Sex – forget it

• Do I want a short-term method because I would like a baby in the next year or two?
• Do I want a long-term method because I definitely do not want to get pregnant again soon?
• Do I want to use the method I used before?
• Do I want something permanent because I definitely do not want any more children?

If you think you’ll want to have another baby in the next year or so and you don’t want to use a method that has to be used for a long time, you could try:

• Oral contraceptives
  - the combined pill
  - the progestogen only pill
  
• Male or female condoms
• Diaphragm or cap with spermicide
• Natural family planning.

Oral contraceptives
Combined pills contain two hormones, oestrogen and progestogen. They prevent ovulation and you take them for three weeks out of four each month.

• The combined pill is not suitable if you are breastfeeding as the oestrogen component in these pills can reduce your milk.
• Progestogen only pills are suitable; they don’t alter your breast milk or harm the baby. Progestogen only pills are taken continuously with no break.

  There are lots of myths about the Pill. Many women believe it is dangerous or unnatural, yet it has been available for 40 years and research shows that, when properly prescribed to women who don’t smoke and have no medical problems, it is extremely safe. Safer, in fact, than being pregnant and going through birth.