Services
GYNAECOLOGY
CONTRACEPTION AND FAMILY PLANNING
There are different types of contraception and family planning methods, namely:
Natural family planning:
These are methods that help avoid or achieve pregnancy without the use of hormones, chemicals, or barriers. There are different types of natural family planning methods such as ovulation method, standard days method, symptom-thermal method and lactational amenorrhea method.
Hormonal contraception:
These contraceptives use hormones to prevent pregnancy. These include the combined oral contraceptive pill, progestogen-only contraceptive pill, vaginal ring (NuvaRing) and depo Provera injection.
Long-acting reversible contraception:
These are contraceptives that last for a long time. These include the intrauterine device (IUD) and contraceptive implants which may last for 3, 5 or 10 years.
Emergency contraception:
There are different types of emergency contraception, such as the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) or a copper IUD. This method is used if you haven’t used protection, missed your injection, or you have been vomiting or had diarrhoea while on the pill. The copper IUD is normally inserted five days after having unprotected sex.
Barrier methods:
These are contraception methods that help stop the sperm from entering the vagina. These barrier methods include condoms, internal condoms and diaphragms. Condoms prevent unintended pregnancy and also help protect you against sexually transmissible infections (STIs).
Permanent contraception:
This method is also called sterilisation, which prevents all future pregnancies and is very difficult or impossible to reverse. There are different types of permanent contraception, namely, vasectomy or a tubal ligation.
Dr Rochelle Vatharajh is a family-friendly Gynaecologist and Obstetrician
based at Netcare Parklands Hospital in Durban.
