Contraception 101: A Complete Guide to Your Options
- Jul 15
- 6 min read
By Courtney Oar & Miranda Chan
Choosing a contraceptive method is one of those decisions that can feel deceptively simple - until you start looking into it and realise there are more options than you were ever taught about at school. The truth is, there's no single "best" method. There's only the method that's best for you, at this particular stage of your life.
This guide brings together everything we've covered across our recent content series, so you've got one place to come back to when you're weighing up your options - or getting ready for that conversation with your GP or pharmacist.
What should actually influence your choice?
Before diving into specific methods, it's worth thinking through a few key questions:
How effective do you need this to be right now?
How much day-to-day involvement do you want (daily pill vs. "set and forget")?
Are there other health benefits you're chasing - clearer skin, lighter periods, less pain?
What life stage are you in - starting out, postpartum, perimenopausal?
Do you need STI protection as well as pregnancy prevention?
What's realistic for your budget and access?
There's no wrong answer here - just the answer that's right for your circumstances today, knowing that it might look different in five or ten years.
Long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs): the "set and forget" options
IUDs (hormonal and copper)
What it is: A small T-shaped device inserted into the uterus by a doctor. The hormonal version (LNG-IUD) thickens cervical mucus and causes endometrial changes that significantly reduce bleeding; the copper version is entirely hormone-free and works by creating an environment hostile to sperm.
Pros: Long-acting (5–10 years depending on type), safe during breastfeeding, minimal drug interactions, rapid return of fertility after removal. The hormonal IUD also treats heavy periods and endometriosis-related pain, and the copper IUD doubles as highly effective emergency contraception if inserted within 5 days of unprotected sex.
Cons: Requires a pelvic exam and in-clinic procedure for insertion, possible irregular bleeding in the first few months, and small risks of expulsion, malposition, or (rarely) perforation.
Best suited for: Almost anyone wanting a highly effective, low-maintenance method - including younger people who've never had children (a common misconception is that IUDs are only for those who've given birth, which isn't the case). Particularly useful postpartum or for those in their 40s wanting extended, reliable protection.
Less suited for: Anyone not wanting an internal device or a pelvic procedure, or where pregnancy hasn't been excluded (it's not suitable for a "quick start").
The implant
What it is: A small flexible rod inserted under the skin of the upper arm, releasing a steady, low dose of progestogen.
Pros: Long-acting (typically 3 years), minimal user involvement, easily reversible.
Cons: Requires a short procedure for insertion and removal, and unpredictable or irregular bleeding is common and can be a reason some people discontinue early.
Best suited for: Anyone wanting a highly effective, low-maintenance method without a longer in-clinic procedure — often a first-line recommendation for adolescents and young people due to its ease of use and reversibility.
Less suited for: Those who find unpredictable bleeding difficult to tolerate, or who prefer to avoid any hormonal method.
Hormonal methods requiring more day-to-day involvement
The injection (DMPA)
What it is: An intramuscular progestogen injection given roughly every 12 weeks, working by suppressing ovulation.
Pros: Discreet, safe immediately postpartum and during breastfeeding, minimal drug interactions, and improves period pain.
Cons: Delayed return to fertility after stopping, weight gain in around 20% of users, and a loss of bone mineral density that makes it a less ideal long-term choice in adolescence or perimenopause.
Best suited for: Anyone wanting a discreet, low-maintenance method, those with a contraindication to estrogen, or those needing an immediate ("quick start") option.
Less suited for: Adolescents or those approaching menopause as a long-term choice (due to bone density effects), or anyone planning to try to conceive in the near future given the delayed return of fertility.
Combined hormonal contraception (the pill / the vaginal ring)
What it is: Contains both an estrogen and a progestogen, taken daily as a pill or monthly as a vaginal ring. Works primarily by suppressing ovulation.
Pros: Genuine non-contraceptive benefits such as improved acne, lighter periods, reduced cramping, relief from PMS/PMDD and perimenopausal symptoms, and a reduced risk of endometrial, ovarian and bowel cancer. Lets you control and manipulate your cycle (including skipping withdrawal bleeds).
Cons: Requires daily (or monthly, for the ring) consistency. Small increased risk of blood clots, stroke and heart attack, a small increase in cervical and breast cancer risk, and possible effects on mood, weight and blood pressure. Drug interactions are also a consideration.
Best suited for: Anyone wanting cycle control or the non-contraceptive benefits, without contraindications to estrogen (such as certain migraines, high blood pressure, or clotting risk factors).
Less suited for: Those with cardiovascular risk factors, a history of blood clots, migraines with aura, or who struggle with daily pill-taking and would benefit more from a LARC.
The progestogen-only pill (mini pill)
What it is: A daily pill containing only progestogen (no estrogen) and available in a few different formulations.
Pros: Safe during breastfeeding, no impact on bone density (unlike DMPA), no delay in return of fertility after stopping, and few contraindications — a good option when estrogen isn't suitable.
Cons: Older formulations have a narrow dosing window and are less effective under age 25 due to higher background fertility; irregular bleeding is common; continuation rates are relatively low (around 40% at one year for older formulations).
Best suited for: Breastfeeding parents, anyone with an estrogen contraindication, or those simply preferring to avoid estrogen.
Less suited for: Anyone who struggles with strict daily timing (for the older formulations) or wants the additional non-contraceptive benefits offered by combined methods.
Barrier and permanent options
Condoms and diaphragms
What it is: Physical barriers preventing sperm from reaching the uterus - external and internal condoms, and the diaphragm (used with spermicidal gel).
Pros: No prescription required, hormone-free, and condoms are the only method offering STI protection alongside pregnancy prevention. Diaphragms can be inserted well in advance of intercourse.
Cons: Higher failure rates with typical use compared to hormonal or LARC methods, condoms carry a small risk of latex allergy (non-latex options exist), and diaphragms carry a small risk of toxic shock syndrome.
Best suited for: Anyone wanting a hormone-free option, needing STI protection, or using contraception occasionally rather than as an ongoing daily commitment. Often recommended as a dual-method alongside another contraceptive for STI protection.
Less suited for: Anyone for whom an unintended pregnancy would carry significant medical or psychological risk, given the comparatively higher typical-use failure rate - a more effective method (or dual-method approach) may be more appropriate.
Sterilisation (vasectomy and tubal ligation)
What it is: A surgical procedure. Vasectomy for males, tubal sterilisation for females - intended to permanently prevent pregnancy.
Pros: No ongoing involvement required once completed, avoids all hormone-related side effects, and vasectomy in particular can be done under local anaesthetic with a much lower procedural risk than tubal sterilisation (which requires general anaesthesia).
Cons: Requires a surgical procedure; while technically reversible, reversal is expensive and doesn't guarantee restored fertility — it should be considered a permanent decision.
Best suited for: Anyone certain they don't want future pregnancies, or where other methods are unsuitable, contraindicated, or unwanted. Note: the person seeking sterilisation doesn't require their partner's consent.
Less suited for: Anyone who may want children in the future, or who isn't fully certain about permanence — this is a decision worth discussing thoroughly with a doctor beforehand.
Withdrawal
What it is: Withdrawal of the penis before ejaculation.
Pros: No cost, no hormones, devices or procedures, and compatible with some cultural or religious beliefs around conception.
Cons: Requires consistency and control, can interrupt spontaneity, offers no STI protection, and carries meaningfully higher failure risk than other methods even with correct use.
Best suited for: Couples comfortable relying on consistency and communication, or where this aligns with personal values, and where an unintended pregnancy wouldn't pose significant risk.
Less suited for: Anyone for whom unintended pregnancy would cause significant medical or psychological harm, given the comparatively high typical-use failure rate.
Your needs will change, and that's normal
The contraceptive that's right for you at 22 might not be right at 32, and that's not a failure of planning - it's just life. A few life-stage snapshots worth knowing:
Adolescence: LARCs (implant and IUDs) are considered first-line due to high effectiveness and minimal room for user error, though combined hormonal methods are also commonly chosen for cycle control and skin/period benefits.
Postpartum: The implant and IUD can be inserted immediately after birth in many cases; combined hormonal methods are generally introduced from 6 weeks postpartum, even while breastfeeding.
40s: Any method can still be appropriate, but combined hormonal contraception and DMPA carry more cardiovascular and bone density considerations with age, warranting regular review.
50+ and perimenopause: Contraceptive choice should be reviewed at 50 and again at menopause, with a shift away from combined hormonal contraception and DMPA generally recommended in favour of the implant, IUDs, POPs, or barrier methods.
The bottom line
The best way to find your fit isn't a quiz or a carousel (even ours) - it's a real conversation with your GP or pharmacist, who can talk through your personal health history and what matters most to you right now.
This content is general health information only and isn't a substitute for personalised medical advice. Effectiveness, suitability and side effects vary from person to person - always talk to your GP or pharmacist about what's right for you. In line with Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) advertising restrictions, we don't name specific brands or products. Pretty Proven does not receive sponsorship or payment from any pharmaceutical or healthcare brand — our content is independent and evidence-based.
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