General contraception

Combined pill

Description: This contains two hormones - oestrogen and progestogen - that stop a woman from releasing an egg each month (ovulation).

Reliability: With careful use, fewer than 1 woman in every 100 will get pregnant in a year. With less careful use, 3 or more women in every 100 will get pregnant in a year.

Progestogen-only pill

Description: The hormone progestogen causes changes in a woman’s body that make it difficult for sperm to enter the womb or for the womb to accept a fertilised egg. In some women it prevents ovulation. It must be taken at the same time every day.

Reliability: With careful use, 1 woman in every 100 will get pregnant in a year. With less careful use, 4 women in every 100 will get pregnant in a year.

Injectable contraceptive

Description: An injection releases the hormone progestogen very slowly into the body. The hormone stops a woman releasing an egg every month (ovulation). The injection lasts 3 months.

Reliability:Fewer than 1 woman in every 100 will get pregnant in a year.

Contraceptive implant

Description: This is a small plastic rod. It is inserted into the inner part of the upper arm. It slowly releases the hormone progestogen into the body, which stops ovulation. It also thickens the mucus at the neck of the womb, making it difficult for sperm to enter. It lasts for 3 years.

Reliability: During initial trials, no pregnancies were reported.

Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD)

Description: This is a small plastic and copper device. It is put into the womb and prevents the sperm from meeting the egg or may prevent an egg from settling in the womb. It lasts for 5 years.

Reliability: Fewer than 2 women in every 100 will get pregnant in a year.

Intrauterine system (IUS)

Description: This is a small plastic device. It has a sleeve, which releases the hormone progestogen and is put into the womb. The IUS lasts for 5 years and works in three ways.

• It thickens the mucus at the neck of the womb, making it difficult for the sperm to reach the egg.
• It stops the sperm from fertilising an egg within the womb
• It makes the lining of the womb thin, making periods lighter and shorter.

Reliability: Fewer than 2 women in every 1000 will get pregnant in a year. There is only one IUS available. It is called Mirena.

Male condom

Description: The condom is made of very thin rubber. It is put over the erect penis and stops the sperm from entering the woman’s vagina.

Reliability:With careful use, 2 women in every 100 will get pregnant in a year. With less careful use, 2 to 25 women in every 100 will get pregnant in a year.

Female condom

Description: A soft polyurethane sheath lines the vagina and the area just outside. It prevents sperm from entering the vagina.

Reliability: There have been no large studies, but research suggests that it should be as effective as the male condom.

Contraceptive patch

Description: A thin light brown patch is applied to the skin, once a week for three weeks each month. It contains two hormones – oestrogen and progestogen – that stop a woman from releasing an egg each month (ovulation).

Reliability: With careful use, it is as reliable as the combined pill.

Vaginal ring

Description: A flexible, see-through, plastic ring is put into the vagina by the woman herself for 3 weeks of every month. It contains two hormones – oestrogen and progestogen – that stop a woman from releasing an egg each month (ovulation).

Reliability: With careful use, fewer than 1 woman in every 100 will get pregnant in a year. With less careful use, 3 or more women in every 100 will get pregnant in a year.
There is only one vaginal ring currently available. It is called NuvaRing.

Diaphragm or cap with spermicide

Description: A flexible rubber device used with spermicide (a gel or cream that kills sperm) is put into the vagina to cover the cervix (the neck of the womb). It must stay in for at least 6 hours after sex.

Reliability:With careful use, 2 in every 100 women will get pregnant in a year. With less careful use, 2 to 15 women in every 100 will get pregnant in a year.

Natural methods

Description: A woman keeps a daily record of her body temperature, changes in cervical mucus and other signs of ovulation. These tell her when she is most fertile and so when she should avoid sex or use a barrier method such as a condom or diaphragm. Natural methods should be learnt from a specially trained teacher or GP.

You can get further information and training on natural family planning from:

• IFPA - Irish Family Planning Association  www.ifpa.ie
• NAOMI - National Association of Ovulation Methods in Ireland www.naomi.ie
• NFPTAI - Natural Family Planning Teachers Association of Ireland www.nfptai.ie
• ACCORD - Catholic Marriage Care Association www.accord.ie

Reliability: With careful use, 2 in every 100 women will get pregnant in a year. With less careful use, 2 to 20 women in every 100 will get pregnant in a year.

Female sterilization (tubal ligation)

Description: The fallopian tubes, which carry the eggs from the ovaries into the womb, are cut or blocked so that the eggs cannot travel down them to meet with the sperm. This is permanent.

Reliability:1 to 3 women in every 1000 may become pregnant depending on the type of operation used.

This is a permanent forms of contraception and should only be decided on after careful consultation with your doctor.

Male sterilization (vasectomy)

Description: The tubes carrying the sperm are cut, so sperm are not present in the semen that is ejaculated when the man ‘comes’. This is permanent.

Reliability:About 1 in every 1000 men will become fertile again.

This is a permanent forms of contraception and should only be decided on after careful consultation with your doctor.