Cosmopolitan UK – September 2019

COSMOPOLITAN · 39

CONDOMS

Femalecondoms,liketheir

malecounterparts,protect

againstSTIsandpregnancy,

andareavailableforfree

in manyclinics.

PROSTheycanbeputin

uptoeighthoursbefore

havingsex.Condomsare

alsotheonlynatural

contraceptionthat

helpspreventSTIs.

CONSThere’sa small

risktheymaysplit.Also,

if usedincorrectly,they

cansliporgetpushed

upintothevagina– if

thishappensduringsex,

youmayneedtoseek

emergencycontraception.

INTRAUTERINEDEVICES

IUDsareT-shapedplastic

devicesthatcontaincopper

andstopaneggfrom

implantingin youruterus.

PROSTheycanprevent

pregnancyimmediately(for

uptoa decade)anddon’t

interruptsex.IUDscaneven

befittedasa methodof

emergencycontraception.

CONSYourperiodsmay

beheavier,morepainfulor

lastlongerandthere’sa

smallriskofinfectionafter

insertion.There’salsoa very

minorchanceofperforation

oftheuterusorthatthe

IUDcouldbedisplaced.

Until,somewherealongtheline,I fell

pregnant.“We’veseenanincreasein

appsbeingusedalongsidealternative

methodsofcontraception,”saysDr

Buckley.“They’regoodforprompting

andrecordinginformation,butapps

aresusceptibletoprogrammingand

usererrors.”Someapps,specifically

designedtobeusedasa digital

methodofcontraception,suchas

NaturalCycles(thefirstappofficially

clearedbyEUregulators),relyon

womenbeingabletomeasuretheir

basalbodytemperatureatthesame

timeeveryday– a bigcommitment

• whichcanbeimpactedbyfactors
  suchasillness,lackofsleepand
  alcohol.OntheNaturalCycles
  website,inthesectionaimedat
  medicalprofessionals,it usedtosay
  thattheappis notrecommendedfor
  womenwhowouldbe“devastated”
  if theyfellpregnantwithinthenext
  year,whichdoesn’texactlyscream
  failsafe(theystatea 93%successrate
  withtypicaluse,meaning,onaverage,
  sevenin 100 womendofallpregnant
  usingthismethod).I hadanabortion
  followingmypregnancy,andmy
  boyfriendandI startedusingcondoms
  withoutfail,insteadofanapp.

PRESENT DAY

Copper coil

After taking many an online “What

method of contraception should

I use?” quiz, I booked in to have an

intrauterine device (IUD) fitted. It

appealed because it was completely

hormone-free and didn’t require me

to set constant reminders on my

phone to pop a pill or check where in

my cycle I was at on a virtual calendar

before having sex. The appointment

took around 45 minutes. The nurse

measured my cervix, which stung

but wasn’t unbearable, then fitted me

with the copper and plastic device

that prevents pregnancy for up to 10

years. Once it was inside, the nurse

cut the attached strings – which he

advised me to check were still in place

once a month – and that was that. My

periods are set to be heavier for the

next few months and I’ve had some

seriously strong cramps, but I can have

sex without panicking about another

unwanted pregnancy and my mood

hasn’t been affected at all. Oh, and no,

it won’t set off the sensors at Gatwick.

After 10 years, I’ve finally found

a method I’m happy with. But what

works for me might not for you,

because here’s the thing: there is

no “one size fits all” when it comes to

contraception. Sometimes it feels like

we invest more time and energy in

working out what we want for lunch

than we do our contraceptive choices.

It’s OK to question the method

you’re using, and listen to the signs

your body is giving you if you do. ◆

The A toZofhormone-freeoptions

WORDS JENNIFER SAVIN. ADDITIONAL WORDS ELEANOR JONES, CAT HARVEY-JENNER. PHOTOGRAPHS JAMIE CHUNG/TRUNK ARCHIVE, PIXELEYES PHOTOGRAPHY. *THE PERIOD TRACKER APP DOES NOT RECOMMEND THIS MANNER OF USAGE

DIAPHRAGMS OR

CERVICAL CAPS

Both dome-shaped devices,

diaphragms fit into the

vagina and over the cervix,

while caps need to be put

onto the cervix directly.

They initially need to be

fitted by a professional

and used in conjunction

with spermicide for

maximum effectiveness.

PROS Both can be put in

before sex so they don’t

disturb the moment (add

extra spermicide if you

have sex more than three

hours after putting it in).

They won’t affect your

menstrual cycle either.

CONS It’s recommended

that you do not use a

diaphragm or cap during

your period, and some

women can develop cystitis.

NATURAL FAMILY

PLANNING

This involves monitoring

your fertility signs (cervical

secretions, menstruation

cycle and basal body

temperature) to find out

when during the month

you can have sex with a

reduced risk of pregnancy.

PROS There’s no need for

any intrusive devices or

chemicals. Apps, such as

Dot and Natural Cycles, can

assist with getting to grips

with the process.

CONS You’ll need another

form of contraception if

you want to have sex

during your fertile times.

Between September and

December 2017, one major

Swedish hospital reported

that 37 of the 668 women

who had sought an

abortion through their

services were using Natural

Cycles as their sole method

of contraception.

SPONGES

As you might imagine

from the name, the sponge

is, well, a sponge, which

contains spermicide to

help prevent pregnancy.

They are a single-use option

and can’t be worn for more

than 30 hours at a time.

PROS They’re easy to use

but require a bit of prep –

you have to wet the sponge

to activate the spermicide,

and then insert it, as far

up as is comfortable. They

also need to be left in your

vagina for at least six hours

after sex, so include this in

your 30-hour calculation.

CONS Sponges aren’t

recommended for women

who’ve had physical trauma

in the area, given birth, or

been through miscarriage

or abortion recently.