Post-birth

• Women are considered fertile from day 21 post birth - contraception not required before this point
• Lactational amenorrhoea:

  • Breastfeeding your baby for up to 6 months to delay ovulation
  • Must be exclusively breast feeding and amenorrhoeic
  • Over 98% effective
• The progestogen-only pill and implant can be started at any time post-birth
• Combined contraceptive pill:

  • Contraindicated before 6 weeks postpartum
  • UKMEC 2 after 6 weeks
  • Women who are not breastfeeding and are without additional risk factors for VTE can start a CHC 21 day post birth
• IUD/IUS:

  • Can be inserted either within 48 hours of birth or more than 4 weeks after birth