Contraception Options For Female Travellers

Contraception is a big thing for female travellers to consider before they set off on an extended trip. Without access to your regular doctor and budget and health concerns often your main priority, it can be confusing and worrying to try and plan just how you can continue your regular contraception. But there are many different types of contraception you can use, and with a little planning ahead, it needn’t be a headache.

Contraceptive Pill

Up until very recently, I used the birth control pill while travelling. It is very easy to use, especially if you’ve already been on it for a long time (as I had), but trying to adjust the time you take it to the different world time zones can be a struggle. You often have to set your alarm to make sure that you tale it at exactly the same time of day as you were taking it at home, otherwise you won’t be fully protected.

Also, when I first started travelling, doctors were willing to prescribe a full year’s worth of pills (again, only if you’ve been taking it for a long time with no side effects) and now in the UK they seem to have scrapped that policy and will only give you a maximum of six months, which could cause problems for those travelling for longer. Ask your doctor about your different options, but don’t switch to a different pill right before you leave as you will have enough new situations to deal with without having to deal with any potential hormone changes.

Condoms

If you have read reports such as this one about Yaz birth control side effects (not the one I was on, but one which is widely distributed in the US), then you may be worried about staying on or starting the pill. Of course, the easiest solution, partcularly if you don’t have a long term partner, is to travel with some condoms. Always buy a well-known and trusted brand and check the expiry dates.

Contraceptive Implant

These contraceptive implants are injected into your arm, and last for three years, so aren’t a viable solution if you want something shorter term. They are easier than the pill and condoms beacuse you don’t have to remember to pack anything and you won’t need to keep re-filling a prescription from the doctor, but you can get some bruising or swelling on your arm when it’s first injected. There are also some possible side effects with periods with this method, which usually calm down after a year, but they should be taken into consideration.

The Contraceptive Injection

The injection is only really a viable solution for those going on shorter trips, as it only lasts eight to twelve weeks. As with all contraceptive methods, there can be side effects to using this type of treatment, so you should consult your doctor before using it, but this type of contraceptive is useful for those who forget to take pills or can’t use certain other forms of contraception.

I am not a doctor and therefore am not providing the above as medical advice – you should always consult your doctor before deciding on any form of contraception. Also, please bear in mind that, aside from condoms, the forms of contraception listed here do not protect you against STIs.

Photo credit: pill