What Doctors Tell Their Friends About Birth Control

When’s the last time you gave your contraceptive a cold, hard stare and said, ‘Are you really the one for me?’ These top doctors want you to, so here’s what they think their loved ones – and now you – should know. By Stephanie Wood.

- Stephanie Wood

NEVER SETTLE!

‘It can take a while to find the right birth-control method. One of my patients became pregnant after she forgot a few doses of her pill, a combination of both oestrogen and progestin. After that, she chose to get the contraceptive implant. These matchstick-sized plastic rods are inserted in your upper arm and are 99% effective at preventing pregnancy – and they don’t have to be replaced for three years. But after a few months, she came back frustrated because she was bleeding almost daily. When you use a progestinonly method, your uterus sheds its lining a little bit at a time instead of all at once. I suggested she start taking the Pill, with a low dose of oestrogen too. If she missed a pill, she’d still have the implant to protect her, and she wouldn’t have to deal with the spotting. The right birth-control method for you depends on your priorities and the side effects you’re willing to tolerate, and it may take a few tries to find it. Don’t give up!’ – Obstetrician/ Gynaecologist Dr Lisa Perriera

THE PILL MAY PREVENT CANCER

‘We know for a fact that the Pill protects against ovarian cancer. The theory is that when ovulation occurs, the egg bursts out of the wall of the ovary, causing microscopic damage; if you ovulate every month for years, the DNA in the ovary has to constantly replicate itself, potentially causing a mistake that can lead to cancer. The Pill suppresses ovulation, lowering that risk.