sexual health info

FAQs about contraception

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions on contraception. This is general information only. For more specific information, please see a doctor or sexual health nurse or visit one of our clinics.

How do I get emergency contraception? 

Emergency contraception (EC) is available from chemists without a doctor's prescription. You can also get it from a doctor or nurse at one of our clinics.

Chemists are able to sell EC to you at any age. Unfortunately, some chemists set their own rules and won’t sell it to you if you’re under 16, unless you have a doctor’s prescription.

If this happens, ask the chemist where the nearest doctor is. It’s really important not to be discouraged, as EC greatly decreases the chance of pregnancy after having unprotected sex.

Can I get the pill or Implanon if I’m under 16? Do I need my parent's permission?

In Victoria, a doctor can prescribe contraception to you if they think you're a ‘mature minor’. This means the doctor thinks you're adult enough to have come to a reasonable decision about your own health and that the risks of using contraception are not as great as the risk of getting pregnant.

To see a doctor and get a prescription filled at a pharmacy, you will need a Medicare number. You can get your own Medicare card if you're over 15. If you don't have your own card, the doctor's receptionist can get your number for you.

The doctor will usually encourage you to talk to your parents about it. It's usually a good idea if you can talk to your mum or dad or another trusted adult, but you don’t have to. The doctor can’t tell your parents without your permission either. Doctors can only break confidentiality where there is a very serious risk to your health or wellbeing or there is a serious risk of you hurting someone else.

How do I tell my parents I want to go on the pill?

Telling your parents you want to go on the pill can be a good idea. It helps your parents feel you're including them in your important decisions and asking for their help. This helps build trust. It also means you never have to worry that they might find out another way, like finding where you keep your pill packet, and they might even help with the cost. 

Try talking to them in the same way you would about other things that are important. It’s not a good idea to do it when they're stressed or busy. You could also ask an older brother or sister for their advice, or to be with you when you have the conversation. You can use the information about the pill on our website to help you.

Although we usually encourage you to tell your parents, you don’t have to. If you're not sure how they might react, you could try telling them that you're interested in someone and see where the conversation goes. It can help to remember that most parents would much rather their child used contraception than got pregnant.

Is it safe to skip a period on the pill?

Yes, you can safely skip a period whenever you like by skipping the sugar pills. Some women do this for medical reasons, such as painful or heavy periods. Others do it just for convenience. This isn't harmful. Some women can skip periods for many months in a row without any problems whereas others can get unpredictable spot bleeding. If you’re planning to skip your periods long term, you should first talk to a doctor or sexual health nurse.

Is it bad to use the pill for years? Will it make it harder for me to get pregnant later?

There are no extra side effects if you use the pill for a long time and there is no medical evidence that shows using the pill will make it harder for you to get pregnant later.

When you use the pill, you're not likely to get pregnant, but this will change as soon as you stop taking it. This is because when you take the pill, you're taking hormones. These hormones work with your natural hormones to stop ovulation (the monthly release of an egg from your ovary). They also change the lining of your uterus (womb) to make it an unsuitable place for a baby to grow.

When you stop taking the pill, your hormones return to their normal level and your uterus returns to its normal state. This means your body will be able to release an egg again.

My pill is late. What do I do?

The rules for missed pills vary, depending on your situation (see below). If you're in doubt, always use condoms until you can get the advice of a doctor or sexual health nurse. If you’re not sure, you can also take emergency contraception (EC).

If your pill is less than 24 hours late

If you’re taking the pill (the combined pill, not the mini pill) and it’s less than 24 hours late, you’re still covered for contraception. You should take it as soon as you remember and then take the next pill when it’s due. This might mean taking two pills at once, but this is okay.

If your pill is more than 24 hours late

If you're more than 24 hours late in taking the pill, you’re not covered for contraception. Take the pill most recently due straight away. This might mean taking 2 pills in 1 day. Any other missed pills can be thrown out. Use condoms for 7 days. Keep taking your pills. Remember, if you’ve missed more than 1 pill, never take more than 2 in 1 day.

Steps to follow

If you're not sure how to follow the steps below, see a doctor or sexual health nurse.

Work out which are the sugar pills and which are the hormone pills and count how many hormone pills you've had in a row since you last had a sugar pill.

If you’ve taken less than 7 hormone pills in a row

You probably need emergency contraception (EC) if you’ve had sex without a condom in the last 5 days. You should see a chemist or a doctor for advice. Use condoms for 7 days. Keep taking your pills.

If you’ve taken more than 7 hormone pills in a row

You don’t need EC, but you need to use condoms for 7 days. You will also need to count how many hormone pills you have left until you start your sugar pills. If you’ve got less than 7 hormone pills left, finish the hormone pills in this packet, then skip the sugar pills and go straight onto the first hormone pill in the next packet. This means you will skip a period. If you’ve got more than 7 hormone pills left, you’re covered for contraception. Keep taking your pills.

The condom broke when my partner and I were having sex. What should we do?

You should take emergency contraception (EC) as soon as possible. EC is available from chemists without a doctor's prescription. In most cases, it will prevent pregnancy. The sooner you take EC, the better it works.

If condoms are breaking often, you might have a problem with technique or fit. You can talk with a doctor or sexual health nurse about this. If you’re young, you’re most likely very fertile and we recommend using another method such as the pill or Implanon. This way, you will at least know you’re protected from getting pregnant if it happens again.