The Pros and Cons of Different Contraception

There are so many options for contraception these days. It is one of the reasons why we don’t see such large families like we might have done pre 1960 when contraception was taboo. In 1961 the contraceptive pill was offered on the NHS, but to married women only.

Today, whether you are married or not, you have free NHS access to the coil (IUS, IUD), pill, condoms, implant, injection, patch and more. There is also natural family planning, which is free to all too without the need of a prescription.

With so many options you might be wondering which is right for you. We always suggest that you chat with your GP, but if you are in the early stages of learning about them, hopefully our pros and cons of different contraception can help you.

We have interviewed some ladies to find out the pros and cons of different contraception to hopefully give you a little insight into what might be right for you.

The combined pill / mini pill

Effectiveness: 99%

The combined pill or mini pill is still the most popular form of contraception here in the UK. Studies have shown that 9 out of 10 women offered contraception will take the pill over other methods.

Standard practice for taking the pill is to take it for 21 days, then allow yourself a 7 day break. During this break you will have a breakthrough bleed. This isn’t technically a period as the pill stops ovulation. Not all pills work this way though, some allow for no breaks or very short breaks.

Always check with your doctor about the pill you are taking. The NHS writes that it is not suitable for over 35’s, the very overweight, those taking certain meds.

Rachel has experience with taking the pill, here are the pros and cons she shared with us.

Pros:

Helped with painful periods
Helps you to know when you will have a bleed
Doesn’t interrupt sex

Cons:

You have to remember to take it daily
No protection against STIs
If you miss a few in a row you will bleed
Some pills caused me to feel sick or have headaches, I had to try a few until I found one that worked for me
It can sometimes take a few months to get pregnant after coming off the pill, but not always!

The coil (IUS and IUD)

Effectiveness: 99%

The coil is a small, T shaped device that is put in the womb by a doctor or nurse to prevent pregnancy. They are either made of plastic or copper. The plastic IUS coil works by releasing the hormone progesterone into your womb to prevent pregnancy.

The IUD (copper coil) releases copper. Both of them work by thickening the cervical mucus to make it hard for sperm to make its way to the womb.

We asked a friend the pros and cons for having the copper coil, here’s what she said:

Pros:

No hormones in the copper coil and I didn’t need extra hormones going into my body because of PCOS
Fine having it put in
Can’t feel it once it is in
No need to worry about getting pregnant
But, as soon as you have it removed you can get pregnant
The copper coil can last 5-10 years

Cons:

Bleed a lot more
Unpredictable periods
Doesn’t protect against STIs

The contraceptive implant

Effectiveness: 99%

The contraceptive implant is a small plastic rod that is placed under your skin in the upper arm. The implant works by releasing progesterone into your bloodstream and lasts for 3 years. It is a simple procedure to put in that is done by a doctor or nurse under a local anesthetic. However, it may leave a bit of a bruise.

The implant doesn’t contain oestrogen, which makes it an ideal option for women who are sensitive to this hormone. There’s no protection against STIs, however, the effectiveness against a pregnancy is 99%.

We asked one of our friend to share her take on the pros and cons of the implant. Here’s what she said:

Pros:

Great not having to remember to take the pill
Lasts 3 years
When you have it removed it is out of your system straight away

Cons:

Periods can stop
The procedure of having it put in and taken out can be uncomfortable
No protection against STIs
Hormone based, which isn’t ideal for everyone

Condoms

Effectiveness: 98% when used correctly

Condoms are a barrier method of contraception. This means that they stop the sperm from entering the cervix. Mostly, condoms are made from latex. However, you can also find them made from polyurethane, polyisoprene, or even lamb intestine, which is ideal should you or your partner be allergic to latex.

Condoms don’t have side effects like some of the hormone contraception methods. You should keep in mind that oil based products can reduce the effectiveness of condoms, make sure if you are using lubes or anything, that they are suitable for condoms.

We had a chat with our girl friend who uses condoms as a contraceptive method. Here’s what she said:

Pros:

Protection against STIs
No side effects
Get hold of them easily, no need to book a doctors appointment

Cons:

Can ruin the moment a little!
The fear of them splitting
Trusting someone else to put it on right
Can be awkward sometimes

Natural cycles / Natural family planning

Effectiveness: 99%

Natural family planning is a type of contraception where you don’t actually use any contraception. It is more about fertility awareness.

When you choose to go down this route you really have to get to know your body. This is the route I went down, and it has both helped me to get pregnant and avoid pregnancy when I have wanted to.

I went for this as I wanted to fully understand my body and how it was working. The method involves taking your body temperature daily and tracking your moods and cervical mucus to notice fertile signs.

Here are the pros and cons I found with natural family planning:

Pros:

Get to know your body better
No hormones involved
No need to remember to take a pill
Lots of great apps out there to help you track
Can use condoms or another barrier method when you are ovulating or avoid sex

Cons:

Ovulation is only detected by body temperature after you have ovulated
No protection against STIs
Partner has to trust you know what you are doing

Pros and cons of different contraception

Choosing contraception is a very personal thing. One friend might be on the pill and it works for them, but it might not be right for you. Make sure you have a good chat with your doctor and consider the pros and cons of each method.

For me, I wanted something I could easily do. I didn’t want additional hormones or something I needed to remember each day.

If the method you choose doesn’t turn out to work for you then you can switch. Finding the right contraception for you is a journey and you shouldn’t settle for one if it is not right for you.

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