Choosing a contraceptive method that suits you

There is no single best method of contraception. There is the method that fits your body, your health and your life right now. This guide from Network One Health puts the common methods side by side, so you can come to your appointment with questions.

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How well each method works

The numbers below show how many women out of 100 get pregnant in the first year of using each method. We show two sets of figures: the South African guideline, and newer estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) published in 2025.

• Typical use means real life, with the odd late pill or late injection.
• Perfect use means the method is used correctly every single time.

method	typical use, sa guideline	typical use, who 2025	perfect use (both sources)
implant	fewer than 1	fewer than 1	fewer than 1
hormonal iud (lng-ius)	fewer than 1	fewer than 1	fewer than 1
copper iud	fewer than 1	fewer than 1	fewer than 1
injection	6	4	fewer than 1
pill (combined or mini-pill)	9	7	fewer than 1
male condom	18	13	2
female condom	21	21	5
withdrawal	22	20	4
fertility awareness methods	24	differs by method	fewer than 1 to 5, depending on the method (sa guideline)
no method	85	85	85

Both sets of figures are for women in the United States. The South African guideline uses older data. The WHO 2025 figures are newer estimates.

The gap between typical and perfect use matters. Methods you do not have to remember, like the implant and IUDs, work almost as well in real life as they do on paper. Methods you must use every day or every time you have sex work less well in real life.

How each method fits into your life

method	how you use it	effect on periods	fertility after stopping	protects against stis and hiv
implant	a small rod placed under the skin of your arm, lasts 3 to 5 years depending on the type	often irregular, spotting, or no periods	returns straight away	no
hormonal iud	placed inside the womb, lasts 5 years	often lighter, may stop	returns straight away	no
copper iud	placed inside the womb, lasts 5 or 10 years depending on the type	may be heavier or longer at first	returns straight away	no
injection	every 12 weeks (dmpa) or every 8 weeks (net-en)	irregular, spotting, or no periods	can take 6 to 12 months	no
combined pill	one pill every day	often lighter, regular, less painful	returns soon	no
mini-pill	one pill every day at about the same time	more likely to be irregular	returns soon	no
condoms	every time you have sex	no change	no delay	yes

Protection against STIs and HIV

Only condoms protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Every other method on this page prevents pregnancy only.

Many women use two methods together: a condom for infections, and another method for pregnancy. This is called dual protection. Your clinician can talk to you about HIV prevention options too.

Your risk of HIV does not limit which contraceptive method you can choose.

How to decide

These questions can help you think it through before your appointment.

• How important is it not to get pregnant right now? If it matters a lot, look at the methods at the top of the first table.
• When might you want a baby? If it could be within the next year, the injection may not suit you, because fertility can take longer to return.
• Do you want to remember something often, or not at all? A daily pill suits some women. Others prefer a method that lasts for years.
• How do you feel about changes to your periods? Some women welcome lighter or no periods. Others want a regular bleed.
• Do you want a method without hormones? The copper IUD and condoms have none.
• Do you take other medicines? Some medicines for HIV, TB and epilepsy can make certain hormonal methods work less well.
• Do you want privacy? The implant, IUDs and the injection leave nothing to keep at home.

There are no wrong answers. Your needs may also change over time.

The role of your clinician

Choosing is your decision. Your clinician’s job is to give you clear, balanced information and to check that the method is right for your health.

At your visit, your clinician will usually:

• ask about your health, your medicines and any methods you have used before
• check your blood pressure if you want a hormonal method
• make sure you are not already pregnant
• explain how to use the method, the common side effects and when to come back

A pelvic examination is only needed before an IUD is placed, or if your history suggests a reason for one.

Some health conditions make a method less suitable. If that happens, your clinician will explain why and help you choose another one. Age alone is not a reason to refuse you any method.

You can change your method at any time. If a method is not working for you, come back and talk about it. Do not just stop using it without a plan.

If something goes wrong

If a condom breaks, you miss pills, or you have sex without protection, emergency contraception can help. Emergency pills and the copper IUD work within 5 days (120 hours) of unprotected sex. The sooner you act, the better they work. There are two kinds of emergency pill, levonorgestrel and ulipristal. Ulipristal may work better than levonorgestrel between 3 and 5 days after sex.

Where to get contraception

Contraception is available at public clinics in South Africa.

What to expect at Network One Health

At Network One Health, choosing contraception is a conversation about your history and your goals. We do not hand out a method by default. If a method stops suiting you, switching is a normal part of care.

Booking and questions: WhatsApp Noma on 065 072 5315.

Emergencies: If you think you have a medical emergency, go to the emergency unit at your nearest hospital or call 10177.