Contraception Guide

The hormone patch is a sticky patch that delivers oestrogen and progestogen into the body. They work in a smiler way to the pill - you wear one of them each week for 3 weeks, and then have a week off. The prevent pregnancy in the same way as the combined pill, but have the advantage of not requiring you to take a pill each day.

The female combined pill is a pill that contains oestrogen and progestogen (synthetic versions of hormones that occur naturally in the human body). It stops the body from ovulating (releasing an egg) and is considered 99% effective. It requires taking everyday, so forgetful people increase their risk of an unwanted pregnancy.

The male/female condom involves a latex covering (or similar compound) that goes over the end of the penis or in the opening of the vagina. Used correctly, they will protect against unwanted pregnancy and STIs (the only form of contraception to do both). They are considered 98% effective, and it is important to always buy a condom with CE mark on it, which means it

Coils (IUD or IUS) are long acting but reversible contraceptives which are implanted once, and then continue to function without any further impute from an individual. An IUD prevents sperm from surviving in the cervix of fallopian tubes, and can prevent the egg from implanting in the womb. They are 99% effective, and can last unto 10 years. they have to be implanted and removed by a medical professional, but they are effective immediately, and also return you to normal fertility immediately on being removed. An IUS (otherwise known as a Mirena coil) releases progestogen into the womb and inhibits the movement of sperm and eggs within the womb and cervix. Again, it is 99% effective and normally functions for around 5 years.

An implant is a small tube that contains progestogen that is inserted under the skin and last for around 3 years. It works in a similar way to the injection, thickening the mucus in the cervix. It is highly effective - 99.9% of users will not get pregnant within a year. It has another key advantage over other forms of contraception, in that it will restore your fertility straightaway when removed. This implanting and removal must be carried out by a medical professional, and of course it doesn

Caps & Diaphragms are both devices made out of latex or silicone and are inserted into the vagina. The caps cover the cervix (the entrance to the womb) and are combined with spermicide to kill any sperm that come into contact. They are reusable, but need to be fitted initially by a medical professional. They are 92-96% effective, but offer only limited protection against STIs.

An injection is a hormone jab that works for between 8 and 12 weeks to prevent pregnancy. It thickens the mucus in the cervix, stopping sperm from reaching the egg, and can also stop the production of the eggs themselves. It is 99% effective and has the advantage of not requiring you to remember to take a pill every day.

Natural Family Planning is a method that requires you to take note of your body

The vaginal ring is inserted into the vagina for 21 days of each month, steadily releasing oestrogen and progestogen to increase the mucus levels in the cervix and prevent sperm from moving and eggs implanting in the womb. It

Female sterilisation is a routine operation that permanently prevents a woman from getting pregnant. The fallopian tubes are sealed, and there is a 99.5% success rate, meaning that only 1 in 20 women will get pregnant after having undergone the operation. There are some small risks that the tubes can reconnect, and the operation is very difficult to reverse, so it should only be considered by those who are certain they no longer wish to get pregnant.

The morning after pill is not considered a form of contraception - instead it is an emergency measure for when your main form of contraception has failed. If taken within 24 hours of having unprotected sex, then the pill is 95% effective, but this decreases overtime. Newer pills and IUD devices can extend the effectiveness of emergency contraception to unto 5 days.

For more information on contraception go to NHS Choices >

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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

I have been on the combined pill (microginon) since I was 14 I am now nearly 24, I go for yearly check ups and I don't have any problems but is there a risk to being on contraception for this amount of time? Thanks

Asked on 22 May 2013 20:57 by Jessica
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im nearly 40 yrs old and have recently split up with my husband who had a vasectomy years ago so I wasn't on the pill ... can you recommend a pill for me to go on now... im about 2 stone overweight I would smoke about 10 cigarettes a month or some months none I do regular exercise . thanks

Posted on 22 May 2013 18:35 by Trish
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Hi I have been using the combined pill for about a year and in the last couple of months I have noticed that I come on my period half way through the pack. I can come on my period at any time of the day, I really need some help in what I can do.

Posted on 21 May 2013 21:28 by Hollie
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hi,i have a problem my period 2years I have no period last my period 2011 until nw I have no period,i start taking pill stop my period,im so worried my period,i don't want more kids I have already 3kids,pls u help,

Posted on 21 May 2013 13:22 by hera
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hi,im 30 years old I have 3kids 1yearsold n 4yearsold 5years old,abouat my period im worried my about my period cuz until nw I have no period my last period on 2012 my baby born on 2011 I star taking pill stop my period until nw I have no period.im so worried my sitiution .pls u can help me,

Posted on 20 May 2013 11:50 by maria
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hi i have the implant in my arm for 5 years. i tried having it removed but she struggled pulling it out as skin as embedded it. i am too petrified to try again as i was close to fainting and feel ill just thinking about it, please tell me i can leave it in as i am sure it must have run out and it would do more harm trying to remove it, thanks T

Asked on 17 May 2013 00:04 by Tina
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Hello, I've had my Implanon removed in September last year (after having it for 3 years). However, I didn't have any period at all till January when I visited a gynecologist. I've been prescribed a drug that contained 'Progesteronum'. After a week I got my 'period' but it wasn't like a real one- more like the one I had in the last days of my periods (just spotting). Although this spotting is regular (every month)I am worried that something may be wrong as I haven't had a proper period. I've done two pregnancy tests and they came negative. Is it something serious? Thanks for your response

Posted on 1 May 2013 17:53 by Lucy
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Im 22 and been on/off depo since I was 17 and had my baby at 19 when I first came off the depo it took 8 months.for.my periods to.come back. Thers was clotting at first then eventually bleeding. I started back on the depo sep 2011 and had my last one may 2012 as I was gaining too much weight in a short space of time. I was supposed to be due another injection aug 2012 but never had it. about 3 weeks ago I staryed to clot again like it did the last time but not very much of it. I lasted about a week and disappeared. I had sex and its mot been back since. Everytime I have sex its really. uncomfy and sometimes painful when its deep. Whats happening? Also when I pee I feel as if I need another one I get an annoying pain in my stomach too.

Asked on 30 Apr 2013 22:19 by Shona
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I went to the doctors 4 years ago as I was having pain during intercourse. After about two years of tests and trying various creams and numbing agents they said that I should come off the Depo that I had been on, and not use any kind of hormonal Contraception. I tried the non hormonal coil for a bit but that caused me pail. I had this taken out and a few months after all this contraception stopped sex started to not be painful anymore. Does this mean that I am allergic to Contraception? That makes no sense at all to me as there are different things in each of them! And ever since I have been fine! So :s :s :s :s!!!!

Asked on 30 Apr 2013 13:16 by [No first name supplied]
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Hi think the statistics need to be checked on this. 99.5%success rate means 1 in 20 will get pregnant...??

Posted on 9 Apr 2013 00:21 by kelly
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Hi, 99.5% success rate means 5 in 1000 might get pregnant.

Posted on 9 Apr 2013 12:19 by Steph
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Hi i agree it should be 5 in 1000 but was trying to flag up it needs to be changed as incorrect on the female sterilisation page.

Posted on 9 Apr 2013 14:17 by kelly
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I have the implant and I have had no problems with it, it has incereased my libido, both my fella and me have found this to bethe best contraceptive

Posted on 16 Apr 2013 12:11 by jess
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