What are the different types of contraceptives you can get from a doctor in Australia?
Australia is a progressive country when it comes to sexual health and family planning. In fact, Australia was the second country in the world to make the contraceptive pill available and has been used by women for over 50 years now.
Contraception can be a sensitive subject and many people are reluctant to talk to their doctors about their sex life. This becomes an issue because the contraceptive that you choose is dependent on many factors such as lifestyle, health, relationship and STI risk. It’s important to give a doctor as much information as possible to ensure that you get the right contraceptive for you.
Let’s take a look at the various contraceptives to consider getting and how you can safely and conveniently get a prescription or referral online from Instant Consult.
What are the different types of contraceptives?
There are a number of different types of contraceptives that you can consider, but in this blog, we are looking specifically at the kind that you need to get from a doctor or medical health professional. As such, condoms and natural contraceptives won’t be covered.
- LARC: Long-acting reversible contraceptives come in two different forms: Contraceptive implants and IUDs. Contraceptive implants come in the form of a small rod that is placed under the skin in the upper arm. It will slowly release progestogen, which stops an egg being released from the ovary each month. IUDs (contraceptive intrauterine devices) are placed in the uterus and can be either a copper IUD or a hormone-releasing IUD. What these LARCs have in common is that they are long-lasting (5+ years) and can be easily removed by a medical professional, after which point you can fall pregnant.
- Contraceptive injections: These injections contain progesterone-like hormones and are given every 2 months. It stops ovulation and creates a thicker uterus wall that stops the sperm from reaching its destination.
- Combined hormonal contraception: This is where your vaginal rings and contraceptive pills fall under. Vaginal rings have similar hormones to the pill and are simply put in, similar to a tampon, and removed three weeks later. Its main advantage is that you don’t have to remember to take a pill every day. There is a wide variety of contraceptive pills, like combined pills and mini pills. The pill you take will depend on a number of specific factors that you should discuss with a doctor to ensure you get the best one for your needs.
Convenient and safe contraceptive prescriptions
Contraceptive pills are undoubtedly the most popular contraceptive option in Australia, but the convenience of taking the pill is usually at odds with the process you go through to get it. With Instant Consult, you can have a video call with one of our highly qualified doctors, who will assess your needs and get your prescription to you when clinically appropriate.
Your health and safety are our primary concern, and our doctors are all Australian-qualified professionals who are here to make the process of obtaining contraceptives that much easier. Download the app or book a consult online and we’ll be happy to help you with your first contraceptive or repeat prescriptions, all from the comfort of your own home.