Sixty per cent of women who have had an unplanned pregnancy were using some form of contraception at the time.
Take time out to read about your options and cross contraception off your list of things to do. The more information you have, the better decision you can make about what is right for you at this stage of your life.
With so many contraceptive options available today, it can be a bit overwhelming when trying to decide which option is best for you. Even if you're not ready for contraception, it's a good idea to learn what's out there so when the time is right, you'll be able to make an informed choice.
A recent study by Marie Stopes International found over half of all women have experienced an unplanned pregnancy, and 60% of those were using at least one form of contraception at the time. There are several reasons for contraceptive failure, including not using the contraceptive properly/effectively (for example, forgetting to take your pill or not using condoms at all times); and failure of the contraceptive method itself (for example, the condom broke.) No contraceptive is 100% effective....unless you choose to abstain from sex entirely. The World Health Organisation states that even if couples use contraception correctly 100% of the time, there would be close to 6 million unplanned pregnancies each year.
See the table below for a list of contraception options available in Australia. After you've sussed out the options, go to the Contraceptive Checklist at the end of the page to help you decide which one is right for you.
Click the titles below to expand each contraception option or download contraception chart here.
Hormonal
- Combined Pill
How it works 1 pill consisting of 2 hormones (oestrogen and progestogen) taken same time daily. Prevents egg being released. Advantages Can reduce PMS and period pain. Does not affect spontaneity. Considerations Not suitable for some medical conditions. If pill is taken more than 12hrs late extra precautions required. Reliability 99% if taken correctly. STI and HIV Protection No protection against STIs or HIV/AIDS. Availability Marie Stopes International, GP, local family planning clinics. When to start Always start with an active pill. When effective After 7 days of active pills. Return to fertility No evidence of delay. Post partum Start 21 days after delivery or 6 weeks to 6 months after delivery if breast feeding. - Contraception Implant (Implanon®)
How it works A small rod containing the hormone progestogen which is inserted under the skin in the arm by a doctor. Prevents egg being released. Prevents sperm reaching egg. Advantages Lasts for 3 years. Considerations Breakthrough bleeding. Possible weight gain. Reliability 99% effective. STI and HIV Protection No protection against STIs or HIV/AIDS. Availability Marie Stopes International, GP, local family planning clinics. When to start Start on day 1 to 5 of menstrual cycle. If on other contraception, start any time, but ensure that you are not pregnant first (confirm with a pregnancy test). When effective 7 days after insertion. Return to fertility No evidence of delay. Post partum Can be implanted anytime, if less than 21 days post delivery.
Can be implanted anytime, if more than 21 days post delivery, but ensure that you are not pregnant first (confirm with pregnancy test).
If breast feeding, can be implanted anytime if less than 6 weeks post delivery.
If more than 6 weeks post delivery, ensure that you are not pregnant first (confirm with pregnancy test). - Contraception Injection (Depo-Provera®)
How it works Progestogen injection. Prevents sperm reaching egg and egg being released. Advantages Lasts for 12 weeks. Considerations Periods can be irregular initially; possible breakthrough bleeding. Possible slight weight gain; delayed return to fertility. Reliability 99% effective. STI and HIV Protection No protection against STIs or HIV/AIDS. Availability Marie Stopes International, GP, local family planning clinics. When to start Start on day 1 to 5 of menstrual cycle. If on other contraception, start any time, but ensure that you are not pregnant first (confirm with a pregnancy test). When effective 7 days after injection. Return to fertility Return to fertility Post partum Can be injected anytime if less than 21 days post delivery.
Can be injected anytime if more than 21 days post delivery, but ensure that you are not pregnant first (confirm with pregnancy test).
If breast feeding, can be injected anytime if less than 6 weeks post delivery.
If more than 6 weeks post delivery,ensure that you are not pregnant first (confirm with pregnancy test). - NuvaRing®
How it works Vaginal ring containing both oestrogen and progestogen released from the ring and absorbed through the wall of the vagina. Prevents egg being released. Advantages Low dose of hormones. Lasts for 4 weeks. Inserted for three weeks, remove for one week. Considerations Possible slight weight gain and acne. Some medications can effect the reliability. Inform your doctor of your current medications frst. Reliability 99% effective if used correctly. STI and HIV Protection No protection against STIs or HIV/AIDS. Availability Marie Stopes International, GP, local family planning clinics. When to start Insert between day 1 and 5 of mentrual cycle, or any time as long as you can ensure that you are not pregnant at time of insertion (confirm with a pregnancy test). Insert ring for three weeks, remove for one week. When effective 7 days after first insertion. Return to fertility No evidence of delay. Post partum Can be inserted 21 days after delivery or 6 months after delivery if breastfeeding. - Progestogen only Pill
How it works 1 pill consisting of 1 hormone (progestogen) taken same time daily. Prevents sperm reaching egg. Advantages For older women, those breast feeding, those who can’t take the combined pill. Considerations Pills must not be taken 3 hours late, otherwise extra precautions required. Reliability 98% if taken correctly. STI and HIV Protection No protection against STIs or HIV/AIDS. Availability Marie Stopes International, GP, local family planning clinics. When to start Start on day 1 to 5 of pack. When effective Immediately. Return to fertility No evidence of delay. Post partum If breastfeeding, anytime if less than 21 days after delivery. If 21 days after delivery and no period, ensure not pregnant first (confirm with pregnancy test)
If not breast feeding, start anytime if you can ensure that you are not pregnant (confirm with pregnancy test).
Barrier
- Diaphragm – Cap
How it works Dome of rubber placed over cervix to prevent sperm entering uterus. Spermicides required. Advantages Only use during sexual activity. Considerations Stays in place for 6 hours after sex. Reliability 92%-96% effective if used correctly. STI and HIV Protection No protection against STIs or HIV/AIDS. Availability Marie Stopes International, GP, local family planning clinics. - Female Condom
How it works Thin plastic sheath placed in vagina to trap sperm. Advantages Only use during sexual activity. Considerations Can reduce spontaneity. Reliability 95% effective if used correctly. STI and HIV Protection Helps protect against STIs and HIV/AIDS. Availability Marie Stopes International, local family planning clinics. - Male Condom
How it works Rubber or latex sheath traps sperm during sexual intercourse. Advantages Readily available. Only use during sexual activity. Considerations Can reduce spontaneity. Reliability 98% effective if used correctly. STI and HIV Protection Helps protect against STIs and HIV/AIDS. Availability Marie Stopes International, chemists, supermarkets, local family planning clinics.
Intrauterine
- IUD (Multiload®)
How it works Copper device ftted in uterus. Prevents egg and sperm meeting. Advantages Stays in place for up to 5 years. Considerations May make periods heavy and/or may increase period pains. Reliability 98%-99% effective. STI and HIV Protection No protection against STIs or HIV/AIDS. Availability Marie Stopes International, GP, local family planning clinics. When to start Day 1 to 12 of menstrual cycle. When effective Immediately. Return to fertility No evidence of delay. Post partum Can be fitted immediately if less than 48 hours post delivery or after 4 weeks post delivery if you can ensure you are not pregnant (confirm with pregnancy test). - IUS (Mirena®)
How it works Small plastic device with progestogen ftted in uterus. Prevents egg and sperm meeting. Advantages Stays in place for up to 5 years. Considerations May make periods lighter. Reliability 99% effective. STI and HIV Protection No protection against STIs or HIV/AIDS. Availability Marie Stopes International, GP, local family planning clinics. When to start Day 1 to 7 of menstrual cycle. When effective Anytime if you can ensure that you are not pregnant, other wise after 7 days. Return to fertility No evidence of delay. Post partum Can be fitted immediately if less than 48 hours post delivery or after 4 weeks post delivery if you can ensure you are not pregnant (confirm with pregnancy test). - IUS (TT380 Slimline ®)
How it works Copper device fitted in uterus. Prevents egg and sperm meeting. Advantages Stays in place for up to 10 years. Considerations May make periods heavy and/or may increase period pains. Reliability 99.2% effective. STI and HIV Protection No protection against STIs or HIV/AIDS. Availability Marie Stopes International, GP, local family planning clinics. When to start Day 1 to 12 of menstrual cycle. When effective Immediately. Return to fertility No evidence of delay. Post partum Can be fitted immediately if less than 48 hours post delivery or after 4 weeks post delivery if you can ensure you are not pregnant (confirm with pregnancy test).
Permanent
- Female Sterilisation
How it works Fallopian tubes closed – which prevents egg and sperm meeting. Advantages For those who want a permanent method of contraception. Considerations Small medical risk during procedure. Reliability Over 99% effective. STI and HIV Protection No protection against STIs or HIV/AIDS. Availability GP referral. - Vasectomy
How it works Tubes carrying sperm closed. Advantages For those who want a permanent method of contraception. Considerations Must use alternative method of contraception until all sperm are non-active (takes up to 4 months). Reliability Over 99% effective. STI and HIV Protection No protection against STIs or HIV/AIDS. Availability Marie Stopes International, GP referral.
Emergency
- Emergency Contraceptive Pill
How it works Prevents a fertilised egg implanting itself in the uterus lining. Advantages Taken up to 120 hours after sex. Considerations Lapsed time increases failure rate. Reliability 95% effective if taken up to 24 hours after sex. STI and HIV Protection No protection against STIs or HIV/AIDS. Availability Marie Stopes International, over the counter at pharmacies, GP, local family planning clinics. - IUD
How it works Fitted to prevent egg and sperm meeting. Advantages Fitted up to 5 days after sex. Considerations May make periods heavy and/ or may increase period pains. Reliability 98%-99% effective. STI and HIV Protection No protection against STIs or HIV/AIDS. Availability Marie Stopes International, GP, local family planning clinics.
What to do if it goes wrong?
Let’s face it, sometimes accidents happen - the condom might break or slip off, you may have missed contraceptive pills or you just didn’t use any contraception. Emergency contraception can prevent an unplanned pregnancy after unprotected sex.
Since January 2004, the emergency contraceptive pill, (commonly known as the morning after pill) has been available in Australia over the counter at pharmacies or from your doctor. The most commonly used form of emergency contraception is a pack of two single tablets, each containing the hormone progestogen. You take one of these tablets as soon as possible after unprotected sex and another tablet 12 hours later. The ‘morning after pill’ can be taken up to 120 hours after unprotected sex, however the longer you leave it, the less effective it will be.
Progestogen-only emergency contraception works in two ways:

- It can delay ovulation (the release of an egg from a woman’s ovaries); or
- If ovulation has already taken place, it may stop a fertilised egg from implanting in the uterus.
Although most women have no side effects when using the emergency pill, the most commonly reported side effects are nausea and vomiting. Less common side effects include breast tenderness, vaginal bleeding and headaches. The emergency contraceptive pill prevents 95% of pregnancies if taken within 24 hours of intercourse.
It is always best to use a reliable method of contraception and to be aware of the risk of STIs and HIV from unprotected sex. It is not recommended that emergency contraception be used as a regular form of contraception.
Remember to have a check up and pregnancy test within four weeks of taking emergency contraception to ensure it has worked and you are not pregnant.
Contraceptive Checklist
- Ask yourself if you can realistically use this method. Do you know how to use it properly?
- Does it fit with your lifestyle?
- Find out how to use the method correctly and what to do if you forget to use it occasionally
- Ask your healthcare professional (GP, local sexual health centre, school nurse) about side effects. What are they? When will they happen? How long will they last?
- Is there anything you can do about them if they occur?
- Do you have multiple sexual partners? Are you in a monogamous relationship?
- How old are you? Have you completed your family?
- Find out how much the contraceptive will cost? Is it a one off fee or will you have to fork out on a monthly basis?
Remember - condoms are the only form of contraception that help protect against STIs and unplanned pregnancy.
