People tell us they want to make their own choices about the contraception they use. They want information about the different methods available and time to think about which one they would prefer—one that suits their lifestyle now.
When you choose a method of contraception there are lots of things to consider. People are more likely to use something if they feel comfortable and confident about it So take your time to read and think about which methods might suit you. The next step may be to go to your doctor or Family Planning Centre to talk about the different methods a bit more before you decide. It’s also good to have a health check to make sure you can use the contraceptive method you choose. You will certainly need a check up if you want to take the Pill or use another method that involves using hormones.
It is very important that you feel happy with the method you choose. If you are not happy about using it, your anxiety or discomfort could make you feel tense about sex, which could make you even unhappier. It could also affect your relationship with your sexual partner.
If you are anxious or uncomfortable about using a particular contraceptive method it’s worth asking yourself why you feel that way. Perhaps it is not acceptable in your culture for you to touch your vagina to insert a diaphragm, or perhaps you don’t like the idea of using something like the Pill because it affects your whole system. When you know the reason you can decide whether you want to do something about it, or just look for another method that you feel happier using.
You will need to find out whether you can get the method you’re interested in easily. For example, if you don’t live in the city, you’ll need to find a doctor in your area who is trained to insert IUDs or implants. If you want to have a tubal ligation it may be necessary to have time away from family or work commitments.
You need to be able to afford the method you would like to use. For example, you may want to choose an IUD, but even though over time this works out to be a fairly inexpensive method, the cost can be quite high when you first pay for it.
Other things that may influence your choice are your age, and how you feel a particular method may affect you or the possibility of you having children in the future. The method you choose could also depend on how effective you need the method to be and whether an unexpected pregnancy would be a real problem to you at the moment.
You will probably find that you use different methods as things in your life change. There may be a time when you want a method that will be easy to keep private. Sometimes it could be worth using a method that protects you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well, particularly if you have a new partner, or you have sex with more than one person, or your partner has sex with more than one person. If you are breastfeeding you should consider using a method that would not have any effect on your milk supply.
If you use drugs or alcohol regularly you may need to choose a method that you don’t have to remember to use just before you have sex. If you have a physical disability, think about whether you have sufficient movement in your hands to use a particular method, for example, a cervical cap. You may need to have regular check ups to make sure you can still use a method if you have a progressive disease. Your choice of contraception could also be affected if you have any loss of sexual sensation. Talk to your doctor to make sure the method you choose will not make any difficulties you may have worse. If you have an intellectual disability, make sure that you know all about the method, and that you feel it is easy to use.
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