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A quick guide to all 15 methods of contraception
Your guide to contraception (Information about all contraceptive methods)
Your guide to contraceptive choices – after you’ve had your baby (a helpful look at using contraception after you've given birth)
Emergency contraception
If you have had unprotected sex, that is, sex without using contraception, or think your contraception might have failed, you can use emergency contraception.
Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC)
Contraceptive methods that do not depend on you remembering to take or use them. There are four LARC methods, injections, the implant, IUD and IUS.
Your guide to long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) (a useful summary)
Hormonal methods
Hormonal methods of contraception contain estrogen and progestogen or progestogen alone. These methods are contraceptive injections, the implant, IUS, contraceptive patch, contraceptive vaginal ring, combined pill and progestogen-only pill.
The contraceptive vaginal ring
Barrier methods
Barrier methods of contraception prevent sperm from meeting an egg.
Permanent methods
Male and female sterilisation are permanent methods of contraception, suitable for people who are sure they never want children or do not want more children.
Natural family planning
Natural family planning allows a woman to closely monitor the fertile and infertile times of her menstrual cycle so that she can have sex when there is no risk of pregnancy.
Understanding your body
Find out about the male and female reproductive systems, the menstrual cycle and what’s involved in conception.
Is contraception free and where can I go to get it?
You can obtain free contraception, including emergency contraception, from:
- a general practice, unless they say they don’t provide contraception services
- a contraception clinic
- a sexual health clinic
- a young people’s service (these will have an upper age limit)
- some GUM clinics.
You can also get free emergency contraception from:
- most NHS walk-in centres (England only) and minor injuries units
- some hospital accident and emergency departments (phone first to check)
- some pharmacies (there may be an age limit).
Contraception is free even if your service gives you a prescription to take to the pharmacy.
Some pharmacists are able to provide a range of sexual health services including contraception. If you are 16 or over you can buy the emergency pill from most pharmacies for around £24. They also sell condoms, diaphragms, caps and spermicide.
You can also pay for some methods of contraception (including emergency contraception) at clinics run by Marie Stopes (helpline: 0845 300 8090; www.mariestopes.org.uk). You can buy emergency contraception at clinics run by bpas (helpline: 0845 730 4030; www.bpas.org).
Do services supply all methods of contraception?
There are many different methods of contraception available. Health professionals can talk to you about them to help you choose the one that is best for you. They can also talk to you about safer sex. Not all services supply all methods but they should be able to give you information about what contraceptive methods there are and where you can go to get them.
You can get information from FPA on each method of contraception or read our booklet Your Guide to Contraception.
What other services are available?
Contraception clinics sometimes provide far more than contraception. This may include:
- pre-pregnancy advice/pregnancy testing
- help and advice on an unplanned pregnancy (including abortion, adoption and continuing the pregnancy)
- safer sex advice
- advice on sexual problems
- cervical screening tests and breast awareness
- checks for sexually transmitted infections
- menopause advice
-
infertility advice.
This website can only give you basic information about contraception. The information is based on evidence-guided research from the World Health Organization and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance.
Different people may give you different information and advice on certain points. All methods of contraception come with a Patient Information Leaflet which provides detailed information about the method.
Remember – contact your doctor, practice nurse or a contraception clinic if you are worried or unsure about anything.
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