How long has your contraception been working effectively to prevent pregnancy?

Contraception is a tool used to prevent pregnancy. There are different types of contraception, each with its benefits and drawbacks. Some contraceptives such as condoms can prevent pregnancy directly, but some contraceptives such as birth control pills take some time to work. Find out which effective contraceptives work the longest and fastest below.

How long does contraception work to actually prevent pregnancy?

There are two ways for you to know whether the contraceptive you are using is effective or not. The first is whether you have used contraception correctly? The way you use contraception will affect the outcome. So make sure you use contraception properly.

The second way, as reported by Medical News Today, is to find out how effective this contraceptive is if there is an error in its use. If you use it wrong with a level that is certainly not severe, is it still able to prevent pregnancy or not. If so, your contraception is really effective. However, this is not a definite yardstick. Rather than just guessing, here's the time it takes for a contraceptive to work effectively.

1. Birth control pills

If used properly (for example, taken regularly), this drinking contraceptive can prevent pregnancy by up to 99 percent. If something goes wrong, for example skipping a day of drinking, the potency of preventing pregnancy drops to 91 percent.

Birth control pills usually contain the hormones progestin and estrogen to prevent ovulation. These pills are known in two main types, birth control pills that contain only progestins; and birth control pills containing estrogen and progestin or combination pills.

The progestin hormone in birth control pills functions to thicken cervical mucus, making it difficult for sperm to travel to the egg. If you take birth control pills on the first day of your period or in the first five days of your period, the birth control pills will work right away.

However, if you have shorter menstrual cycles such as 21 or 23 days, it is usually necessary to wait two days for birth control pills to work effectively. This also applies if you take birth control pills for more than the first five days of your period.

2. The IUD

IUD stands for intrauterine device. The IUD is a T-shaped plastic that is placed in the uterus and is used to block sperm from fertilizing an egg. There are two main types of IUDs. An IUD made of copper can last up to 10 years and will immediately work to effectively prevent pregnancy when it is inserted.

The second IUD, the IUD which contains the progestin hormone and needs to be replaced every 5 years. This IUD is immediately effective when it is inserted within the first seven days of menstruation. If it is not included in this period, it will take seven days for the contraceptive to work effectively.

3. Implants

Contraception is a small object the size and shape of a matchstick that is inserted under the skin, generally in the upper arm. This implant slowly secretes the progestin hormone which functions to prevent pregnancy for 3 years.

This contraception can prevent pregnancy by up to 99 percent. If inserted during the first five days of menstruation, implants can work immediately effectively, if not inserted in this period, it will take seven days to effectively work to prevent pregnancy.

4. The KB patch

Did you know that some contraceptives come in the form of patches? The KB patch is placed on the skin and changed once a week for three weeks. The birth control patch should be removed by the fourth week. The birth control patch works by releasing hormones that are as effective as those found in birth control pills in preventing pregnancy by nearly 99 percent.

If this patch is put on during the five days of menstruation, it can immediately work effectively, if it is not started to be used during this period, it will take seven days for the contraceptive device to work effectively.

5. Vaginal ring

The vaginal ring is a contraceptive in the form of a plastic ring that is used inside the vagina. This plastic ring releases the same hormones as birth control pills.

The vaginal ring itself is immediately effective when it is inserted on the first day of menstruation. if not included in this period it will take seven days to work effectively.

6. KB injection

Birth control injections are hormonal contraceptives that are injected into certain parts of the body such as the upper arms, thighs, or buttocks. After injection, the hormone levels will increase and then gradually decrease until the next injection.

In Indonesia, based on the time period, there are two types of contraceptive injections that are most commonly used, namely the one-month contraceptive injection and the three-month contraceptive injection. The three-month contraceptive injection contains the progestin hormone, while the one-month contraceptive injection contains a combination of the progestin hormone and the hormone estrogen, with lower progestin levels.