A new mum or pregnant? Find your Me-Spot

happy mum Having a baby may have changed the way you look at yourself; you are new to motherhood and don't have the time to spend on fashion and beauty or you simply have no idea where to start, and sex is probably the last thing on your mind!

Help is at hand. The 'Find Your Me-Spot' roadshow is touring the country to bring you top tips on all things beautiful, alongside confidence, flirting and contraception advice - everything you need to give yourself a boost and put time for yourself back on the agenda.

Check out our top tips on how to find a body beautiful you.

Contraception advice

With a new baby, sex may be the last thing on your mind but as many a mother with a short gap between children will testify, your libido and fertility can come back unexpectedly, so it may be necessary to re-evaluate your contraception.

There are a significant number of options available to women, some of which will be better suited to your lifestyle than others. Did you know there are methods of contraception that you don't have to worry about for months, even years on end?

To help you find the right choice for you, the 'Find Your Me-Spot' roadshow is touring the country to bring you one-on-one contraception consultations alongside confidence and flirting workshops.

Discreet yet intimate pods will host private consultations with experts in women's health who advise you on contraceptive choices that are available, which may ultimately lead to a more fulfilling sex life.

Follow up consultations with your local contraception provider may be needed. For further information on how to visit a contraception consultation at a Find Your Me-Spot roadshow, please visit www.findyourmespot.com

Here are just a few of the options available to you, including the contraceptive pill and long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCS). For further information, please visit www.contraception.co.uk

The Contraceptive Pill

If you're a new mum and still breastfeeding, you won't be able to take the combined pill as they contain oestrogen which affects your breast milk so you may want to ask your doctor about alternative options. However if you're not breastfeeding you can take the combined pill 21 days after birth.

Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC)

Intrauterine System (IUS) or Intrauterine Device (IUD)

All of the following options below may be useful for women whether breastfeeding or not:

The IUS is fitted inside the womb, but it works by releasing a steady dose of a hormone - progestogen (the same hormone found in some contraceptive pills). This thickens the cervical mucus to stop sperm from reaching the egg and stops the womb wall from thickening thus making any fertilised egg unlikely to implant in the wall. The IUS can be used for up to five years for contraception.

The IUD also works by sitting inside the womb and stopping sperm from reaching the egg or stopping a fertilised egg implanting. The IUD can be used for up to 5 or 10 years, depending on the type of device.

Both the IUS and the IUD need to be fitted by a healthcare professional.

Injection

As its name suggests, this contraceptive is given as an injection. The injection is usually given in the bottom, but it is sometimes given in the upper arm or leg. It gives you protection from getting pregnant for up to 12 weeks, but you must have regular injections in order to stay protected.

Subdermal Implant

This is a small, flexible rod that is placed underneath the skin on the inside of the upper arm. You can feel it under the skin, but it can't be seen. It must be fitted by a doctor or healthcare professional and lasts for up to three years.

You can also consider non-hormonal options such as the cap or a condom. We've created a guide to your basic contraception options in more detail which you can read by clicking here.

This article was contributed by Bayer Schering Pharma

UK.PH.WH.MRN.2010.103
Date of Preparation: April 2010