Postpartum Contraception - Podcast Version TeachMeObGyn 0:00 / 0:00 1x 0.25x 0.5x 0.75x 1x 1.25x 1.5x 1.75x 2x Women can become fertile from 21 days after delivery so contraception is a important discussion for healthcare providers to have before a woman is discharged from maternity services. This is important for two reasons; firstly women are often so busy with their newborn to seek contraception advice after discharge, and a birth-to-conception time of less than 12 months leads to increased risk of premature delivery, low birth weight, small-for-gestational age babies and fetal mortality. Term delivery Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) are particularly recommended by guidelines as they can be inserted immediately after birth and are effective for years. Type of contraception Safe to start Other notes Lactational amenorrhoea Immediately after delivery Requires >85% feeds being breastfeeding, amenorrhea and within 6 months of delivery Intrauterine (IUD and IUS) Post-placental – within 10 minutes of delivery of the placenta Post-partum – within 48h of delivery Delayed – over 4 weeks after delivery Contraindicated if risk of pelvic infection Progesterone-only pill Immediately after delivery Safe in breastfeeding Progesterone implant Immediately after delivery Safe in breastfeeding Combined hormonal contraception Breastfeeding – 6 weeks after delivery Non-breastfeeding – 3 weeks after delivery Pregnancy-related considerations – HTN and UKMEC 2 Barrier contraception Condoms immediately Diaphragm – wait 6 weeks Delay in diaphragm due to changing uterine size Female sterilisation Delay advised Delay advised due to increased risk of regret if done immediately If a woman has requested sterilisation during an elective C-section ensure consent is taken at least 2 weeks before Male sterilisation Immediately after delivery Much safer and lower failure rates than female sterilisation Fertility awareness method Immediately after delivery Hormonal changes due to pregnancy and lactation can make it harder to identify ovulation If contraception is started before the 21-day mark then no additional precautions are required, whereas if it has been longer than this the standard precautions for each contraceptive method are needed. Women are advised to take a pregnancy test before starting contraception if it is over 3 weeks since delivery. If a woman is not on contraception and has unprotected sex over 3 weeks she can safely be given ulipristal acetate or levonorgestrel as emergency contraception. The IUD is safe from 4 weeks after delivery. However, breastfeeding women should be advised to avoid feeding for one week if they take ulipristal acetate and should instead express and discard the milk. Ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or abortion Fertility returns from 5 days after early pregnancy loss and women may quickly return to sexual activity so contraception advice is key if they don’t want another pregnancy. Similar to the 21-day window after term delivery, if contraception is started after this 5-day period additional precautions must be taken (2 days for progesterone-only pill, 7 days for all other methods). All hormonal methods are safe immediately after uncomplicated abortion or miscarriage. Intrauterine devices should be avoided if there is a risk of infection. Additional considerations for each situation are listed below. Abortion Depot – slightly higher risk of failed abortion if depot started when mifepristone is taken Women are advised to delay sterilisation due to increased risk of regret Medical attention should be sought in the case of an absent period as it may indicate a failed abortion, don’t assume it is due to hormonal contraception Ectopic pregnancy Women who take methotrexate should wait 3 months before conceiving again Miscarriage Combined hormonal contraception should be avoided in women with recurrent miscarriage until antiphospholipid syndrome is ruled out Key points Women become fertile 21 days after delivery Progesterone-only methods and the copper coil are all safe immediately after delivery and during breastfeeding Women who are not breastfeeding should wait 3 weeks to start combined hormonal contraception, those who are breastfeeding should wait 6 weeks Lactational amenorrhoea is 98% effective for the first 6 months if the woman is fully breastfeeding and amenorrhoeic Contraception is needed from 5 days of ectopic pregnancy management, miscarriage or abortion Frequent questions What is the recommended time frame for starting contraception after delivery? Women can start contraception as early as 21 days after delivery, as fertility can return within this period. It’s crucial to discuss contraception options before discharge to prevent unintended pregnancies. What types of contraception are safe to use immediately after childbirth? Progesterone-only methods and intrauterine devices (IUDs) can be safely used immediately after delivery. These options are effective for breastfeeding mothers and can be inserted right after birth. What precautions should be taken if contraception is started more than 21 days after delivery? If contraception begins after 21 days, additional precautions are necessary for each method. This includes waiting periods, such as 2 days for the progesterone-only pill and 7 days for other contraceptive methods. How does lactational amenorrhoea function as a contraceptive method? Lactational amenorrhoea can be 98% effective for the first 6 months postpartum if the mother is exclusively breastfeeding and remains amenorrhoeic. This method relies on frequent breastfeeding to suppress ovulation. What should women consider regarding contraception after experiencing an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage? Women should begin contraception 5 days after managing an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage, as fertility can return quickly. All hormonal methods are safe immediately after these events, but intrauterine devices should be avoided if there's a risk of infection. Rate This Article