One of the most important aspects to your overall health is your sexual health - and in terms of your sexual health, it’s vital that you have a safe and reliable form of contraception that you can use. This is important for anyone who is keen to practice safe sex, as all adults should be, and yet it is something that can be surprisingly difficult to get right. In this post, we are going to help you make the decision around which form of contraception might be the safest to use. You’ll find that the following information really helps with working that out.
Combined Pill
One of the most popular kinds of contraception out there is, of course, the combined pill - otherwise simply known as the pill. This has been around since the 60s, and is generally regarded as one of the most significant developments in sexual health overall. One of the main benefits of the pill is that it is a very effective form of contraception, usually in the 99.99% mark, so that is clearly something to bear in mind.
As with any contraception, there are downsides to the pill. One of the most common issues is simply forgetting to take it, which reduces the effectiveness. You can get around this by setting a daily alarm, and ensuring you never run out - you can even reorder your contraceptive pill online if you need to.
Similarly, some people find that certain pills affect their health negatively in particular ways, such as causing them to put on weight or affecting their hormones. You might need to shop around and try out a few different pills before you find one that works for you.
IUD
The IUD is a more modern invention, and one that many women are using as a means of contraception, very effectively. It is about as effective as the combined pill, although for many women it is somewhat more intrusive and invasive. After all, it is a copper device which is placed inside the uterus itself, so it requires a procedure which can be painful and which can cause you to pass out.
On the other hand, once it is in, it can stay in there for years - so it’s a very simple way to make sure you are fully protected. Of course, as with the pill, this IUD does not provide protection against STIs, only getting pregnant.
Implant
In a similar vein to the IUD, but much less invasive, is the implant. This is a small metal bar that is implanted into the arm, and which releases progestin for around three years. It is a very effective form of contraception, and very safe too. Many women report far fewer problems with the implant compared to the IUD, and the hormonal imbalance it causes is generally not quite as severe. As such, it might be a preferred option for many for this reason. It is also not something you have to remember, such as the pill, which helps to aid its efficacy even more.
Injection
Although not quite as common, some women do go for the injection or shot method of contraception. With this contraceptive, what happens is that you have to get an injection once every three months from your doctor. While that means making a regular appointment with your doctor, you don’t have to do anything else to be protected, so it is a relatively easy and straightforward kind of contraceptive to have. This can be a good choice for those who don’t want to have something inserted such as the IUD or implant, or where this is not a possibility for whatever health reason there might be. The injection is quite a good all-round alternative, although not everyone can have it as it depends on a range of health factors. Ask your doctor if you are interested, to see whether you can have it.
Patch
Many people have not even heard of the patch, but it is one of the safest options out there. The patch is prescribed by a doctor, and then worn somewhere on the skin - normally on the lower abdomen, buttocks or on the upper body, although never on the breasts. You’ll need to replace the patch every three weeks, so as long as you remember to do that you should be fine. It is around 99% effective if used properly, but it has some health concerns that many other forms of contraception don’t have. Speak to your doctor to find out more.
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