Contraception after you’ve had a baby

I am breast feeding:

• Progesterone only products

  • lower risk of side effects but same effectiveness as combined pill, suitable with medical conditions when combined pill is contraindicated including breast feeding.

  • Problems: irregular periods or lack of periods

• Injection:

  • 3 monthly injection (depo-provera)

  • Monthly injection - Sanyana press (self administered at home)

• POP or 'mini' pill - available brands for old generation (3 hour window) and new generation (12 hour window):

  • 12 hour missed pill window: Cerazette (same as Desogesterol, Cerelle, Zelletta, Nacrez)

  • 3 hour missed pill window: Micronor, Noriday, Norgeston

• Implant is considered to be the most effective hormonal contraception, if well fitted no one else can feel or see it

• IUS (used to be called the 'coil' - slow progesterone releasing intrauterine contraceptive system - Mirena, Kayleena, Jaydess. Follow up after 6 weeks (coil check), thereafter only if there is a problem.

I am NOT breast feeding:

• Any type of hormonal contraception can be used as long as there is no other medical contraindication, including the pills, patches and vaginal rings

• Contraindications: History or family history of:

  • Heart problems, stroke and/or blood clotting disease, high blood pressure

  • Epilepsy

  • Breast or ovarian cancer, endometriosis

  • Other risk factors: smoking, alcohol, mood change, depression, problems with weight, certain medications, age

I want something for long term:

(worried I may forget to take the pill, not planning the next baby just yet, or completed my family).

• Implant - 3 years

• All IUS ('coil' with hormone) - up to 5 years

• IUD (copper 'coil') - up to 10 years - look like the other intrauterine devices but without hormones

  • Does not stop period but for some people can make it heavier

  • The copper 'coil' is effective enough to be used as emergency contraception in some cases

• Male or female sterilisation

  • permanent, non reversible, involves small incision (male is less risky and more effective)

I want something hormone free:

• Condoms (free condoms for under 25s available from most surgeries, pharmacies and the sexual health clinics)

• caps and diaphragms - available from family planning clinics to decide on the correct size)

• 'copper' coil - IUD

When do start contraception?

• Most maternity wards are now offering contraception before leaving the hospital

• Some contraceptions can be given/started as early as 24048 hours after having the baby

  • POP/Mini pill, injection, implant, condoms, IUD/IUS (all types of coil)

• If you are NOT breastfeeding and you wish to use the combined pill/patch/vaginal ring, you can start as early as 3-6 weeks depending on your past/current medical conditions and current well-being.

More information:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/when-contraception-after-baby/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/contraceptive-diaphragm-or-cap/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/the-pill-progestogen-only/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/taken-extra-pill-by-accident/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/combined-contraceptive-pill/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/injections:RingPatchIUS/IUDCapImplant