Contraception is a way of stopping yourself from becoming pregnant if you don’t want to become pregnant and you are having sex. There are lots of different options available and sometimes people need to try different things to find what is right for them.
Contraception is free for everyone in the UK. Only condoms can protect you from pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Some types of contraception work better than others.
- To find out about different types of contraception, look here: Contraceptive Methods. or here: Contraception Guide – the methods and how to get them – Brook
You can access contraception from your local pharmacy, GP or sexual health clinic. Unity provides sexual health services in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area: Contraception | Unity Sexual Health
Emergency contraception can be used after unprotected sex to reduce the chance of pregnancy. This is freely available at your GP, local sexual health clinic and some pharmacies. Most pharmacies will also sell the oral emergency contraception pill. Find local services here: Find emergency contraception – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Please find useful resources and websites below:
- NHS information – Contraception – NHS
- Tool for young people to choose contraception – Best contraception for me: Quiz – Brook
- Emergency contraception – NHS (www.nhs.uk).
- Reviews from women on their conditions, medicines and side effects to help each other make health decisions – The Lowdown: A Women’s Health Review Platform
- Support for talking with a healthcare professional about your choices – Talk Contraception – Enabling Meaningful Conversations with your healthcare professional
- Video on fitting a coil – Fitting the coil (IUD/IUS) | NHS
Contraception and hormones:
- Blog by a doctor Do I Need To Give My Body A Break From Contraception? | The Lowdown
- Blog by a doctor Can The Pill Affect Who You’re Attracted to? – The Lowdown
- Myth buster – Contraception: FAQs and Myth-busters – Brook
Resources in other languages:
- Medline Plus (USA): Birth Control – Multiple Languages: MedlinePlus
