill is taken exactly as directed, it is 99% effective. However, in real life, people can forget or miss their pills, so in practice it is less effective, at around 93%.

Read more about the pill (Opens in new tab).

While contraception is an effective way to prevent pregnancy, it does not usually protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To reduce your risk of getting an STI:

• avoid sex with a partner who could potentially have an STI
• practice safe sex with condoms (Opens in new tab) during penetrative sex
• use dental dams during oral sex (Opens in new tab)

Types of contraception and how effective they are:

How easy it is to access contraception depends on the method. Some contraception methods are available from a pharmacy with or without a prescription. Others need to be inserted by a trained healthcare professional (Opens in new tab).

Some types are easier to access than others:

• Condoms are easily available and sold in many places, including supermarkets, pharmacies, petrol stations and often in public toilets.
• The pill is available with a prescription from your doctor or family planning clinic.
• An implant or IUD needs to be inserted by a specially trained doctor or nurse. Speak to your doctor or visit a family planning clinic.
• Emergency contraception, such as the 'morning after pill', can be found at your local family planning clinic or pharmacy without a prescription.

You should consider stopping your contraception when you are ready to become pregnant.

Studies have shown that contraception does not have a long-term effect on your fertility and is safe to use, but some types of contraception can cause a delay before your fertility returns.

For example:

• after you stop taking the pill, it can take around 3 menstrual cycles (Opens in new tab) for your fertility to return
• after removing an IUD, fertility can return quickly
• injectable contraceptives may take up to 6 to 12 menstrual cycles before fertility returns

After a birth, people recover differently and for each person, periods can return at a different pace. You can become pregnant a month before your period restarts — as soon as 3 weeks after having a baby. But, not all types of contraception are safe to use straight after giving birth.

If you want to avoid getting pregnant, it is best to speak to your doctor or midwife before your baby is born about what contraception you will use after the birth. There are options that are both safe and effective after having a baby.

You may have heard that breastfeeding, or the 'lactational amenorrhoea' method (LAM), can be a form of contraception. This is because breastfeeding decreases ovulation (egg release) and can reduce your chance of pregnancy when all these conditions are met:

• You are exclusively breastfeeding day and night.
• You do not give your baby any other food or drink (only breast milk).
• Your baby is younger than 6 months old.
• Your periods have not restarted after giving birth.

Remember that breastfeeding does not guarantee you won't get pregnant. If you are having sex without using contraception — even while you are breastfeeding — you can still become pregnant. Your doctor, pharmacist or maternal health nurse can guide you on the best forms of contraception while you are breastfeeding.

While you are breastfeeding, there are several safe options for you and your baby, including:

• contraceptive implant
• contraceptive injection
• IUD
• progestogen-only 'mini pill'

The 'mini pill' is preferred during breastfeeding because there is minimal transfer of progestogen through breast milk and it does not affect milk supply. The combined contraceptive pill has not been shown to cause harm to breastfed babies, but can affect milk supply. Some people who are breastfeeding wait until their baby is 6 months old before starting the combined contraceptive pill.

If you or your partner have any questions about contraception, seek advice from a trusted healthcare professional such as your:

• midwife or maternal health nurse
• pharmacist
• doctor
• local family planning clinic

Find a family planning clinic near you (Opens in new tab).

To learn more about contraceptive methods:

• Read more about contraception on the MSI Australia website (Opens in new tab).
• View the Jean Hailes pages on contraception (Opens in new tab).
• Visit the Royal Women's Hospital for information about contraception after birth (Opens in new tab).

Family Planning Australia has a Yarning About (Opens in new tab) series that breaks down contraception options.

Languages other than English

Family Planning NSW has fact sheets on Women's Health and Contraception (Opens in new tab) in many community languages.

The Royal Women's Hospital has contraception information (Opens in new tab) in other languages.