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Contraception

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Buy contraception online.

With so many options, it’s easy to get lost with contraception. We can help you find treatment tailored for you.

Talk to us about your health, order contraception treatment online and get it delivered from our licensed pharmacy.

Here’s what's included in the price:

Consultation

Answer a few questions about your health so we can get to know you better.

Free delivery

We'll deliver to you in 2-4 business days.

Aftercare

We’ll check in with you regularly to see how your treatment is going.

View all prices

Contraception: essential info

Contraception: the details

What are my options?

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Navkaran Singh Sandhu, Clinical Lead on August 02, 2022. Next review due on August 01, 2024.

We offer 2 types of Contraception

Combined pill

Pregnancy protection. Help with PMS. Find the birth control pill that works best for you.

See all treatments

Mini pill

The pill, but without oestrogen. Better option if you get migraines or side effects on combined birth control.

Cerazette

See all treatments

Your partners in health

Dr Navkaran Singh Sandhu

Clinical Lead

Registered with PMC (No. 41934)

Meet Dr Navkaran

Dr Daniel Atkinson

GP Clinical Lead

Registered with GMC (No. 4624794)

Meet Daniel

Mr Craig Marsh

Specialist Pharmacist Prescriber (UK)

Registered with GPhC (No. 2070724)

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Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.

What is contraception?

In a nutshell, contraception reduces your risk of getting pregnant. Certain types of hormonal birth control also have the added benefit of reducing some of the uncomfortable symptoms you may get around your period, and can make your period lighter and more regular.

You can take contraception for as long as you want to. You can also switch methods or stop using it if you want to have a child. Some types of hormonal birth control are better for specific health issues or age ranges. So it’s good to check in with your doctor every now and then to make sure your birth control is still right for you.

Hormonal contraception is only available on prescription in India. Our clinical team will help you narrow down the best option because there are quite a few out there, and it’s not a one-size-fits-all type of deal.

What types of contraception are there?

There are different types of hormonal birth control that you take by yourself, and a few others where you’ll need a bit of guidance from a doctor or nurse before you use them.

At Treated, we offer both the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP), which contains progestin and oestrogen, and the progestogen-only pill (POP), also called the mini pill. Pills need to be taken every day at around the same time to be most effective.

Other types of birth control are the contraceptive patch, which is applied to the skin like a plaster and changed once a week, and the vaginal ring, which is inserted into the vagina once a month. But we do not offer them right now.

Besides these, there’s the depo shot, the IUD (hormonal and non-hormonal) and the implant. In-person visits to the doctor are required in order to insert/inject them, so we don’t offer them. There are also condoms (for both men and women) and the diaphragm, which you can get at a pharmacy or hospital. These methods also protect against STIs.

Which birth control is best?

It depends on you, really. If you like the comfort of taking something every day and knowing you’re protected, we recommend the combined pill or mini pill.

Dosages make a difference too. High doses are typically prescribed to those women who are looking to manage symptoms like acne. And low doses like Crisanta LS are usually suitable for women who are sensitive to higher doses or are more likely to experience side effects because of some underlying health factors.

Whether you take contraceptives with a higher or lower dose of hormones, they’re equally effective in preventing pregnancy. It’s really a question of what other symptoms you’re looking to treat and which dosage can help you treat them as well.

So it’s very much a case of personal preference, and your health background. But we can talk you through all your options.

Medically reviewed by

Dr Navkaran Singh Sandhu

Clinical Lead

on August 02, 2022.

Meet Navkaran

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Navkaran Singh Sandhu, Clinical Lead on August 02, 2022. Next review due on August 01, 2024.

Sourcing guidelines:

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

How effective is hormonal contraception?

Both types of pill (combined pill and mini pill) are over 99% effective when they’re used exactly right. That’s what doctors call “perfect use”. This 99% effectiveness means that if 100 women use one of these types of birth control for one year, fewer than one will get pregnant.

“Typical” use is a bit less perfect and a lot more realistic. If you use contraception but make occasional mistakes, like forgetting a pill, the effectiveness drops to between 91% and 94%. That means that six to nine women out of a hundred would become pregnant over the course of a year.

The best way to make sure your birth control is as effective as possible is to take it exactly as directed, which is why it’s important to find the method that works best with your lifestyle.

What does birth control do?

Hormonal birth control reduces your chances of pregnancy by changing the normal hormonal cycle in your body. It prevents ovulation, when the ovary releases an egg into your fallopian tube.

The hormones in birth control also stop the walls of your uterus from growing thicker. When the uterine wall isn’t as thick, it’s more difficult for an egg to attach to it and grow.

The progestogen in hormonal birth control also changes the thickness of cervical fluid. This time, the hormones make it thicker and sperms have a harder time making it through to an egg as a result.

What forms of contraception are available?

At Treated, we have the combined contraceptive pill and progestogen-only pill (also called mini pill).

The combined pill usually comes in a pack of 21 pills, though some brands may vary slightly (and contain 24 or 28 pills for example). With a 21 pill pack, you’ll take a tablet a day for the duration of the pack (the first three weeks of your cycle) then have a week off — that’s when you’ll get your period. This is the most widely used type of hormonal birth control. It’s called the combined pill because it contains two hormones: progestin and oestrogen.

Progestogen-only pills or mini pills are taken once a day continuously (without a break). They’re different from combined options because they only carry one hormone, progestin. Progestin-only pills are recommended for women who may get side effects when taking oestrogen.

What about contraceptive injections and contraceptive implants?

Several birth control options need to be injected, inserted or administered by a doctor. These include the birth control injection, which is progestin-only and given in the arm. Depo-Provera is a popular brand of contraceptive injection. There’s also a contraceptive implant that’s placed into the arm.

The IUD, which stands for intrauterine device, is inserted through the vagina into the uterus by a doctor or gynaecologist and left in place for up to five years. There’s a hormone-free copper version (usually just called the copper IUD) and hormonal versions which are made of plastic, like the Mirena.

And there’s also the condom and the diaphragm. These are called ‘barrier methods’ because they physically stop sperm from reaching an egg to fertilise it.

At Treated, we do not currently have these birth control options. The only treatments we currently offer are the combined and mini pill.

FAQ: Contraception

Have something specific you want to know about Contraception? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

What are the side effects of contraceptives?

Answer:

Side effects can vary depending on the type of birth control you’re using. Irregular bleeding is quite common when you first start using a new birth control, but it normally stabilises after a couple of months.

Other common side effects are tiredness, mood swings, vaginal dryness or changes in sex drive. If you experience these side effects and they’re not going away on their own, drop our doctor a message and they can help you find a different birth control.

On rare occasions, hormonal birth control can cause serious side effects. You should seek urgent medical attention if you get any breast lumps, persistent heavy bleeding, symptoms of an allergic reaction, symptoms of a blood clot such as a tight chest or tenderness in the back of the leg, jaundice or anything else that concerns you. Read the package insert that comes with your birth control for more information on side effects and when to get help.

What is low dose contraception?

Answer:

There are different concentrations of hormones in birth control pills, rings and patches. Higher doses can help control symptoms like acne, while lower doses come with fewer possible side effects.

There’s no difference between higher and lower doses in terms of contraceptive effectiveness. They’re equally good at preventing pregnancy. Whether you should take a higher or lower dose has more to do with what added benefits you’d like in your birth control and if you’re sensitive to hormones.

Low dose versions are a great alternative for women who tried the regular version and experienced side effects. Femodette (20mcg) and Femodene (30mcg) are examples. In some cases, though, low-dose pills have completely different names than the regular versions. This happens even with pills made by the same manufacturer.

If you’re not sure which type of birth control is the best option for you, our clinician will be able to help you choose.

Can you take contraception for acne?

Answer:

Some pills can be effective at reducing acne in addition to preventing pregnancy. The specific pills that excel at this usually have a high concentration of hormones, meaning they increase the risk of side effects and aren’t right for everyone. Our doctor can advise you on whether a pill that can help with acne is a good choice for you.

Can you take contraception to stop periods?

Answer:

Yes. Women who take the progestogen-only pill often find that their periods stop or become much lighter. Sometimes this happens with the combined pill, too. If you’re looking to lighten your periods with hormonal birth control, let our doctor know during your consultation.

What’s the difference between primary and emergency contraception?

Answer:

Hormonal birth control methods like the pill, patch and ring, as well as condoms, are primary contraceptives, or ‘plan A’. It’s when these fail for some reason that emergency contraception, also known as the morning after pill or plan B, may need to be considered.

An example might be a condom falling off during sex, or if you forget to take your pill and then have unprotected sex. Contraception emergency is given in the form of a one-off pill, and needs to be taken within a certain time period after unprotected sex to protect against pregnancy (normally 72 or 120 hours, depending on what you use).

The morning after pill works in a similar way in the body to hormonal birth control, but the two are not interchangeable. Plan A can’t be used in the place of plan B, and vice versa.

If you’re worried that you may be pregnant because your primary contraceptive method has failed, see a doctor right away as the emergency contraceptive pill might not be suitable.

Can you get non hormonal contraception?

Answer:

Yes. Condoms, diaphragms and female condoms don’t contain any hormones. They’re called ‘barrier methods’ because they physically block sperm. There’s also a type of IUD called a copper IUD which doesn’t contain any hormones.

A non-hormonal pill that’s intended for contraception is available in India. This is called Salehi, but we don’t offer this through our service.

Is there a male contraceptive pill?

Answer:

Not yet. Male hormonal contraception is still in the clinical research phase. While recent trials of a contraceptive gel are promising, there isn’t currently anything on the market.

The most widely available option for men is the condom. A more lasting and absolute option is the vasectomy (known more informally as ‘the snip’), which is a reversible type of surgery that blocks the tube that carries sperm to the urethra.

Why should I buy contraception online with Treated?

Answer:

We’re making contraception easy. Tell us about your health, and our doctors will advise you on suitable and safe birth control options for you. Choose the contraception you want and we’ll prescribe your treatment.

And if you want us to deliver your birth control on your schedule, in the quantity you’d like, we’ll do that too.

Our doctors will get in touch with you on a regular basis to find out how you’re getting on with your contraception. So if there’s anything you’d like to know about your treatment, or if there’s any adjustments you’d like us to make to your birth control, they’ll be on hand.

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