Your questions about contraception, answered

  • By Team TDO

Few couples want to have babies as soon as they are married. Most want to enjoy their sex life without having to worry about conceiving a child in the process. If you are in this group, then here are answers to the most commonly asked questions about contraception.

What is contraception?

Contraceptionis use of various methods to control and prevent the pregnancy. It allows you to choose when you want to have a baby.

What are the various methods of contraception?

There are two main methods.

Temporary contraception: Caps, combined pills, male condoms, female condoms, contraceptive implant, contraceptive injection, contraceptive patch, diaphragms, intrauterine device (IUD), intrauterine system (IUS), natural family planning, progesteron-only pill, vaginal ring.

Permanent contraception: Female sterilisation(tubectomy), Male sterilisation (vasectomy).
No contraceptive is 100% reliable and some can have side effects. Find out about all the methods listed here, so you can decide which method is right for you.

How soon can I conceiveafter stopping the birth control pills?

It is difficult to predict exactly how long it will take for a woman to start ovulating again. Some women are fertile as soon as the pills are stopped and others might take couple of months. Once the periods return and are normalised with normal ovulation, you can conceive a child.

What if my period doesn't resume after I stop taking oral contraception pills?

If you don't get your periods for several months, you may have what's known as post pill amenorrhea. The pill prevents your body from making hormones involved in ovulation and menstruation. When you stop taking the pill, it can take some time for your body to return to normal production of these hormones.

Normally, periods should start again within three months of stopping the pill. But some women, especially those who took the pill to regulate their menstrual cycles, may not have periods for many months.

If you don't have a period within three months, take a pregnancy test to make sure you're not pregnant, and then see your doctor.