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Our thanks to the Family Planning Association  www.fpa.org.uk for their assistance in putting our report together .

Contraception Fast Facts
Combined Pill
The combined pill is usually just called the pill. It contains two hormones - estrogen and progestogen. These are similar to the natural hormones women produce in their ovaries. There are a number of different combined pills.

Male And Female Condoms
A male condom fits over a man's erect penis and is made of very thin latex (rubber) or polyurethane (plastic). A female condom is made of very thin polyurethane. It is put into the vagina and loosely lines it. Femidom is the only female condom available in the UK.

The Contraceptive Patch
The contraceptive patch is a small, thin, beige coloured patch, nearly 5cm x 5cm in size. You stick it on your skin and it releases two hormones - estrogen and progestogen. These are similar to the natural hormones that women produce in their ovaries and like those used in the combined oral contraceptive pill. The patch available in the UK is known as Evra.

Diaphragms And Caps
Diaphragms and caps are barrier methods of contraception. They fit inside your vagina and cover your cervix (entrance to the womb). They come in different shapes and sizes. Vaginal diaphragms are circular domes made of thin, soft latex (rubber) or silicone with a flexible rim. Cervical caps are smaller and are made of latex or silicone. To be effective, diaphragms and caps need to be used with a spermicide. Spermicides are chemicals that kill sperm.

Emergency Contraception
If you have had unprotected sex, that is, sex without using contraception, or when you think your contraception might have failed, you can use emergency contraception. There are two methods of emergency contraception:

hormonal emergency contraception (known as the emergency contraceptive pill), and the copper IUD.

The IUD is the most effective. If you act quickly, emergency contraception will usually prevent pregnancy

The Contraceptive Implant
An implant is a small flexible rod that is placed just under your skin in your upper arm. It releases a progestogen hormone similar to the natural progesterone that women produce in their ovaries. The implant that is available in the UK is called Implanon. It works for up to three years.

Contraceptive Injections
Contraceptive injections contain a progestogen hormone which is similar to the natural progesterone that women produce in their ovaries. There are two types of injection. Depo-Provera protects you from pregnancy for 12 weeks and Noristerat protects you for eight weeks. Both of these are very effective hormonal methods of contraception. Depo-Provera is most commonly used in the UK.

The IUD
An IUD is a small plastic and copper device that is put into your womb. It has one or two soft threads on the end. These thin threads hang through the opening at the entrance of your womb (cervix) into the top of your vagina.

The IUS
An IUS is a small T-shaped plastic device which slowly releases a progestogen hormone. This is similar to the natural progesterone that women produce in their ovaries

A trained doctor or nurse will put the IUS into your womb. The IUS has two soft threads at one end which hang through the opening at the entrance of your womb (cervix) into the top of your vagina.

The IUS available in the UK is called Mirena. It works for up to five years. If you are aged 45 or older when the IUS is fitted, it can be left in until the menopause or until contraception is no longer needed.

The Progestogen-Only Pill
This pill contains a progestogen hormone which is similar to the natural progesterone women produce in their ovaries. Progestogen-only pills are different to combined pills because they do not contain any estrogen. There are different types of POP available, some containing different progestogens.

Male And Female Sterilization
Sterilisation works by stopping the egg and the sperm meeting. This is done by blocking the fallopian tubes (which carry an egg from the ovary to the womb) in women or the vas deferens (the tube that carries sperm from the testicles to the penis) in men

Sterilisation is a permanent method of contraception, suitable for people who are sure they never want children or do not want more children. You may want to find out about other long-acting reversible methods of contraception which are as effective as sterilisation but reversible. Ask your doctor, nurse or contact fpa

Is Contraception Free And Where Can I Go To Get It?
You can obtain free contraception, including emergency contraception, from:

a general practice, unless they say they don't provide contraception services

a contraception clinic or sexual health clinic

a young people's service (these will have an upper age limit)//some genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics.

You can also get free emergency contraception from: most NHS walk-in centres (England only) and minor injuries units

some hospital Accident and Emergency departments (telephone first to check)

some pharmacies (there may be an age limit). If you are 16 or over you can buy the emergency pill from most pharmacies. They also sell condoms, diaphragms, caps and spermicide.

How Can I Find A Contraception Service?
You can find out about all sexual health services from sexual health direct, run by fpa.

You can find details of all services, including general practices and contraception clinics, at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk. You can get details of your nearest contraception, GUM or sexual health clinic from a telephone directory, health centre, local pharmacy, hospital, midwife, health visitor or advice centre.You can get details of GUM or sexual health clinics from the Sexual Health Information Line on 0800 567 123 or at www.playingsafely.co.uk.

Using Contraception
The methods shown in this leaflet are divided into two types:

No user failure - these do not depend on you remembering to take or remembering to use contraception.

User failure - these are methods you have to use and think about regularly or each time you have sex. For these methods to be effective you must use them according to the instructions.

Emergency Contraception
If you have had unprotected sex (that is, sex without contraception) or you think your contraception might have failed, you can use emergency contraception. There are two methods:

Hormonal emergency contraception (known as the emergency pill) - this must be taken up to three days (72 hours) after sex. It is more effective the earlier it is taken after sex.

The IUD - must be fitted up to five days after sex, or up to five days after the earliest time you could have released an egg (ovulation).

Some Facts About Avoiding Pregnancy
A woman can still get pregnant:

if it is the first time she has sex

if she does not have an orgasm

if a man pulls out of her vagina before he comes

is she has sex when she has a period

if she douches (squirts fluid into the vagina). This can be harmful to women//whatever position the couple has sex in.

Sexually Transmitted Infections
Most methods of contraception do not protect you from sexually transmitted infections. Male and female condoms, when used correctly and consistently, can help protect against sexually transmitted infections. Diaphragms and caps may also offer some protection. Avoid using condoms containing Nonoxinol 9 (a spermicidal lubricant) as this does not protect against HIV and may even increase the risk of infection.