SHORT ACTING

ADVANTAGES

• Prevents pregnancy when taken correctly ³
• Shortens and regulates periods and can reduce  period pain ³
• May help with premenstrual symptoms ³
• Some pills may reduce acne ³
• Reduces risk of womb and ovarian cancer ⁴

DISADVANTAGES

• Need to take the pill around the same time every day ⁵
• Not suitable for women who could forget to take their pill ⁵
• Effectiveness can be reduced by vomiting, diarrhoea or some medicines ^3,5
• Minor side effects include mood swings, nausea,
  breast tenderness and headaches ³
• Not suitable for women over 35 years old, who smoke ³
• Not suitable while breastfeeding ³

ADVANTAGES

• Prevents pregnancy when taken correctly ⁶
• Can be used by women that cannot use contraception that contains oestrogen ⁶
• Suitable for women of any age and women who smoke ⁶
• Suitable while breastfeeding ⁶

DISADVANTAGES

• Periods may stop, or become lighter, irregular or more frequent
• Regular menstruation cannot be expected. This is not harmful ⁷
• Minor side effects include acne, nausea, breast tenderness, weight gain and headaches ⁷
• Slight increased risk of ectopic pregnancy ⁷
• Effectiveness can be reduced by vomiting, diarrhoea
  or some medicines ⁶
• Needs to be taken at almost exactly the same time each day ⁶

ADVANTAGES

• Prevents pregnancy when taken correctly ⁸
• Not affected by vomiting and diarrhoea ⁸
• Used weekly instead of daily ⁸
• Can be used while bathing, swimming or doing sport ⁸
• Reduces risk of womb, bowel and ovarian cancer ^4,8

DISADVANTAGES

• Minor side effects include mood swings, nausea, breast tenderness and headaches ⁸
• Skin irritation may occur ⁸
• Efficacy is lowered by some medications ⁸
• Can be seen by the partner ⁸
• May not be suitable for women who weigh more than 90 kg ⁸
• Not suitable for women over 35 years old, who smoke ⁸
• Not suitable while breastfeeding ⁸

ADVANTAGES

• Prevents pregnancy when used correctly ⁹
• Not affected by vomiting and diarrhoea ⁹
• Used monthly instead of daily ⁹
• Shortens and regulates periods and can reduce period pain ⁸
• Not visible to the partner ⁹
• Reduces risk of womb and ovarian cancer ^4,9

DISADVANTAGES

• May cause temporary side effects, such as increased vaginal discharge, headaches,nausea, breast tenderness and mood changes ⁹
• Efficacy is lowered by some medications ⁹
• Can sometimes come out on its own, if not placed correctly ⁹
• Not suitable for women over 35 years old, who smoke ⁹
• Not suitable while breastfeeding ⁹

ADVANTAGES

• Prevents pregnancy for up to 3 years ¹⁰
• Can be used by women that cannot use contraception that contains oestrogen ¹⁰
• Suitable for women of any age and women who smoke ^{3, 11}
• Suitable while breastfeeding ¹⁰
• Not affected by vomiting and diarrhoea  ¹²
• Discreet ¹²
• Quick return to pre-existing fertility after the implant is removed ¹⁰
• It may reduce painful periods ¹⁰

DISADVANTAGES

• Need a small procedure to have the implant fitted or removed and there may be associated pain after this procedure ¹⁰
• Periods may stop, or become lighter, irregular or more frequent. Regular menstruation cannot be expected. This is not harmful ^{10, 11}
• May cause temporary side effects, such as acne, headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and mood changes ¹⁰
• Efficacy is lowered by some medications ¹⁰

ADVANTAGES

• Prevents pregnancy for 2-3 months (depending on the product) ²
• Can be used by women that cannot use contraception that contains oestrogen ¹³
• Suitable for women of any age and women who smoke ¹⁴
• Suitable while breastfeeding ¹³
• Not affected by vomiting and diarrhoea ¹⁵
• Discreet  ¹⁶

DISADVANTAGES

• Action cannot be stopped immediately ¹⁶
• 2-3 monthly visits to the Health Care Provider ¹³
• Return to fertility may be delayed ¹³
• Periods may stop, or become lighter, irregular or more frequent. Regular menstruation cannot be expected. This is not harmful ^{13, 17}
• May cause side effects, such as acne, headaches, hair loss and mood changes ¹³

ADVANTAGES

• Protects against pregnancy for 5-10 years  ¹⁸
• Can be used by women that cannot use hormonal contraception  ²⁰
• Suitable for women of any age and women who smoke  ²⁰
• Suitable while breastfeeding 18
• Not affected by vomiting and diarrhoea or medication ^{15, 20}
• Discreet  ²¹
• Possible to fall pregnant as soon as IUCD is removed  ¹⁸

DISADVANTAGES

• Periods may be heavier, longer or more painful in the first 3-6 months.
  May cause spotting or bleeding between periods ¹⁸
• Small risk of infection after fitment ¹⁸
• Small risk that your body may push it out, or it may move ¹⁸
• May not be suitable if you have had previous pelvic infections ¹⁸
• Slightly increased risk of getting thrush ¹⁸

ADVANTAGES

• Protects against pregnancy for 3-5 years ²²
• Can be used by women that cannot use contraception that contains oestrogen ²²
•  Suitable for women of any age and women who smoke ²³
• Suitable while breastfeeding ²²
• Not affected by vomiting and diarrhoea or medication 25
• Discreet ²⁴
• Possible to fall pregnant soon after IUS is removed ²²
• Periods may become lighter, shorter and less painful ²²

DISADVANTAGES

• Need a small procedure to have the IUS fitted or removed and there may be 
  associated pain after this procedure ²²
• Small risk that your body may push it out, or it may move ²²
• Periods may become irregular. This is not harmful ^{17, 22}
• May cause temporary side effects, such as acne, headaches and breast tenderness ²²
• Slight increased risk of ectopic pregnancy ²²
• Small risk of infection after fitment ²²

ADVANTAGES

• May be useful for those who wish to avoid devices or hormones ²⁶
• No effect on hormone levels ²⁴
• Can be used at any age ²⁵

DISADVANTAGES

• Not reliable – around 25 % of women become pregnant within the first year of using this method ¹
• Can take up to 6 months to learn how to use the method properly ²⁵
• Stress or illness can make the method unreliable ²⁵
• Need to avoid intercourse at certain times and must be strictly adhered to ²⁵

ADVANTAGES

• May be suitable for those who want a permanent method of contraception ²⁹
• No effect on hormone levels ^{27, 28}

DISADVANTAGES

• Cannot easily be reversed ²⁹
• Involves an operation or procedure ²⁹
• Male sterilization is not effective immediately (3 months) but is a safer and simpler alternative to a female sterilization ²⁸
• Small risk that the procedure may not work ¹

ADVANTAGES

• Suitable for women who do not want a long-term
  contraceptive method, and wish to avoid taking hormones ³⁰

DISADVANTAGES

• Learning correct use can take time ³⁰
• Involves forward planning or interruption of intercourse ³⁰
• Can be messy as it needs to be used with spermicide ³⁰
• Must be left in place for at least 6 hours after sex ³⁰

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

• Learning correct use can take time ³⁰
• Involves forward planning or interruption of intercourse ³⁰
• Can be messy as it needs to be used with spermicide ³⁰

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

• Learning correct use can take time ³⁰
• Involves forward planning or interruption of intercourse ³⁰
• Can be messy as it needs to be used with spermicide ³⁰
• Must be left in place for at least 6 hours after sex ³⁰

Very effective when used in an emergency

Not intended to be used as a regular
contraceptive ^{4, 35}

ADVANTAGES

• Can be obtained directly from the pharmacy ³⁶
• Can be used if there is a failure of usual contraceptive method-
  such as a missed pill or split condom ³⁵
• No serious short or long-term side effects ³⁵

DISADVANTAGES

• If implantation has already occurred, this method will not be effective ³⁷
• Efficacy is affected by vomiting, diarrhoea and some medications ³⁸
• Can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and headaches ³⁵
• Can alter next period by making it earlier, later, heavier or more painful ^{35, 39}