Contraception

Approximately 6 weeks after the delivery you will be able to have sexual contact again, because your womb will have recovered and the blood loss will have stopped. It is usually unclear when the first ovulation after the delivery will take place, which means that you could get pregnant without noticing. You could get pregnant as soon as 4 weeks after the delivery. It will take about 9 months for your hormonal balance to return. If you do not want to get pregnant again (yet), consider what type of contraception suits you.

The type of contraception best suited for you is dependent on a number of factors. For example, are you are breast-feeding, would you like to get pregnant again soon or do you wish not to have any more children; your situation will influence your choice of contraception. During the pregnancy or the puerperium we will provide you with information about a number of different contraception methods. At the follow-up check six weeks after the delivery this topic will be discussed again.

Types of contraception

Hormonal contraception

These types of contraception contain hormones (progestogens and oestrogens) that prevent you from getting pregnant:
•    combined pill
•    contraceptive plasters
•     vaginal ring

These types of contraception only contain progestogens
•    hormonal coil (Intrauterine system)
•    mini-pill
•    hormonal implant
•    hormonal injections (If you stop with hormonal injections it can take a while before you get pregnant again. We do not recommend this if you would like to become pregnant again soon)

Hormone-free contraception
•    copper coil (Intrauterine device)
•    condom
•    diaphragm

Definitive methods
•    Sterilisation of the woman
•    Sterilisation of the man

Below is an overview of hormonal contraception methods

	Suitable when breast-feeding?	Insert frequency	Who, what, where?	Can I delay or skip my period?	Can I get my fertility back quickly?
Combined pill synthetic	No	21-28x per 4 weeks	You, take a pill	Yes	Yes
Combined pill body’s own	No	21-28x per 4 weeks	You, take a pill	Yes	Yes
Contraceptive plasters	No	3x per 4 weeks	You, plaster on the skin	Yes	Yes
Vaginal ring	No	1x per 4 weeks	You, ring in your vagina	Yes	Yes
Progestogen-only pill	Yes	28x per 4 weeks	You, take a pill	No	Yes
Contraceptive injections	Yes	1x per 12 weeks	General practitioner, injection under the skin or in muscle	No	May take a year
Hormonal implant	Yes	1x per 3 years	General practitioner, implant in your arm	No	Yes
Hormonal coil (Intrauterine system)	Yes	1x per 5 years	General practitioner or midwife, coil in your uterus	No	Yes

Hormone-free contraception methods

	Copper coil (Intrauterine device)
Suitable when breast-feeding?	Yes
Insert frequency	1x per 10 years
Who, what, where?	General practitioner or midwife, coil in your uterus
Can I delay or skip my period?	No
Can I get my fertility back quickly?	Yes

More information?

www.anticonceptie.nl is a website that helps you choose from the many types of contraception available. By answering a number of questions your personal preferences will become clear quickly.