Conditions & Treatments

Contraception and Sexual Health Guide - What it is

Birth Control Methods Available in KKH

LESS EFFECTIVE (76-82%)

Natural/timing
What is it?
• Withdrawal, temperature and calendar chart
Good point
• No physical side effects
Bad point
• Need to avoid sex or use condoms during fertile period

Male condoms
What is it?
• A sheath that covers the penis during sex
Good point
• No serious side effects
• Can help protect from sexually transmitted infection
Bad point
• May slip off or break
• Need to withdraw penis from vagina before penis goes soft and avoid spillage of semen during fertile period

EFFECTIVE (91-94%)

Pill
What is it?
• Hormone tablets that need to be taken daily
Good point
• Can make periods regular, lighter and less painful
• Protect from ovarian, womb and colon cancer
• Fertility returns once you stop taking the pill
Bad point
• Small risk of clots, breast and cervical cancer
• Temporary side effects include headache, mood changes and breast tenderness

Patch
What is it?
• Hormone stick-on patch that needs to be changed weekly
Good point
• Can make periods regular, lighter and less painful
• Fertility returns once you stop using the patch
Bad point
• Small risk of clots, breast and cervical cancer
• Temporary side effects include headache, mood changes, breast tenderness and skin irritation

Injection
What is it?
• Hormone injection that needs to be taken every three months
Good point
• May reduce heavy painful periods
Bad point
• Periods may stop, be irregular or last longer
• Periods and fertility may take time to return when stopping the injection
• Injection cannot be removed when you experience side effects

VERY EFFECTIVE (≥99%)

Intrauterine device (IUD) / Coil
What is it?
• T-shaped device that contains copper or hormone and needs to be replaced every five years
Good point
• Hormone IUD can make periods lighter, shorter and less painful
• Copper IUD is non-hormonal and can avoid any potential hormonal side effects
• Fertility returns once IUD is removed
Bad point
• Hormone IUD may cause irregular spotting in the first six months
• Copper IUD can make periods heavier and more painful
• Small chance of infection after insertion (first 20 days)
• Insertion can be uncomfortable

Implant
What is it?
• Small hormone rod that is inserted under the skin on your arm and needs to be replaced every three years
Good point
• Fertility returns once implant is removed
Bad point
• Periods may stop, be irregular or last longer
• Small procedure to fit and remove it
• Possible side effects include headache, mood changes and breast tenderness

Female sterilisation
What is it?
• A key-hole surgery to apply clips on your fallopian tubes
Good point
• Periods are unaffected (risk of failure 1:200)
Bad point
• Need general anaesthesia
• Permanent method
• Risk of ectopic pregnancy if sterilisation fails

Male sterilisation
What is it?
• A minor surgery to tie off the sperm cords
Good point
• Most effective birth control method (risk of failure 1:2000
Bad point
• Will need to be referred to a urologist

If you had sex and not used any reliable contraception…
Use EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
• Copper IUD
- Most effective
- Inserted within five days after unprotected sex
- Can be kept for long-term contraception
• ELLA tablet
- More effective than Postinor-2
- Should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex and within 120 hours
• Postinor-2 tablets
- Should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex and within 72 hours

The only methods you can use to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV:
• Abstinence (no sex)
- 100% effective
• Male CONDOM
- Up to 99% effective if use consistently and correctly

Note: This article only provides you with general information about birth control. Please consult the doctor for more information on the individual birth control methods or if you have any concerns