Contraception
How NOT to get Pregnant
If you are having sex, you should be very careful not to fall pregnant before you are ready. Using contraception can prevent an unwanted pregnancy, but there is always a risk. The only way to absolutely prevent pregnancy is to not have sex.
If you are choosing to have sex, you will need to decide what type of contraception is right for you.
For young women, doctors often recommend the oral contraceptive pill or condoms. However, other options such as hormonal implants or injections are available. If you have unprotected sex and are worried about pregnancy, you can also access the Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP).
The Oral Contraceptive Pill
What is it?
The oral contraceptive pill (or ‘the pill’) is a daily pill that contains hormones to change the way your body works to prevent pregnancy.
How does it work?
A combination of the hormones oestrogen and progestogen prevents ovulation and thickens the cervical mucous to stop the sperm from entering the uterus.
Most pills come in a 28-day pack. One hormone pill is taken for 21 days. You will then take a non- hormone pill for seven days. When you start taking the pills that don’t contain the hormones, you will get your menses.
Important!
You must remember to take the pill at the same time every day – regardless of whether you are having sex that day. If you forget a day, or if you are late taking the pill, you could be at risk of getting pregnant. You will need to use a backup form of contraception such as condoms, or stop having sex until the pill starts working again. It takes seven days of taking the hormone pills correctly for the pill to start working again. If you are unsure, it is best to talk to your doctor or the team at Medical Services Pacific.
Condoms
What is it?
Condoms are a barrier method of contraception. There are male and female condoms. The male condom is a thin rubber sheath that is worn on the penis. The female condom is a sheath with a flexible ring at either end. One end is closed, and this end is inserted into the vagina; the other end is open and this ring sits outside the opening of the vagina.
How does it work?
Condoms work by keeping semen (the fluid that contains the sperm) from entering the vagina. To use a male condom, the penis must be erect. The condom is placed on the tip of the penis and then rolled down all the way to the base of the penis. Condoms are the best form of contraception for people with multiple partners or with partners of unknown sexual history. This is because condoms are the only contraceptive that can protect you from sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV.
Important!
If a condom breaks during sexual intercourse, you should visit your doctor or call Medical Services Pacific immediately. If deemed to be at risk of becoming pregnant, you will be prescribed an Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP). This must be taken within 72 hours to be most effective.
NOTE: Before using a condom, check the expiry date. Don’t use a condom if it is already expired.
