Contraception: comparing methods

No single method is best for everyone. The right choice depends on your health, your age, your plans and what feels manageable for you.

These are the most reliable options, because they need no daily attention.

• Intrauterine device (IUD): fitted by a doctor, comes in hormonal and copper types, and lasts for years.
• Implant: a thin rod placed under the skin of the upper arm, which works for several years.

These are very reliable when used correctly, but protection drops if you miss a dose or take it late.

• Pills: taken every day.
• Patch and vaginal ring: changed weekly or monthly.
• Injection: given every few months.

Methods containing estrogen do not suit everyone. Migraine with aura, a history of blood clots, or smoking after 35, for example, can make them risky. Do not pick a pill on your own, talk to a doctor.

Male and female condoms work without hormones. They are also the only method that protects against sexually transmitted infections. How well they work depends a lot on correct use, and they can be combined with another method.

Withdrawal and counting days on a calendar often fail, especially if your periods are irregular.

Sterilization is for people sure they want no children in future, and it is usually not reversible.

Would you forget a daily pill? Do you want to get pregnant in the next few years? If you get side effects, tell your doctor, because you can change methods.