Even though condoms are not 100 per cent safe, they do protect you against sexually transmitted diseases.

What methods of contraception are available?
Nowadays, there is a vast number of different contraceptive methods. Some are much more effective in preventing pregnancy than others.

How effective is contraception?
The following figures will give you some idea of which methods are best at preventing pregnancy. However, the only absolutely foolproof way of preventing pregnancy is abstaining from sex!

You should also remember that some methods are quite complicated to adhere to and no method is as safe, as the following percentages suggest, if it is not followed properly. For example, if you are taking the Pill you should always read the instructions that come with it.

If you are using condoms, you should make sure you know how to put them on and never use oil-based lubricants with them. Every method has its advantages and its disadvantages.

Contraceptive method	Effectiveness
Vasectomy	Almost 100 per cent
Female sterilisation	Almost 100 per cent
Combined pill	Almost 100 per cent
Progestogen only pill	Around 97 per cent
Male condom	85 to 98 per cent
Female condom	85 to 98 per cent
Diaphragm or cap with spermicide	85 to 96 per cent
Contraceptive injection	Almost 100 per cent
IUD	98 to 99 per cent
IUS - Plastic coil impregnated with progestogen	Almost 100 per cent

Implant (Implanon)
Implanon is new on the market and can only be administered by doctors and nurses who have been trained to insert it. As it is so new, it is difficult to assess its effectiveness, but no women taking part in the research trials became pregnant.

Emergency contraception

Most commonly, the woman takes two doses of an emergency contraceptive pill, which is available from either her own doctor or from a Family Planning Clinic. Alternatively, the emergency contraceptive Levonelle can now be bought from pharmacies (women over 16 only). The first dose must be taken within 72 hours of the act of intercourse and the second dose 12 hours later, in which case the method is more than 95 per cent effective. This method is often called the morning-after pill.

The other form of emergency contraception involves having a coil fitted within five days of the unprotected act of intercourse.

Natural family planning
This works well for some couples, but needs to be properly taught and very scrupulously adhered to. It involves working out which part of the woman's cycle is 'safe' to have sex in without becoming pregnant. In my opinion, no couple should depend upon natural family planning unless they have been thoroughly taught by an expert.

Unfortunately, medics and scientists have always disagreed about its effectiveness. In recent research, two doctors made completely different claims for the method - one saying that its failure rate is down to 0.2 per cent and another claiming that the failure rate can be as high as 25.6 per cent.

Coitus interruptus (withdrawal)
Coitus interruptusThis is like playing Russian roulette. Most of us have done it at some time in our lives, but it is highly risky. It is often not sexually satisfying or rewarding.

The problem is that there are often sperm present in the little dribble of pre-come that escapes from most men when they're excited prior to ejaculation. So even if men get good at withdrawing just before they ejaculate, it doesn't necessarily mean that sperm have not started to swim up the vagina.

This method is probably better than nothing, but definitely not to be recommended.

Where do I get advice?
The UK is fortunate to have good contraceptive information available. For further information, contact the Family Planning Association Helpline on: 020 7837 4044 or consult a GP or go to a local Family Planning Clinic.

CONDOMS ARE THE ONLY CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS OFFERING SOME PROTECTION AGAINST SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

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