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What are the different types of contraceptives you can get from a doctor in Australia?
Australia is a progressive country when it comes to sexual health and family planning. In fact, Australia was the second country in the world to make the contraceptive pill available and has been used by women for over 50 years now.
Contraception allows individuals and couples to manage fertility, plan families, and enjoy sexual relationships with greater peace of mind. In Australia, there is a wide range of contraceptive options available.
Whether you’re looking for a short-term solution or a long-acting, reversible option, it’s important to understand the pros, cons, and suitability of each method. In this guide, we cover the most common types of contraceptives you can access through a healthcare provider, along with advice on how to get started with Instant Consult.
Why It's Important to Speak to a Doctor
Choosing a contraceptive is not one-size-fits-all. Your health, age, lifestyle, relationship status, and risk of STIs all play a role in determining the best method for you.
Contraception can also be a sensitive subject, and many people are hesitant to discuss their sexual health. However, providing your doctor with honest and complete information ensures you’re prescribed a method that aligns with your health needs and lifestyle.
What are the different types of contraceptives?
LARC
Long-acting reversible contraceptives come in two different forms: Contraceptive implants and IUDs. Contraceptive implants come in the form of a small rod that is placed under the skin in the upper arm. It will slowly release progestogen, which stops an egg being released from the ovary each month.
IUDs (contraceptive intrauterine devices) are placed in the uterus and can be either a copper IUD or a hormone-releasing IUD. What these LARCs have in common is that they are long-lasting (5+ years) and can be easily removed by a medical professional, after which point you can fall pregnant.
Contraceptive injections
These injections contain progesterone-like hormones and are given every 2 months. It stops ovulation and creates a thicker uterus wall that stops the sperm from reaching its destination.
Combined hormonal contraception
This is where your vaginal rings and contraceptive pills fall under. Vaginal rings have similar hormones to the pill and are simply put in, similar to a tampon, and removed three weeks later. Its main advantage is that you don’t have to remember to take a pill every day. There is a wide variety of contraceptive pills, like combined pills and mini pills. The pill you take will depend on a number of specific factors that you should discuss with a doctor to ensure you get the best one for your needs.
Emergency contraception
Emergency contraception is used after unprotected sexual intercourse has occurred to prevent pregnancy. It can be taken as either a pill or a copper intra-uterine device (IUD).
The pill can be taken up to three days after unprotected sex at up to a 98% effectiveness rate. Women who weigh over 70kg are recommended to use the copper IUD as this is likely to be more effective for them. This can be used up to five days after unprotected sex and is over 99% effective.
Permanent contraception
This method prevents all future pregnancies and can be extremely difficult or impossible to undo. Males require a vasectomy and females a tubal ligation. These must be carried out in a doctor’s surgery or at a hospital.
What About Barrier Methods?
While barrier methods such as condoms, diaphragms, sponges, and spermicides are effective and widely used, they don’t require a prescription. However, condoms are the only contraceptive method that also protects against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
They are:
- – Safe for breastfeeding
- – Do not affect future fertility
- – Easily accessible over the counter
It’s still worth discussing them with a GP if you have sensitivities or want to combine them with another method for added protection.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right contraceptive is a highly individual decision that depends on factors like your age, medical history, lifestyle, and reproductive goals. Each method has its own advantages and considerations, whether you’re looking for something short-term, long-term, reversible, or permanent.
Understanding the full range of options can help you make an informed decision about what works best for you. If you’re unsure, speaking to a qualified healthcare provider is the best way to get personalised advice based on your unique needs.
Staying informed empowers you to take control of your reproductive health with confidence.
