Preparing for a medical appointment can be anxiety-inducing at the best of times, let alone when you’re trying to find a type of contraception that works for you.

If you’ve struggled with side effects or know someone who has, it’s no secret that finding a form of contraception that suits you and your body can sometimes be a challenge, especially when there’s so little research for medical professionals to consider.

Slowly, however, more research is emerging. And while a lot more work is needed, we do now have some understanding of how different forms of contraception affect the body, especially when that research is combined with the anecdotal evidence more and more women are sharing as the conversation around the subject grows.  

That doesn’t mean finding the right contraception is easy – many women still have to try several different forms or types of contraceptives to find one which suits them – but there are some factors to consider that should make the process a little smoother.

So, to help you prepare for a contraceptive appointment, we asked two experts from MSI Reproductive Choices – Kayla Healey, a specialist contraception midwife, and Tanya Lane, a registered nurse and a registered trainer for the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare – for their advice on the main things we should all consider before deciding on a new form of contraception. 

This factor is more functional than anything, but it’s still an important one to consider. Do you want a form of contraception that’s short-acting – aka, lasts for a short period of time then needs to be taken again – or one that lasts for months at a time?

“A good starting point is to consider whether you would prefer a method that you don’t have to remember regularly,” Healey and Lane say. “If you’re happy to take contraception every day you may wish to start with a short-acting method of contraception like a contraceptive pill, but if you don’t think you’ll be able to take a pill at the same time each day but still don’t want something really long lasting, the patch or the ring might be a good alternative.”

If you want something that’s even longer lasting – for example, if you know you don’t want to get pregnant for a while – then you could opt for long-acting methods of contraception such as an IUD, contraceptive injection or contraceptive implant. 

Contraception may be aimed at preventing pregnancy, but it can have several other effects on the body – including when it comes to your period.

“If you have painful or heavy periods, you can choose an option that will make your periods more manageable – for example, the copper IUD may exacerbate heavy or painful periods, while the hormonal IUD or combined contraceptive method could support with heavy periods,” the experts explain.

“The combined pill also gives you the option to skip or shorten your period. To skip your period, you can continue to take the next pack of pills when you finish your current pack.”

As was recently highlighted in the Channel 4 documentary Davina McCall’s Pill Revolution, not taking a break from your packet does not cause any harm. 

The impact hormonal contraception can have on overall hormonal balance is one of the biggest concerns many women have about starting a new form of contraception – and rightly so. Informing yourself about the different types and the hormones they contain is the best place to start.

“The level of hormones that accompany each method of contraception has become a major consideration when choosing a method,” Healey and Lane explain.

While there is a lack of research into the side effects of hormonal contraception, a number of symptoms have been reported, including headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and mood changes. The potential risk a form of contraception may pose depends on the level of hormones that it carries; each form of contraception is different.

“The mini pill, for example, has significantly fewer hormones than the combined pill, and a hormonal coil delivers even less,” the experts say.

“The hormonal coil does release a hormone called progesterone, but this hormone is localised and so is less likely to have the same impact as other hormonal contraceptive methods. This means that the hormonal coil or IUS (intrauterine system) primarily delivers hormones into the uterus while other methods of hormonal contraception are absorbed through the bloodstream.”

While some people can tolerate higher levels of hormones – for example, those found in the combined pill – others who have experienced adverse effects may opt for a form of contraception which contains less hormones.

“Research suggests that it is possible to experience hormonal side effects with an IUS, but these tend to decrease after a few months of use,” Healey and Lane add. “Additionally, there are different doses of hormones in different types of hormonal coils – for example, the Mirena coil and Levosert have a higher dose than the Kyleena coil or Jaydess – so you can choose a level that suits you.”

They add: “To completely avoid a change in your hormones, condoms or the copper coil are the best options.” 

For more information on contraception, including the different choices available, you can check out the MSI Reproductive Choices topic page or visit the NHS website. 

Images: Getty