Contraception – help me choose

Not all contraceptive methods are equally reliable. How effective they are depends on how well they are used. These are the chances of getting pregnant with the following methods:

Whatever your sexual orientation or gender identity, if you are sexually active and you have a uterus and ovaries and any of your sexual partners have testicles you might also want to think about contraception to help prevent pregnancy. Unless you have had surgery, which prevents you from getting pregnant or getting your partner pregnant, you need to use contraception if you don’t want a pregnancy. Read more about contraception for trans or non-binary people.

Smokers can use most types of contraception. But if you’re a smoker and over 35 years old, the combined pill is NOT likely to be safe for you. Smoking together with oestrogen in the combined contraceptive pill, causes a significant increase in blood clots, stroke and heart attacks.

Note: Currently, there is not enough research to know the effects of e-cigarettes/vaping in combination with hormonal birth control. The Family Planning Alliance Australia advises that until further evidence is available, it considers vaping with nicotine an equivalent risk to cigarette smoking. Read more: Vaping and medical eligibility for hormonal contraception.(external link)(external link)

Your weight won’t affect most types of contraception, but if you are very overweight, then the combined pill might not be suitable for you.

Most contraception won’t make you put on weight, but the Depo Provera injection has been linked to a small amount of weight gain if used for 2 years or more.

• If you have epilepsy, your choice of contraception requires special consideration.
• Some anti-seizure medicines can make some types of contraception less effective.
• Also, antiepileptic medicine may risk harm to your baby, especially during the first trimester (first 12 weeks of pregnancy), when you may not realise you are pregnant.
• Read more about epilepsy and contraception. 

• Some contraceptives work by using hormones that are similar to the hormones women produce naturally. These hormones are oestrogen and progestogen.
• Contraceptives that contain these hormones aren’t suitable for some women, such as those who have medical conditions like breast cancer.
• Contraceptive methods that don’t use hormones are the copper IUD and condoms.

Contraceptives that contain oestrogen are not suitable for women who:

• are over 35 and who smoke
• are very overweight
• take certain medicines
• have certain medical conditions, such as problems with blood circulation or migraines with aura.

If you can’t use contraceptives that contain oestrogen, there are other options, including:

• intrauterine device (IUD)
• contraceptive implant
• contraceptive injection
• progestogen-only pill.

• If you are taking medicines that are known to cause birth defects, such as isotretinoin (Oratane), you must use reliable contraception for at least 1 month before you start, the whole time you are taking it and at least 1 month after you finish taking it.
• This usually means using 2 methods of contraception, ie, condoms plus a pill, implant, injection or IUD.
• Fertility awareness or condoms alone are NOT recommended.
• Talk to your doctor about the best options for you.

• If you’re using a hormonal method of contraception, a small amount of hormone enters your breast milk but no research has shown that this harms your baby.
• Breastfeeding can be used as a contraceptive method, but there are things you need to do for it to be effective. Read more about breastfeeding and contraception.

• You may want to have fewer periods, either for convenience or health reasons such as endometriosis, breast tenderness, bloating or mood swings.
• The following contraception enables you to have fewer periods:
  • The combined pill – if you continue taking active hormones, you won’t have withdrawal bleeding.
  • IUDs – over time, all hormonal IUDs make periods lighter, and may make them less painful, shorter or come less often.
  • Depo Provera – after 1 year of Depo Provera injections, 50–75% of women report having no periods. The longer you use Depo Provera, the more likely your periods will stop.