With a new baby on the scene, disturbed sleep patterns and changes to your routine and lifestyle may mean that sex is the last thing on your mind!

A new stage

But, your libido and fertility might come back unexpectedly, so as you’re entering a new stage in your life, it’s a good time to re-evaluate and choose a method of contraception that suits you best. There may be an option out there that you haven’t considered before, so it’s worth doing some research.

Research shows that most women spend less than 10 minutes a year discussing contraception with their healthcare practitioner but especially after childbirth, it’s an important conversation to have as you can work together to come to the best decision based on your circumstances. Your needs may well be different after giving birth so it’s important to make an informed decision.

The Choice is Yours...

There are a number of contraception choices available to women, some of which will be better suited to your lifestyle than others. This year is the 50th anniversary of The Pill and with over 20 different types of pill available, it could be a good option for you. It's been around since the 1960s and is still the most popular form of female contraception. Although there are lots of different sorts of pill with different associated benefits they can be grouped into two types: the combined oral contraceptive pill and the progestogen only pill (sometimes called the "mini-pill").

The Contraceptive Pill

If you’re a new mum and still breastfeeding, you won’t be able to take the combined pill as it contains oestrogen which affects your breast milk, so you may want to ask your doctor about alternative options. However if you’re not breastfeeding you can take the combined pill 21 days after birth.

The combined pill contains two hormones: oestrogen and progestogen which are like hormones that occur naturally in your body. It's a highly effective contraceptive, but you need to make sure you follow the instructions on the packet very carefully because if you miss a pill you may not be fully protected and you could get pregnant.

Depending on the type of pill, it can also help you with other things like reducing the amount of spots you get, controlling cramps and fluid retention, so it's worth taking some time talking to your doctor or nurse to make sure that you get a contraceptive pill that works best for you and your lifestyle.

The progestogen-only pill may be a good option for you if you can't take a pill that contains oestrogen. You take one pill at the same time each day without a break.

The contraceptive pill may not be suitable for all women and there may be reasons why you cannot take the pill, such as if you've had a heart attack, blood clot, liver disease, stroke or breast abnormality (including breast cancer within the last five years) . You also shouldn't take the pill if you think you might be pregnant. Your doctor or healthcare professional will be able to assess your suitability and give you advice.

Dr. Caroline Cooper*, Women’s Health Specialist says: “Since The Pill was launched 50 years ago there have been some fantastic innovations! Many women prefer to take the contraceptive pill, although women who have just had a baby need to consult their doctor, to discuss which type of pill they can take. There are so many different options available to women, you might be surprised at the choices out there and want to take a fresh look at which one might suit you and your lifestyle best.”

Here are just a few of the other options available to you. You might be surprised at the choices out there and want to take a fresh look at which one might suit you and your lifestyle best. 

Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC)

All of the long term options below can be used whether you are breastfeeding or not.

Intrauterine System (IUS)

Fitted inside the womb it works by releasing a steady dose of a hormone progestogen (the same hormone found in some contraceptive pills). This thickens the cervical mucus to stop sperm from reaching the egg and stops the womb wall from thickening thus making any fertilised egg unlikely to implant in the wall. The IUS can be used for contraception for up to 5 years.

Intrauterine Device (IUD)

The IUD works by sitting inside the womb and stopping sperm from reaching the egg or stopping a fertilised egg implanting. The IUD can be used for up to 5 or 10 years, depending on the type of device.

Injection

Usually given in the bottom but is sometimes given in the upper arm or leg. It gives you protection from getting pregnant for up to 12 weeks, but you must have regular injections in order to stay protected.

Subdermal Implant

A small flexible rod that is placed underneath the skin on the inside of the upper arm. You can feel it under the skin but it can’t be seen. It must be fitted by a doctor or healthcare professional and lasts for up to three years.

The IUS, the IUD and the Subdermal Implant need to be fitted by a trained healthcare professional.

Dr. Cooper says: “Many women who have just given birth like to use a long acting form of contraception, so that they don’t have to think about it after it is fitted. The good thing about most of these methods is that fertility quickly returns when they are removed, so they are perfect for women who are considering having more children. There are also other benefits, for example, some of them can also help with problems such as heavy menstrual bleeding.”

Further information

www.contraception.co.uk has a useful guide to all your basic contraception options.

* Dr Caroline Cooper is a Women’s Health Specialist working in Contraception and Sexual Health clinics in Cambridge. She is a member of The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health and of the Institute of Psychosexual Medicine, and is actively involved in the education and training of other health care professionals in all aspects of sexual and reproductive health.