h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Other reliable methods are:

The contraceptive implant. That's a little tube containing some hormone and which you put (well, doctors put) under the skin in the lady's arm. It works for 3 years in a row (you can also remove it before if you wish); it is more efficient than contraceptive pills (partly due to the fact that you can't forget, or be unable for some reason, to take it )

http://www.nvsh.nl/contraception/implant.htm

In French: http://www.martinwinckler.com/article.php3?id_article=429


The IUD (Intra-unterine device). It is more efficient and less constraining than the pill. It is some kind of plastic device coated with copper; it is actually the copper which kills the spermatozoids. Apparently (at least in France) misconceptions about IUDs are very frequent. First, women who have never been pregnant can wear one, without any problem. Second, it does not cause a "mini-abortion" - the spermatozoids are killed before fertilizing the ovula.

http://www.nvsh.nl/contraception/iud.htm

In French: http://www.martinwinckler.com/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=34


Generally speaking, the website http://www.martinwinckler.com/ is to my mind a very good one - well documented and argumented, well presented. However, it is mostly in French (http://www.martinwinckler.com/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=18 is the Written in English section).

Someone I knew was on that implant. It didnt fit well with her at all, and it wasnt long before she had it removed.

I'm not certain I wouldnt want a period for 3 years. Yes, ok, they're a nuisance and not the most pleasant thing in the world, but it also indicates that things are working not too bad down there. And that I've not accidentally got knocked up! Having been on the pill and seen how much that screws my internal workings, I'm not sure I'd want to go on something for a three year course.

'And that I've not accidentally got knocked up!'

Yeah I was glad for those two little almosts.

I quite agree the 21 day on 7 day off cycle can be bad for certain people heaven knows what 3 years worth can do to the insides. Or the emmotional well being for that matter.

Anyway, as Winckler puts it, you shouldn't choose a contraception you don't feel comfortable with. In particular, you shouldn't accept something just because the doctors thrusts it upon you: get informed and pick the one you like better.

Oh, and did you know (I just learned it myself) that the bleeding you get while using hormonal pills is not actually periods? It is some inner tissue in the womb tearing off, due to stopping the extra hormones.

http://www.martinwinckler.com/article.php3?id_article=578