Every sexual intercourse has the chance of resulting in a pregnancy. That is fine if you are ready to be parents and want to have a child. If not, you should not take chances but practice contraception. There are many contraceptive methods in use today. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages with varying effectiveness.

• Oral contraceptive pill – a synthetic hormone pills, many varieties are available in the market to suit different women. Women on this method take one tablet everyday for most or all of each month. It is very effective and is safe and acceptable to most women.
• Contraceptive plaster (Evra) – The coolest invention in 2002. Contraceptive delivered in plaster form and lasts for 1 week. Patient uses 3 plasters in a month. Effectiveness is 99%. The advantage is that it has better compliance for patients and is not easily forgotten.
• Contraceptive injection – this is an injection form of synthetic hormone. The injection is given every two or three months depending on the type of manufacture. It is almost 100% effective, long-acting, easy to use and safe.
• Contraceptive implants – another synthetic hormone contained in a set of capsules called Implanon. The capsules are inserted by a doctor under the skin of the woman's arm under local anaesthesia. It is almost 100% effective, long-acting lasting for 3 years and safe.
• Condom – a thin sheath of rubber worn over the erect penis during sexual intercourse. Ejaculated semen is trapped in it and so prevented from entering the vagina. It offers good protection (75%) if the man uses it correctly and consistently. Effectiveness is increased if used together with a spermicide (90%).
• Intra-uterine Device (IUD) – a small device which is inserted into the womb. It is inserted by a doctor. The effectiveness is 97%-98%. It can be left in the womb for 2–5 years depending on the type of IUD.
• Spermicide – chemicals that kill sperms, available in the form of a vaginal foam, jelly, cream, pessary, tablet or aerosol. It is not very effective on its own (70%). Should be used with the condom.
• Diaphragm – a flexible cup-shaped device made of rubber. It is out of fashion and not available in the local market.
• Rhythm methods of safe periods – there are two rhythm methods of birth control – calendar and temperature. In both, the woman abstains from intercourse from the 10th to 18th day of each menstrual cycle to avoid conception. This method is unreliable. It depends on the regularity of the menstrual periods of the woman.
• Sterilization – this consists of an operation on the fallopian tubes to prevent eggs passing from the ovaries to the womb. It is a day surgery using laparoscope. It does not affect health or sexual relations. It is very effective and also would enhance sexual life as there is no need to worry about unplanned pregnancy. This is considered a permanent method though failure does occur (1 in 500 cases) and rejoining of the tubes is possible using microscopic surgical technique.

Abortion is not a contraceptive method. It is often a controversial and emotional issue. Always practice family planning if you are not ready to start having a child. Prevention is better than cure. Once a woman decide to terminate the pregnancy, time becomes important.