Contraceptive injection

What is it? It's an injection of hormones that provides a longer-acting alternative to the pill. It works by slowly releasing the hormone progestogen into the body to stop ovulation. Each injection lasts for 8-12 weeks. Injections may reduce heavy or painful periods and may give some protection against cancer of the uterus.

Advantages: unlike the pill you don’t need to remember to take a tablet every day.

Considerations: periods can become irregular or stop altogether. It can take over a year for fertility to return to normal after stopping contraceptive injections, so if you are planning to start a family in the near future, it may not be suitable. It's important to remember to attend your appointments on time every 8-12 weeks, otherwise contraceptive cover can stop. Injections do not offer protection against sexually transmitted infections or HIV/AIDS.

Available from? GP, family planning clinics, Marie Stopes International centres.

How effective? 99%.