What is contraception?

Contraception, also known as birth control, stops a man’s sperm from fertilising a woman’s ovum, or egg. By using contraception, you can have sex while preventing an unplanned pregnancy.

Many different types of contraception are available, so it is important to choose the method that best suits your needs and your lifestyle. Most people are familiar with condoms and the contraceptive pill (sometimes called ‘the pill’), but there is a whole range of options available.

What are the different types of contraception?

The different types of contraception include:

• condom
• diaphragm
• the pill
• vaginal ring
• emergency (or 'morning after') pill
• contraceptive injection
• contraceptive implant
• intrauterine device (IUD)
• sterilisation
• tubal ligation
• vasectomy
• Natural methods of contraception (the rhythm or Billings method, fertility awareness)
• withdrawal

How effective are the different types of contraception?

Many different types of contraception are available, so it is important to choose the method that best suits your needs and your lifestyle. Long-acting, reversible contraception (LARC) methods include implants and IUDs. They don’t rely on your remembering to take or do anything, and are 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.

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%.

While contraception is an effective method of preventing pregnancy, in most cases, it will not prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Other than not having sex with a partner who could potentially have an STI, practicing safe sex with condoms (used during penetrative sex) and dental dams (used during oral sex) offers the best protection from STIs.

How effective is my contraceptive method?

Types of contraception and how effective they are.

Contraception method	How effective
Implant, IUD, tubal surgery, vasectomy	More than 99% effective
Contraceptive injection, vaginal ring, the pill	93-99% effective if used perfectly every time
Condom, diaphragm, fertility awareness, rhythm method	76-99% effective

Where can I get contraception? Do I need to see a doctor?

Some forms of contraception can be obtained more easily than others, and not all types need a doctor’s prescription:

• 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 and doesn’t require a prescription.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

When should I stop taking contraception if I want to get pregnant?

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 for your fertility to return
• after removing an IUD, it can take up to 2 menstrual cycles
• injectable contraceptives may take up to 5 to 8 menstrual cycles

How soon after having a baby should I start taking contraception?

Woman recover from birth and resumes their periods at a different pace. It is possible to become pregnant a month before your period restarts — as soon as 3 weeks after having a baby. 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. Most types of contraception are both safe and effective after having a baby.

Is breastfeeding an effective form of contraception?

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

• you are exclusively breastfeeding day and night; and
• you are not supplementing with any other sources of food or drink, (only giving your baby breast milk); and
• you have a baby under 6 months old; and
• you have not restarted your period since giving birth

Is breastfeeding an effective form of contraception?

However, it’s important to 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 midwife can guide you on the best forms of contraception while you are breastfeeding.

Does contraception affect my baby if I'm 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’

There are 2 types of oral contraceptive pills, the progestogen-only pill (also known as the mini pill) and the combined contraceptive pill, which contains both oestrogen and progestogen.

The ’mini pill’ is preferred during breastfeeding because there is minimal transfer of progestogen through breastmilk and it does not affect milk supply. While the combined contraceptive pill has not been shown to cause any harm to breastfed babies, it can affect milk supply so some breastfeeding women wait until their baby is 6 months old before re-starting the combined contraceptive pill.

Who should I speak to for more advice?

If you or your partner have any questions about contraceptive choices, seek advice from a trusted healthcare professional such as your midwife, pharmacist, doctor or visit your local family planning clinic.

Resources and support

For more information and support, speak to your midwife, pharmacist, doctor or visit your local family planning clinic.

• Read more about contraception on the MSI Australia website.
• View the Jean Hailes fact pages about contraception.
• Find a family planning clinic near you.

Other languages

Do you prefer to read languages other than English? Family Planning NSW has fact sheets on Women’s Health and Contraception in many languages.