Contraception
Did you know that 1 in 4 pregnancies are unplanned in Australia? More than half of these pregnancies happened because women were not on any contraception. The failure rate was also higher in those using oral contraceptive pills or condoms for obvious reasons – missing a pill, broken condom you name it. It is why long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is more effective in preventing pregnancies. It does not depend on a person to remember to take it daily or use it correctly. No contraceptive methods are 100% effective, but it gets very close with a success rate > 99%.
Obviously, as with any medication, there may be some side effects, usually mild. But LARC is extremely effective and well-tolerated contraception. When you’re ready to start a family, you can remove it at any time and the effect is immediately reversible i.e. no impact on your fertility.
There are different types of LARCs – intrauterine devices and Implant. Depending on the device, it can last for 3 to 10 years.
At the Madison Medical Practice Northbridge, all our friendly female doctors are qualified to discuss a wide range of contraceptive methods. It is important that you have an initial consultation to find the right contraception for you. For inserting LARC, you will require a second appointment.
For Implanon, the out-of-pocket fee starts from $70 after Medicare rebate. For IUD, it starts from $200* (*if you require a numbing gel, there is an additional cost.)
Useful websites