Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Short-acting contraception - combined pill vs. progestogen only pill


Short acting contraceptives: Short-acting contraceptive methods rely on you taking them every day.
Combined pill and breastfeeding    
If you are not breastfeeding, you can start taking this pill 21 days after you give birth. If you start it later than the 21st day, it will not be reliable for the first seven days. So for this time you will have to use another contraceptive (like a condom) as well. Don’t take this pill if you are breastfeeding as it reduces milk flow.
• progestogen only pill and breastfeeding
If you are breastfeeding, you can take a progestogen-only pill, which will not affect your milk supply. This can also be started 21 days after you give birth. It has to be taken at the same time every day. If you start it later than the 21st day, it will not be reliable for two days. So for this time you will have to use some other form of contraceptive (like a condom) as well. There is no evidence to suggest that this pill affects your baby in any way. Even so, some women prefer not to take it while they are breastfeeding and use another form of contraception instead.
• The cap or diaphragm
These can be used six weeks after you give birth. If you had a cap before, it probably will not be the right size any longer. You can have a new one fitted at your postnatal check-up.

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