Wellness · Sexual health
Contraception, modern options at every life stage.
From LARCs to hormonal-free options: an evidence-first guide to what suits which stage of life.
Why trust this guide
- 01
Clinically reviewed
Written by our editorial team and reviewed by a registered UK clinician before publication.
- 02
Sourced from FSRH and NICE
Every claim is checked against FSRH guidance, NICE and NHS sources listed at the end.
- 03
Non-judgmental
The best method is the one that suits your life — no pressure, no upsells, no moralising.
Key facts
Contraception at a glance.
The essentials, in plain English — what works best, what protects against STIs, and when to see a clinician.
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Most effective
LARCs (long-acting reversible contraceptives) are the most effective — copper coil, hormonal coil, implant.
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Pill, patch, ring
Effective when used consistently — real-world failure is higher than perfect-use figures suggest.
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STI protection
Barrier methods (condoms) also protect against sexually transmitted infections — nothing hormonal does.
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Emergency contraception
Options are available up to 5 days after unprotected sex — the copper coil is the most effective.
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Fertility
Fertility returns quickly after most methods — usually within 1 to 3 months.
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When to escalate
Irregular bleeding on hormones or a marked mood change — see your GP or sexual-health clinic.
Why this guide matters
Modern options, real trade-offs.
Choosing contraception is rarely a single-answer question. The three points below shape everything else on this page.
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LARCs win on real-world effectiveness
Coils and implants remove daily-user error and outperform pills in typical use.
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Fertility returns fast
For most methods fertility returns within 1-3 months of stopping.
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Only barriers protect against STIs
Condoms are the only method that reduces sexually transmitted infection risk.
The evidence
How to choose and settle on a method.
A pragmatic order to work through — from priorities and clinical fit to the trial, review and switch.
Phase 1 · Choose
Priorities, clinician, contraindications
Phase 2 · Trial
Give it a fair run and review at 3 months
Phase 3 · Adjust
Switch if needed; know emergency options
- 01
Choose
Understand your priorities
Efficacy, hormone tolerance, effect on cycle, and ease of use — rank these before choosing.
- 02
Choose
Discuss with a clinician
A GP, practice nurse or sexual-health clinician can talk through the options that fit your health.
- 03
Choose
Check contraindications
Migraine with aura, VTE risk, breast cancer history and some medicines change which methods are safe.
- 04
Trial
Trial a method
Give a new method a fair trial — hormones often settle over the first cycles.
- 05
Trial
Review at 3 months
Bleeding pattern, mood, libido and side-effects usually settle by then. Book a review.
- 06
Adjust
Switch if not right for you
There are many options — a method that does not suit you is a reason to swap, not to stop contraception.
- 07
Adjust
Emergency contraception
Have a plan for when you need it — pharmacy, sexual-health clinic or GP the same day.
Typical timeline: 1 appointment plus a 3-month review to settle on the right method.
Signs it affects you
The main options at a glance.
A quick tour of the methods available — what each is, what it does, and where it fits.
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Copper IUD
Hormone-free coil, effective for 5-10 years, may make periods heavier.
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Hormonal IUS
Mirena, Kyleena and similar — often lightens or stops periods over time.
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Implant
Small rod in the upper arm, lasts 3 years, very effective.
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Combined pill / patch / ring
Oestrogen and progestogen — regulates cycle for many; not for everyone.
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Progestogen-only pill
Daily pill without oestrogen — an option when combined methods are not safe.
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Barrier methods
Male and female condoms — also the only method that reduces STI risk.
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Natural family planning
Fertility Awareness Methods — needs proper training to be reliable.
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Emergency contraception
Levonorgestrel, ulipristal, or a copper coil after unprotected sex.
How to do it
The main methods, side by side.
Eight routes, roughly ranked by real-world effectiveness — pick the one that fits your health, cycle and life.
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LARC — coil or implant
Most effective in real-world use because there is nothing to remember day-to-day.
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Combined hormonal
Pill, patch or ring — good cycle control for many, but not safe with certain risk factors.
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Progestogen-only pill
Daily pill without oestrogen — a common alternative when combined methods are unsuitable.
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Depot injection
A progestogen injection every 12-13 weeks — no daily action needed.
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Barrier methods
Condoms — the only option that also protects against STIs.
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Fertility Awareness
Needs proper training and consistent tracking to reach useful reliability.
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Emergency contraception
Levonorgestrel, ulipristal, or copper coil — best used as soon as possible.
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Sterilisation
Permanent — appropriate when the family is complete. Discuss thoroughly before proceeding.
What this guide is based on
The sources behind every claim on this page.
UK national guidance and specialist society standards, current at the time of last review.
Key references
Guidelines and standards we relied on.
A quiet reminder
This guide is for information, not medical advice.
A GP, practice nurse or sexual-health clinician can tailor these options to your health and circumstances.
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Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH). Contraception guidance.
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NICE. Contraception (Clinical Knowledge Summary).
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NHS. Your contraception guide.
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Brook. Young people’s sexual health information.
Red flags
When to stop and seek advice.
These signs need urgent attention — either a change of method or a same-day clinical review.
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Severe headache with visual aura on combined pill
Stop combined hormonal contraception and see a clinician — increased stroke risk.
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Calf swelling, chest pain or breathlessness
Possible venous thromboembolism — call 999 or go to A&E.
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New severe abdominal pain with an IUD
Rule out ectopic pregnancy, especially if the coil was fitted recently — seek urgent review.
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Irregular bleeding beyond 3 months
Most methods settle by then — persistent bleeding needs assessment.
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Severe mood change
Persistent low mood or anxiety on hormones — worth a review and a possible switch.
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Migraine with aura
Avoid combined hormonal methods — progestogen-only or non-hormonal options are safer.
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Under 12 or safeguarding concerns
Contact a specialist sexual-health service — safeguarding pathways apply.
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Any thoughts of self-harm
Please talk to someone today — Samaritans 116 123, free, 24/7.
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Pregnancy suspected on any method
Take a pregnancy test — no method is 100% and early confirmation matters.
Making it stick
The method that suits your life, not just the leaflet.
Four principles to guide the choice — and the switch if the first one is not right.
A quiet reminder
A method that does not suit you is a reason to switch.
There are many options — you should not feel stuck with one that is affecting your mood, cycle or day-to-day life.
- 01 Real-world use
The best method is the one you actually use
Perfect-use figures rarely reflect real life. Choose something you can stick with.
- 02 Effectiveness
LARCs win on real-world effectiveness
Coils and implants remove the daily-user error that lowers pill effectiveness in practice.
- 03 STI protection
Only barriers protect against STIs
Hormonal methods do not — combine with condoms if STI risk is a factor.
- 04 Access
Free NHS contraception is available
GP surgeries and sexual-health clinics provide the full range at no cost.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about contraception.
Quick answers on effectiveness, side-effects, emergency options, breastfeeding, perimenopause and access.
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Which is most effective?
LARCs — the implant, hormonal IUS and copper coil — have the highest real-world effectiveness because they do not depend on daily user action.
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What are the risks of the combined pill?
There is a small increased risk of venous thromboembolism and stroke. The risk is higher in smokers and in people with migraine with aura, who should avoid combined methods.
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Hormonal coil vs copper coil?
The hormonal IUS often reduces or stops periods over time. The copper IUD is hormone-free but can make periods heavier or more painful, especially in the first few months.
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What are the emergency contraception options?
Levonorgestrel up to 72 hours, ulipristal up to 120 hours, and the copper coil up to 120 hours after unprotected sex. The copper coil is the most effective.
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How quickly does fertility return after stopping?
For most methods fertility returns within 1 to 3 months. The depot injection can take longer — sometimes up to a year.
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Which methods are safe when breastfeeding?
Progestogen-only options — the mini pill, implant, hormonal IUS and depot — are safe. Combined hormonal methods are generally avoided in the early postnatal period.
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When should I start contraception after giving birth?
Discuss it at your postnatal check. Some methods can be started immediately; others depend on breastfeeding and timing.
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Do I still need contraception in perimenopause?
Yes — pregnancy is still possible. Guidance suggests continuing until 12 months after the last period if over 50, or 24 months if under 50.
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Is sterilisation really permanent?
Yes — treat it as permanent. Reversal is not routinely available on the NHS and success rates are limited. Discuss thoroughly before proceeding.
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Where can I get contraception?
From your NHS GP, a local sexual-health clinic, or a private clinic. Most methods are free on the NHS.
Related content
Keep reading.
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STI screening
When and how to test — barriers are the only method that also protects against STIs.
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Cervical screening
Routine screening from age 25 — separate from contraception, both matter.
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Menopause
Contraception is still needed in perimenopause — here is when it can stop.
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