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Contraception
Your midwife will talk to you about your choices for contraception when you are being discharged from the hospital.
Contraception should ideally be commenced 21 days after giving birth.
The most reliable form of contraceptive is the implant or the coil, this is because it doesn’t rely on the user to remember to take it. However, everyone has a different health history and therefore this may limit your options, for example if you have a personal or family history of bloods clots, cancer, diabetes, asthma or migraines.
Your GP will also discuss contraception with you at your 8 week postnatal appointment. However, you may need a bridging option before this, condoms or the progesterone only pill work well for this.
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Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Timing after birth |
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Implant |
Lasts for 3 years Highly effective No need to remember to take a pill |
Requires health professional to insert and remove Bleeding pattern can be unpredictable |
Can be fitted any time after birth |
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Merina coil |
Lasts for 3-6 years Highly effective No need to remember to take a pill Bleeds usually reduced or stop |
Requires health professional to insert Can be painful on insertion Can cause light bleeding for 3-6 months after insertion Risk of perforation and expulsion Small risk of infection in the first few weeks after insertion Can cause hormonal side effects |
Can be fitted in first 48 hours after birth or a month after |
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Copper coil |
Lasts for 5-10 years Highly effective No need to remember to take a pill No hormonal side effects |
Requires health professional to insert Can be painful on insertion Periods may become heavier, longer and/or more painful Risk of perforation or expulsion Small risk of infection in the first few weeks after insertion |
Can be fitted in first 48 hours after birth or a month after |
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Injection |
Effective Usually stops periods Reduces the chance of ovarian and endometrial cancer No need to remember to take a pill Can be self administered |
Needs to be repeated every 13 weeks Can delay the return of fertility Unpredictable bleeding initially Has been associated with weight gain Can slightly reduce bone density |
Can be given any time after birth |
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Progesterone only pill |
Easy to use Makes periods predictable Can improve painful periods |
Need to remember to take it every day Not as effective as other methods Periods can be unpredictable
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Can be started any time after birth |
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Combined hormone pill |
Easy to use Makes periods predictable Can improve painful periods and PMS Can improve acne Reduces chance of ovary, endometrial and colon cancers
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Increased chance of blood clots and migraines Associated with breast and cervical cancer Increased chance of blood clots and migraines Associated with breast and cervical cancer |
Can be started 3 weeks after birth if not breastfeeding. Can be started 6 weeks after birth if breastfeeding |