10 Contraception Choices after Delivery

After giving birth, it is important for individuals to carefully consider their contraception options to prevent unintended pregnancies. The postpartum period brings about various physical and hormonal changes, making it crucial to choose a contraceptive method that is safe and suitable for both the individual and their baby. There are several contraception choices available, ranging from hormonal methods such as birth control pills and hormonal implants to non-hormonal options like intrauterine devices (IUDs) and barrier methods.

What Are The Various Contraception Choices In India?

There are many contraception options available to you in India today. These can be broadly classified into three:

1. Barrier Contraception Methods

These essentially act as “barriers” that would physically prevent sperm from reaching eggs. They have close to no side effects as it does not impact your hormones. Popular barrier methods are:

- Male Condoms
- Female Condoms
- Diaphragm
- Cervical Cap

2. Hormonal Contraception Methods

These are prescription drugs/methods that do one or more of the following three things: (1) stops ovulation (2) make the uterine lining so thin that eggs don’t latch there or (3) make the cervical mucus so thick that sperms can’t get past it to the eggs. This can impact your lactation. Popular hormonal methods are:

- Pill
- Mini-pill
- Ring
- Patch
- Injections

3. Intrauterine Devices for Contraception

These are devices inserted into the uterus that will prevent you from getting pregnant. They are long-term, effective and reversible. Popular methods are:

- Intrauterine system (IUS)
- IUD or coil

Top 10 Contraception Choices After Delivery

When the options are plenty the choice becomes tough too. We detail below 10 of the above methods so that you can make an informed choice on a contraception method that is best for your and your partner’s needs.

1. Male Condom

A great choice if you do not want to take hormonal medicines and want to continue breastfeeding. It also has a reasonable reliability of 85%. A male condom is a barrier contraceptive device designed to be worn on the penis during sexual intercourse. It is typically made of latex or polyurethane and is intended to prevent the exchange of bodily fluids between partners. Male condoms are an effective method of contraception and also provide protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when used correctly and consistently. They are widely available over the counter and are an essential tool for safe and responsible sexual activity.

2. Female Condom

If you are not familiar, this is a thin pouch-like thing made of polyurethane that can be inserted into the vagina before having sex. Although not as popular as male condoms, it offers the same level of reliability. The fact that you can insert it yourself without the help of a doctor makes it more convenient too

3. Pill

This is a hormonal method that is very popular in India. It is an oral contraceptive for women containing estrogen and progesterone. You have to take one pill a day for 21 days, leave a gap of 7 days, then continue the cycle every month. This is a great choice if you are comfortable inserting devices into your vagina and your partner has inhibitions about using condoms. It also offers high reliability of 99%. This is not a good option if you want to breastfeed, or more practically, if you tend to forget taking medicines.

4. Mini-pill

This is another oral contraceptive that contains progestin. This needs to be taken every day at the same time for as long as you want to avoid pregnancy. This is a great option if you want to continue breastfeeding as it does not contain estrogen. Also, you can start taking it right after your delivery, if you are not exclusively breastfeeding your child

5. Diaphragm

Diaphragm is another good choice if you are lactating as it does not impact your hormones. It is a dome-shaped object which needs to be filled with ‘spermicide’ and inserted into your vagina. The device acts as a barrier for sperm to reach eggs, and if some do get in, the spermicide will kill it. You need to get a diaphragm ‘custom-fitted’ for your body and once this is done, you can insert it yourself, after some practice under your doctor’s guidance. It offers more reliability (~92-96%) than condoms. Another similar device is a cervical cup.

6. Injections

It is one of the effective contraception choices. Each shot contains progestin (as in mini-pill) and can last 8-12 weeks, after which you need to get another shot. This is a great option if you (1) tend to forget to take tablets (2) want a more effective method than condoms (3) are not comfortable inserting devices to your vagina and (4) want to breastfeed

7. Intrauterine System (IUS)

This is a great option for long-term contraception. There are multiple varieties of IUS, but copper T is most popular in India where a T-shaped device wrapped in copper wire is inserted into the uterus by a doctor. This can provide up to 10 years of protection and is 99% effective. This contains no hormones, so it is a safe option for breastfeeding moms

8. Ring

This is a small flexible ring that needs to be inserted in your vagina once in a month before your cycle starts. This ring will continue to release estrogen and progesterone. Similar to the pill, this provides high reliability (99%) but not a good option if you are breastfeeding

9. Permanent Sterilization

Permanent sterilization is a long-term contraceptive method that permanently prevents pregnancy. It involves surgical procedures for both men and women. In men, the procedure is called a vasectomy, where the vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm from the testes to the urethra, is cut or blocked.

In women, the procedure is called tubal ligation or tubal sterilization, where the fallopian tubes are either blocked, cut, or sealed to prevent the eggs from reaching the uterus. These procedures are considered highly effective and irreversible, making them suitable for individuals or couples who have decided not to have any more children.

10. Patch

This is a thin adhesive bandage you can apply to your skin. Again, like the ring, it continues to release estrogen and progesterone into your body. You need to apply a new patch every week for three weeks of a month and you can go patch-free for the last week. As other hormonal methods, this is 99% reliable, but not a great option if you want to breastfeed.

While not as reliable as the methods listed above, some women follow natural birth control methods, such as, religiously calculating their ovulation cycle and avoiding making love during the ovulation period. However, these techniques become especially tricky after delivery as your cycle is bound to change. While lactation can act as a contraception method (lactation amenorrhoea), you need to satisfy a lot of conditions (like your baby is six months or younger and you have got no periods) to ensure that the method is reliable.

Since it is an important decision, please understand and educate yourselves of all the options before picking one. Taking the help of your gynecologist would essentially help you choose the best contraceptive as per your needs.

To understand more about sex after delivery, especially if you have reservations, please click here and read Has Your Sex Life Dropped after Baby?

FAQ’s

1. How Soon After Birth Can I Start Contraception?

The timing of beginning contraception after delivery is determined by variables such as the individual’s health, nursing intentions, and contraceptive type. Non-hormonal techniques, such as barrier methods or copper IUDs, may be used right after delivery. It is typically recommended that hormonal techniques be begun at least six weeks following delivery to enable the body to repair and stabilise hormonally, while some progestin-only procedures may be started immediately after birth. It is important to consult with a healthcare expert for personalised guidance.

2. Which Contraceptive Is Not Used In Lactation?

The contraceptive method that is generally not recommended during lactation is combined hormonal contraception, which includes combined oral contraceptives (COCs) containing estrogen and progestin, as well as contraceptive patches and vaginal rings. Estrogen in these methods may potentially reduce milk production and quality. However, progestin-only methods, such as progestin-only pills (mini-pills), progestin-only implants, and progestin-releasing intrauterine devices (IUDs), are considered safe and suitable for use during lactation as they do not have a significant impact on milk production or breastfeeding.

10 Contraception Choices after Delivery