the Depo-Provera injection could be an option. There are different types injection but the Depo-Provera is one of the safest and longer lasting ones available.

Just like the COC, it is over 99% effective but this contraception only needs to be taken once every twelve weeks. The injection contains progestogen and acts in the same way as the combined pill.

The injection has many benefits such as the freedom that comes with not thinking about contraception for twelve weeks; it can also help protect the user from pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and cancer of the uterus.

The injection may cause similar side effects to the pill and as the injection lasts for twelve weeks and cannot be removed, any unpleasant side effects will also last this long. Periods may also become irregular or longer and regularity of periods and fertility may take time to return after the user stops using the injection.

An extreme method of contraception is male sterilisation. Both men and women can be sterilised but it is more common in males as the failure rate is around 1 in 2,000 where as the failure rate for female sterilisation is much higher at around 1 in 200.

Male sterilisation is an operation in which the tube that carries the sperm is cut or blocked; this stops the sperm from reaching an egg. This procedure is known as a vasectomy; it is a quick and simple operation with almost no side effects. There is a risk of the patient experiencing ongoing testicular pain but this is very rare.

This is a very effective form of contraception as it is 100% effective (as long as they are not the unlucky 2,000th patient!). This means that the patient never has to worry about contraception again. The obvious problem with this method is that it is usually permanent; this means that the patient has to be completely sure that this is what he wants as he will be giving up the option of having any more children. Due to this, this procedure is most popular with men in their forties and fifties.

If none of these methods appeal then there is the natural family planning technique. This involves identifying and pinpointing the fertile and infertile times of a woman's menstrual cycle. The woman then knows when she is able to have unprotected sex and when she needs to abstain or use another method, such as condoms. If learnt correctly, this method is up to 99% effective.

The obvious plus points of this method are that there are no side effects whatsoever; this method can also be used when planning a pregnancy.

This method is extremely time consuming as records must be kept every day. It can also take up to six menstrual cycles to learn the technique, which could be up to 7 months for women with longer cycles.

These are just a few of the methods available. There are now many ways to protect against unwanted pregnancy; every method has its own plus points and negative aspects so the user should be careful to choose the contraception that is best for them.

While some of these options may sound very appealing, the user must be aware that the only way of protecting against STIs is with use of barrier contraception such as condoms and, in some cases, diaphragms. This is a very important aspect to consider, especially if the contraception is intended for use with a new partner.

Learn more about this author, Laura Mullins.
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