
Contraception COVID-19 update
I need the contraceptive injection (Depo), implant (Nexplanon) or intrauterine contraception (Coil/IUD/IUS/Mirena/Kyleena/Jaydess)
As always, we are following evidence based national guidelines from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH)
Implants can be kept in for 4 years and do not need changing before that time
If you are having problems with your implant, please book a telephone appointment to discuss
10 year Copper IUDs do not need changing before 12 years
Mirena and 5 year copper IUDS do not need changing before 6 years
If your Jaydess or Kyleena is due for removal, please use condoms or request the progesterone only pill via a telephone appointment
If you are having problems with your IUD, please book a telephone appointment to discuss
Please book a telephone appointment to discuss
If it is 14 weeks or more since your last injection, please use condoms until your contraception is sorted
I need pills/patches/the ring
- A prescription or your medication to be sent to your home
OR
- Your prescription to be sent to one of our local pharmacies from where you can collect your medication
If you are unable get an appointment with us, you can access other NHS services, including online/app-based services for this:
If neither of these are possible or you don’t have a GP/your GP is not nearby
You can also access non NHS online/app based services for this: Prices are about £15 to £20 for 6 months’ supply of pills and a bit more for the patch or NuvaRing.
I need emergency contraception (the morning after pill)
Emergency contraception is best taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex. It is likely to be easier and faster to go to your local pharmacy. You may be able to get this free of charge (depending on age and restrictions in your local area), if not it can be bought from the pharmacy.
I also want a sexual health screen
The male condom is 98% effective against pregnancy if used correctly and also protects against sexually transmitted infections.
The female condom is 95% effective if used correctly and also protects against sexually transmitted infections.
A contraceptive cap or diaphragm is a circular dome made of thin, soft latex (rubber) or silicone. Caps are smaller than diaphragms, but they work in the same way. They are inserted inside the vagina before sex and cover the cervix to create a physical barrier to sperm entering the womb.
The vaginal ring (also known as “Nuvaring”) is a flexible plastic ring that is inserted into the vagina, containing both oestrogen and progestogen.
Please walk in or reserve a time slot to talk to us about which contraceptive is right for you.
The contraceptive implant is a plastic rod the size of a matchstick that is inserted under the skin on your upper arm. It’s over 99.9% effective. We are not always able to fit contraceptive implants on the same day in the walk-in clinic, if we can’t, we will make you an appointment to come back and have one fitted.
Depo-provera (also known as “the injection”) is an injection of long-acting progestogen, over 99% effective.
The coil can be a hormone-free alternative to contraception. The intrauterine device (IUD, also known as 'the coil') lasts between three and 10 years and is a small plastic and copper ‘T’ shaped device that sits inside the womb (uterus). The main way an IUD works is to stop sperm reaching an egg. It does this by preventing sperm from surviving in the cervix, uterus or fallopian tube.
It may also work by stopping a fertilised egg from implanting in the womb. IUDs are more than 99% effective. This means that less than one in every 100 women who use an IUD will become pregnant in a year.
It can also be fitted up to 5 days after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy as a form of emergency contraception. Like many contraception methods, the IUD offers no protection against sexually transmitted infections
The intrauterine system or IUS (also known as “Mirena”) is similar to the coil but is made of plastic and has the hormone progestogen in it.
The combined hormonal patch (also known as “the patch”, “Evra”) is a patch you can put anywhere on your body that contains both oestrogen and progestogen.
Oral contraceptives are more commonly just called ‘The Pill’. They are a small tablet you swallow to try to prevent pregnancy. The main way oral contraception works is by stopping the egg being released from the ovaries, it also thickens the mucus at the neck of the womb (making it harder for sperm to get through) and thins the lining of the womb (making it harder for a fertilised egg to implant).
They offer no protection against sexually transmitted infections. There are two types of oral contraceptive – the ‘combined pill’ and the ‘progestogen-only pill’ (also known as the ‘mini pill’).
The combined hormonal contraceptive pill (also known as “the pill”, “COC”) is a pill containing two hormones, oestrogen and progestogen.
The progestogen only pill, also known as the “mini pill” is a daily pill only containing one hormone - progestogen - and is taken every day without a break. It is good for women who can’t take the combined pill. This pill may change your menstrual cycle, and sometimes stop your periods and has to be taken very regularly (at the same time, each day).
We offer two types of IUC; the copper IUD (intrauterine device) or hormonal IUS (intrauterine system).
If you have an existing device and want a check-up or to have this removed, please book a routine appointment.
If you want to have a device removed or changed, it is important that you use condoms or don’t have sex for seven days before having it removed.
Before you book or attend an appointment to have a device fitted, please follow the five steps below.
It is important that you watch this short video before your fitting as it contains important information.It is important that you have read and understood this leaflet (in portuguese) prior to the fitting of your device.
We may have to reschedule your appointment if we are concerned about risks, such as pregnancy. This video explains any risks and the steps you should take to avoid them.
Find out more about the copper IUD
Find out more about the hormonal IUS
We need to make sure that you are not at risk of being pregnant when you attend for a fitting. If there is a risk that you might be pregnant then we may have to reschedule your fitting.
The timing of your fitting will depend on what contraception you are currently using:
If you are currently using a hormonal method (pill, patch, vaginal ring, injection and non-expired implant) then your device can be fitted at any convenient time and you can continue to use your current method correctly until your fitting.
If you are currently using condoms, diaphragm, natural methods of contraception or have an expired implant or expired IUD/IUS device then you have two options:
If you need to replace your current IUD/IUS device and it has not yet expired then this can be done on any convenient day. Please make sure you abstain from sex or use condoms for seven days before the fitting.
This is to make sure that you are not at risk of being pregnant if for some reason we cannot fit the new device after the original one is removed.
Our self-assesment checklist will help you to decide which device to choose, the information leaflet will help you to decide if you are ready to have an IUC fitting and tell you more about your appointment.
You will need to print a copy of our self-assessment checklist and bring a completed copy to your appointment.
To book a fitting, please book an appointment. You will need to book a general contraception appointment for a pre-fitting discussion if:
If for any reason you are unable to attend your appointment, please call us to cancel it so that the appointment can be given to someone else.
Where possible we will fit your device at your appointment.
However, there may be reasons why the fitting may need to be deferred. If this happens then the doctor or nurse who is seeing you will explain why.
On the day of your appointment: