WHAT TO DO IF …
WHICH CONTRACEPTION IS RIGHT FOR ME?
FIND LOCAL SUPPORT
DON’T MYTH WITH ME!
Is there a certain IUS removal time? and How long should I wait after the removal of IUS before conception?
It can be taken out at any time by a specially trained doctor or nurse. It's possible to get pregnant straight after it's removed.
Is being on the pill for a long time affect my fertility later on in life?
It is important to counsel women that prior contraceptive use regardless of its duration and type does not have a negative effect on subsequent fertility so that they can choose and use the duration they want.
Will a pregnancy test work if I'm on the pill?
Yes. It's always advisable to take a pregnancy test if you think you might be pregnant, regardless of the type of contraception you're currently using or have used in the past. A pregnancy test only reacts to the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG).
How long does it take for a pregnancy test to detect after conception?
This hormone will not be present in your urine or blood until 13 to 16 days after the release of an egg (ovulation), which is around the time you would normally get your period.
Blood tests are more sensitive because they can detect a smaller amount of HCG, which means that pregnancies can be picked up earlier, usually between 6 to 8 days after ovulation.
Can the IUS move about inside me and cause problems?
The intrauterine system (IUS) is an effective method that is inserted by a well-trained healthcare provider and it stays in place for up to 3 or 5 years.
The risk of uterine perforation is rare (less than one case in every thousand insertions (<1/1000)).
Is postpartum birth control recommended?
If you are not using a birth control method, it is possible to get pregnant very soon after having a baby. Many experts recommend waiting at least 18 months between pregnancies before having another baby.
Do I need to use contraception if I’m breastfeeding?
If you are breastfeeding, ovulation may be delayed, but it usually returns by about 6 months. Once ovulation occurs, you can get pregnant again. For most women, ovulation occurs 2 weeks before the period starts. This means that you can get pregnant even if you hadn’t had your menstrual period.
Can I get pregnant if I’m on my period?
Yes, although it's not very likely. you can conceive (get pregnant) at any time during your menstrual cycle, even after your period. The fact that sperm can survive inside a woman’s uterus for up to seven days means you should always protect yourself if you don’t want to get pregnant.
How effective are emergency contraception methods?
There are two types of emergency contraception:8
• the copper intrauterine device (IUD), or coil,
• the emergency contraceptive pill, or the morning-after pill.
Both types of emergency contraception are effective at preventing pregnancy if they are used soon after unprotected sex. All women who need emergency contraception should be offered the copper IUD (if appropriate or acceptable), as it is the most effective form of emergency contraception.
Can you take birth control if you have breast cancer?
If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, you SHOULD NOT use hormonal contraceptives. That’s because there’s evidence that these medicines might increase the risk of cancer coming back.
Does the contraceptive pill increase cancer risk?
The contraceptive pill can slightly increase the risk of breast cancer but it can decrease the risk of ovarian and womb cancer.
Overall, the protective effects outweigh the risks, but each person's risk will be different. Talk to your doctor if you're thinking about using the contraceptive pill.
Does pregnancy occur in twins after stopping the use of compound pills?
There is no relationship between the use of compound pills and the occurrence of twin pregnancy.
Can a woman after a cesarean use a method of family planning?
Women who have had a CS and/or are breastfeeding are good candidates for intrauterine contraception as it appears to present fewer problems than after vaginal delivery. While IUDs do not affect lactation, and insertion of an IUD in lactating women is generally less painful and better tolerated.
Does the use of antibiotics affect the effectiveness of compound pills?
The only antibiotic that has been shown to reduce contraceptive effects is Rifampin. Therefore, a second contraception method other than oral contraceptives should be considered, and it is crucial to inform the patient of the chance for interaction.
What is the appropriate family planning method for a woman after the age of forty?
The medical risks of unintended pregnancy are greater for older women than for younger women and so more effective contraceptive methods should be considered for pregnancy in older women.
The World Health Organization (WHO) categorizes copper IUDs, progestin IUDs, progestin implants and sterilization as “top-tier” methods for effectiveness.
What are the benefits of compound pills?
There are many benefits, most important are
• It prevents pregnancy by 99% if used correctly and regularly
• It protects against the occurrence of tumours of the womb, ovaries and colon.
• It reduces the amount of menstruation bleeding.
• It reduces the pain associated with menstruation
• It may reduce the risk of fibroids, ovarian cysts and non-cancerous breast disease
What are the Disadvantages of compound pills?
• Compound pills can cause temporary side effects at first, such as headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and mood swings – if these do not go after a few months, it may help to change to a different pill.15
• breakthrough bleeding and spotting is common in the first few months of using the pill.15
• it can increase blood pressure.
Are contraceptive pills related to birth defects?
Several studies have confirmed the absence of any significantly increased risk of major birth defects associated with oral contraceptive use in the months before or after pregnancy onset.
Do contraceptive pills cause osteoporosis?
In regards to combined and progesterone-only contraceptives, none of those seems to affect bone health significantly and they do have is not likely to increase a woman’s chance of bone fracture except for the progestin-only injection (DMPA*).
Women using DMPA lose some bone density while they are using it. This happens to both adults and teenagers. The amount of bone lost is somewhere between 5-7% in the hip and spine.
*DMPA: depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate
Is there an advantage to waiting a few months after stopping the pill before trying to conceive?
Conceiving immediately after stopping the pill does not increase your risk of miscarriage or harm to the fetus. The hormones in birth control pills don't remain in your system.
Can a pregnancy test be accurate if I'm taking the birth control pill?
You can get accurate results from a pregnancy test while you're on the pill. Pregnancy tests work by measuring a specific pregnancy-related hormone — human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) — in your blood or urine. The active ingredients in birth control pills don't affect how a pregnancy test measures the level of HCG in your system.
Do birth control pills cause weight gain?
This is a common thought. But studies have shown that the effect of the birth control pill on weight is small — if it exists at all. Instead, you may be retaining more fluid, which can make you feel as if you've put on weight.
Do I need a break from contraception?
It does no harm to be on contraception for many years. There is no medical need to have a break from hormonal contraceptives. Even if hormonal contraception changes the pattern of periods, fertility will come back once contraception is stopped.