Lifestyle and Health: Contraception

• Contraception refers to practises, devices or medications employed to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

• Hormonal methods of contraception include birth control pills, patches, injections, and vaginal rings. They function by altering the levels of hormones that control the ovulation process.

• Birth control pills typically contain synthetic versions of hormones oestrogen and progesterone which prevent the release of eggs (ovulation) from the ovaries.

• Intrauterine devices (IUDs) such as the copper coil, interrupt the pathway of a sperm to the egg, preventing fertilisation. The hormonal IUDs interfere with the reproductive cycle by releasing progesterone.

• Barrier methods, including condoms (male and female), diaphragms and cervical caps, work by physically blocking sperm from reaching the egg.

• Natural methods essentially involve keeping track of a woman’s menstrual cycle to determine her most fertile and least fertile days. These include the rhythm method and withdrawal method.

• Sterilisation is another method of contraception that involves surgery (vasectomy for males and tubal ligation for females) and results in permanent contraception.

• Emergency contraception, often referred to as the ‘morning after pill’ can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. It consists of a high concentration of certain female hormones and works by either preventing or delaying the release of an egg.

• The effectiveness of different contraceptive methods differs, and some methods can also offer protection against STIs, such as condoms. Others, like hormonal methods or IUDs, do not protect against STIs.

• It’s important to be aware of the potential health implications and side-effects of each method, which can include hormonal changes, nausea, mood changes and potential risk of certain cancers.

• It’s crucial to remember that contraception must be used responsibly and correctly for maximum effectiveness. For example, condoms must be worn before any sexual contact to prevent pregnancy and STIs.

• It is also important to have regular health check-ups and to change the preventative method if it doesn’t suit, causes health problems or doesn’t provide adequate protection.