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Contraception after birth chart: what's the best method for you?

If you're like many women, the last thing you want after giving birth is to find yourself expecting right away. Since you can be fertile again within weeks of your baby's birth, you'll need to start thinking about birth control even before you're ready to resume intercourse.

This chart will give you a quick overview of your choices. Click on the list below to find out more. You can also read our article on contraception after birth choices for more detailed information on each contraception method.

MALE CONDOM

A good choice for: • Breastfeeding mums • Women who aren't comfortable taking hormones • Women who want the freedom to have sex without having to insert or apply anything to their bodies beforehand • Smokers	NOT a good choice for: • Women who are allergic to latex (look for condoms made from polyurethane plastic or animal membrane)
Reliability: 97 per cent effective when used correctly

FEMALE CONDOM

A good choice for: • Women who aren't comfortable taking hormones • Breastfeeding mums • Women who feel comfortable inserting a device into their body before sex • Smokers	NOT a good choice for: • Women who are squeamish about inserting a device into their body before sex • Women who are allergic to latex or spermicides (although female condoms are made of polyurethane, not latex, you may have a reaction)
Reliability: 95 per cent effective when used correctly

DIAPHRAGM OR DUTCH CAP

A good choice for: • Women who aren't comfortable taking hormones • Breastfeeding mums • Women who feel comfortable inserting a device into their body before sex • Smokers	NOT a good choice for: • Women who are squeamish about inserting a device into their bodies before sex • Women who are allergic to latex or spermicides (necessary for effective use) • Women who don't want the hassle of using spermicidal jelly or cream (necessary for effective use)
Reliability: 80-90 per cent when used correctly

THE PILL OR "COMBINED PILL"

A good choice for: • Women who are comfortable taking hormones • Women who have irregular periods • Women who experience painful periods • Women who suffer from pre-menstrual tension (PMT) • Women who want the freedom to have sex without having to insert or apply anything beforehand • Women with acne • Non-smokers

NOT a good choice for: • Women who aren't comfortable taking hormones • Breastfeeding mums • Smokers who are over 35 • Women who've had blood clots (thrombosis) in any vein or artery • Women who can't remember to take or don't want to be bothered with a daily pill • Women with high blood pressure • Women with a history of breast, endometrial, ovarian, cervical, or liver cancer • Women with diabetes • Women with unexplained vaginal bleeding (between periods or after sex) • Women who experience severe migraines, or migraines with auras • Women with a history of stroke or heart disease • Women with liver disease (especially if you had jaundice in pregnancy) • Women with a history of gall bladder disease

Reliability: 99 per cent effective when taken correctly.

THE MINI PILL (PROGESTOGEN-ONLY PILL OR POP

A good choice for: • Women who are comfortable taking hormones • Breastfeeding mums • Women who experience painful periods • Women who want the freedom to have sex without having to insert or apply anything beforehand • Smokers

NOT a good choice for: • Women who aren't comfortable taking hormones • Women who can't remember to take or don't want the bother of taking a pill at the same time every day • Women with a history of breast or liver cancer • Women with a history of ovarian cysts • Women who have had an ectopic pregnancy in the past • Women who have had unexplained vaginal bleeding (between periods or after sex) • Women who couldn't cope with any changes to their periods

Reliability: 99 percent effective when taken correctly. But you have to be sure to take the Mini-Pill at the same time every day or it won't work.

CONTRACEPTIVE IMPLANTS

A good choice for: • Women looking for long-term contraception • Breastfeeding mums	NOT a good choice for: • Women who couldn't cope with any changes to their periods • Women who have had liver disease • Women who have had breast cancer or any cancer of the reproductive organs • Women who have had an ectopic pregnancy
Reliability: 99 per cent effective when used correctly

CONTRACEPTIVE PATCH

A good choice for: • Women who are comfortable taking hormones • Women who have irregular periods • Women who experience painful periods • Women who suffer from PMT • Women who want the freedom to have sex without having to insert or apply anything beforehand • Women who can't remember to take or don't want to be bothered with a daily pill • Non smokers

NOT a good choice for: • Women who aren't comfortable taking hormones • Breastfeeding mums • Smokers who are 35 or over • Women who've had blood clots (thrombosis) in any vein or artery • Women with high blood pressure • Women with a history of breast, endometrial, ovarian, cervical, or liver cancer • Women with a history of stroke or heart disease • Women who experience severe migraines, or migraines with auras • Women with liver disease (especially if they had jaundice in pregnancy) • Women with a history of gall bladder disease • Women who weigh 14 stone (90 kgs) or more • Women with sensitive skin

Reliability: 99 per cent effective when taken correctly.

CONTACEPTIVE INJECTIONS

A good choice for: • Women who are comfortable taking hormones • Breastfeeding mums. Although a small amount of the hormone progestogen will go through to your baby, research has shown it won't do any harm • Women who can't remember to take or don't want the bother of a daily pill • Women who know they won't want to get pregnant again in the next year • Smokers	NOT a good choice for: • Women who aren't comfortable taking hormones • Women who hate injections • Women who want to get pregnant again in the next year • Women with a history of blood clots or stroke • Women with a history of liver disease • Women with a history of breast or liver cancer
Reliability: 99 percent effective if you get your injections on time

THE IUS

A good choice for: • Women who are comfortable taking hormones • Breastfeeding mums • Women who can't remember to take or don't want the bother of a daily pill • Smokers	NOT a good choice for: • Women who aren't comfortable taking hormones • Women who have an untreated STD • Women who have abnormalities in their uterus, including fibroids, or cervical problems • Women with a history of liver disease • Women who've recently had an abnormal cervical smear • Women with a history of breast or liver cancer
Reliability: 98 to 99 percent effective

THE IUD OR COIL

A good choice for: • Breastfeeding mums • Women who can't remember to take or don't want the bother of a daily pill	NOT a good choice for: • Women who are allergic to copper • Women who have abnormalities in their uterus, including fibroids • Women who have heavy bleeding or severe cramping during periods • Women who've recently had an abnormal cervical smear • Women who have an artificial or diseased heart valve
Reliability: 98 to 99 per cent effective

VASECTOMY

A good choice for: • Couples who are 100 per cent sure they don't want more children • Breastfeeding mums • Couples who want the freedom to have sex without ever having to think about contraception again • Women who don't feel comfortable taking hormones	NOT a good choice for: • Couples who want more children • Men who don't want to have a surgical procedure
Reliability: 99 per cent effective. There's about a 1 in 1,000 chance of a man who's had a vasectomy getting a woman pregnant.

FEMALE STERILISATION

A good choice for: • Women who are 100 per cent sure they don't want more children • Breastfeeding mums • Women who want the freedom to have sex without ever having to think about contraception again • Women who don't feel comfortable taking hormones	NOT a good choice for: • Couples who want more children • Women who don't want to have a surgical procedure
Reliability: About one out of 400 women will get pregnant in the first ten years after their tubes are tied.

NATURAL BIRTH CONTROL METHODS

A good choice for: • Women who don't feel comfortable taking hormones • Breastfeeding mums • Women with a predictable, regular periods • Women who are willing to take the time and energy to chart their cycle • Women who want the freedom to have sex without having to insert or apply anything beforehand	NOT a good choice for: • Busy, new mums who may not have the time and energy to chart their cycle • Women with irregular periods • People who are looking for an extremely reliable method of birth control
Reliability: Depending on the method you choose and how disciplined you are about using it, you can prevent pregnancy up to 98 per cent of the time. If you are serious about NFP, you need to learn about it from a qualified teacher.