Take Control of Your Reproductive Health

Choosing the right contraception is about more than preventing pregnancy—it's about finding what works for your body, your lifestyle, and your future plans.

At Ovara Women's Health, our specialists provide comprehensive contraception counselling without judgement. Whether you're exploring options for the first time, unhappy with your current method, or planning for pregnancy in the future, we're here to help you make informed decisions.

Understanding Your Contraception Options

There's no "best" contraception—only what's best for you.

Every method has pros and cons. What works perfectly for one woman might not suit another. Your ideal contraception depends on your health history, lifestyle, future fertility plans, and personal preferences.

Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC)

Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)

Small devices inserted into the uterus that provide long-term, highly effective contraception.

Hormonal IUD:

• Effectiveness: >99%
• Duration: 5 years
• How it works: Releases small amounts of progestogen hormone locally
• Benefits: Very light periods or no periods, reduces period pain, treats heavy menstrual bleeding
• Considerations: Initial irregular bleeding common for 3-6 months, small risk of expulsion

Copper IUD:

• Effectiveness: >99%
• Duration: 5-10 years depending on type
• How it works: Copper creates environment that prevents fertilisation—no hormones
• Benefits: Hormone-free option, can be used as emergency contraception
• Considerations: May cause heavier, more painful periods especially in first few months

Who it suits: Women wanting long-term, highly effective contraception without daily management. Ideal for those who can't or don't want to use hormones (copper IUD).

Contraceptive Implant

A small rod inserted under the skin of your upper arm.

• Effectiveness: >99%
• Duration: 3 years
• How it works: Releases progestogen hormone that prevents ovulation
• Benefits: Set and forget, can lighten periods, reversible immediately upon removal
• Considerations: Irregular bleeding pattern common (can be managed), requires insertion/removal procedure

Who it suits: Women who want long-term effectiveness without remembering daily pills, those who have difficulty with oestrogen-containing methods.

Combined Hormonal Contraception

The Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill ("The Pill")

Daily tablet containing oestrogen and progestogen.

• Effectiveness: 91-99% (higher with perfect use)
• How it works: Prevents ovulation, thickens cervical mucus
• Benefits: Regulates periods, reduces period pain and bleeding, improves acne, flexibility to skip periods
• Considerations: Requires daily consistency, not suitable for smokers over 35, small increased risk of blood clots

Who it suits: Women who want period regulation and control, those with painful or heavy periods, women who want the flexibility to manipulate timing of periods.

Vaginal Ring

Flexible ring inserted into the vagina, replaced monthly.

• Effectiveness: 91-99%
• Duration: 3 weeks in, 1 week out (or continuous use possible)
• How it works: Releases oestrogen and progestogen hormones
• Benefits: Monthly management (not daily), self-inserted, lower hormone dose than many pills
• Considerations: Requires comfort with vaginal insertion, can occasionally slip out

Progestogen-Only Options

Progestogen-Only Pill (Mini Pill)

Daily tablet containing only progestogen hormone.

• Effectiveness: 91-99%
• How it works: Thickens cervical mucus, may prevent ovulation
• Benefits: Safe for breastfeeding, suitable when oestrogen contraindicated
• Considerations: Must be taken at same time every day (3-hour window), may cause irregular bleeding

Who it suits: Breastfeeding women, smokers over 35, women with migraines with aura, those who can't use oestrogen.

Contraceptive Injection

Injection given every 12 weeks.

• Effectiveness: 94-99%
• Duration: 12 weeks per injection
• How it works: Progestogen prevents ovulation
• Benefits: No daily/weekly management, often stops periods completely
• Considerations: Can cause weight gain, bone density concerns with long-term use, fertility may take 6-12 months to return after stopping

Barrier Methods

Condoms (External & Internal)

• Effectiveness: 82-98% (external), 79-95% (internal)
• Benefits: Only method that prevents STIs, hormone-free, no prescription needed, male or female partner can manage
• Considerations: Requires use with every act of intercourse, can break or slip

Diaphragm

Reusable silicone cup inserted before intercourse.

• Effectiveness: 88-94% (with spermicide)
• Benefits: Hormone-free, reusable, woman-controlled
• Considerations: Requires fitting by doctor, must be inserted before sex and left in place 6 hours after

Permanent Contraception

Female Sterilisation (Tubal Ligation)

Surgical procedure to block or seal fallopian tubes.

• Effectiveness: >99%
• Permanence: Consider irreversible (reversal surgery is major and not always successful)
• Considerations: Requires surgery under general anaesthetic

Who it suits: Women certain they don't want future pregnancies, have completed their families.

Emergency Contraception

When regular contraception fails or wasn't used.

Emergency Contraceptive Pill (Morning After Pill)

• Most effective when taken within 72 hours, but can work up to 120 hours
• Available over-the-counter from pharmacies (no prescription needed)
• More effective the sooner it's taken
• Two types available: levonorgestrel and ulipristal acetate

Copper IUD as Emergency Contraception

• Most effective emergency contraception method
• Can be inserted up to 5 days after unprotected intercourse
• Then provides ongoing contraception for 5-10 years

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Choosing the Right Method for You

Our Ovara specialists help you navigate contraception decisions based on:

Your Health & Medical History

• Previous or current health conditions (migraines, blood clots, high blood pressure, etc.)
• Medications you're taking (some interact with hormonal contraception)
• Family history (blood clots, breast cancer)
• Smoking status and age
• BMI considerations

Your Lifestyle & Preferences

• How often you have intercourse
• Whether you're in a monogamous relationship (STI protection needed?)
• Ability to remember daily pills
• Comfort with self-insertion methods
• Preference for hormonal vs. hormone-free options
• How you feel about having periods

Your Future Fertility Plans

• Planning pregnancy soon (short-acting methods)
• Not planning pregnancy for years (long-acting methods)
• Completed family (permanent options)
• Want quick return to fertility when stopped

Period Management Goals

• Want lighter, less painful periods (hormonal IUD, pill)
• Want to skip periods entirely (continuous pill, implant, injection)
• Happy with current periods (barrier methods, copper IUD)
• Need treatment for heavy bleeding (hormonal IUD specifically approved for this)

Contraception Counselling at Ovara

What to expect at your contraception appointment:

Initial Consultation

• Comprehensive health history review
• Discussion of your contraception goals and concerns
• Explanation of all suitable options for your situation
• Honest conversation about side effects, benefits, and effectiveness
• Questions answered without judgement

Making Your Decision

We don't push specific methods. We provide information so you can make the choice that's right for you. Want to try the pill first before committing to an IUD? That's fine. Prefer hormone-free options? We'll focus on those. Unsure and want to think about it? We'll book a follow-up.

Insertion Procedures (IUD, Implant)

• Scheduled as a separate appointment
• Clear explanation of what to expect
• Pain management options discussed
• Follow-up arranged to check placement and address any concerns

Ongoing Support

• Follow-up appointments to see how you're adjusting
• Troubleshooting side effects (irregular bleeding, mood changes, etc.)
• Switching methods if your first choice isn't working
• Removal and replacement when needed
• Annual sexual health checks including STI screening

Common Contraception Questions

"Will contraception make me gain weight?"

Most hormonal methods don't cause significant weight gain for most women. The injection is associated with weight gain in some women. The pill, IUD, and implant typically don't cause weight gain beyond normal fluctuations, though individual experiences vary.

"Will it affect my fertility later?"

No. All reversible contraception methods allow fertility to return after stopping—though the timeframe varies. Fertility typically returns immediately after removing IUDs or implants, within days after stopping the pill, but may take 6-12 months after stopping the injection.

"I've heard the IUD is painful to insert. Is it worth it?"

Insertion can be uncomfortable, but it's brief. Most women describe it as strong period-cramping sensation. We offer pain management options. Many women feel the years of highly effective, low-maintenance contraception is worth a few minutes of discomfort.

"Can I get pregnant on the pill if I miss one tablet?"

Missing one pill slightly reduces effectiveness but usually doesn't result in pregnancy. The risk depends on which pills you missed and when in your cycle. If you miss pills, use backup contraception (condoms) for 7 days and consider emergency contraception if you've had recent unprotected intercourse.

"What if I want to get pregnant in 6 months? Should I just use condoms?"

Not necessarily. Short-acting methods (pill, ring) are fine to use short-term and fertility returns quickly. Even the implant can be removed anytime. The injection is the only method where you might want to stop 12 months before planning pregnancy to allow fertility to return.

"My friend had terrible side effects on a specific contraception. Will I?"

Everyone's body responds differently. What causes side effects in one woman might be perfect for another. We can discuss your friend's experience and what might make you more or less likely to have similar issues, but ultimately you won't know until you try.

"Do I need to have a break from the pill every few years?"

No. This is a myth. There's no medical reason to take a break from hormonal contraception if it's working well for you and you have no contraindications.

"Can I skip my period by taking the pill continuously?"

Yes, with most combined pills. You can skip the sugar pills and start the next pack immediately. This is safe and commonly done for convenience, to manage period symptoms, or for health conditions like endometriosis.