Choosing and Using Contraception

This section provides a comprehensive guide to all methods of contraception and answers many of your frequently asked questions.

How effective is it?
Effectiveness of any contraceptive depends on several factors:

  • Using contraception correctly
  • How often you have sex
  • Personal Fertility: as women approach menopausal age they tend to have decreasing fertility.

    • Note: If 100 sexually active women don’t use any contraception, 85 of them will become pregnant in a year.

    Some methods of contraception do not depend on you remembering to take or use the method. Once you have been given one of these methods you don’t have to think about contraception for as long as the method lasts. They are:

  • Contraceptive injection such as Depo (3 months)
  • IUS Mirena (5 years)
  • IUD Paraguard (10 years)
  • Tubal Ligation - female sterilization (permanent)
  • Vasectomy - male sterilization (permanent)

    • Other methods used are those that you have to think about each day, month or each time you have sex. For these methods to be effective you must use them according to the instructions given. These methods include:

  • NuvaRing (3 weeks)
  • Birth control pills (daily)
  • Ortho Evra Patch (weekly)
  • Diaphragm and cervical cap (each act of intercourse)
  • Condoms (each act of intercourse)