THE SUN DOCTOR

Your exciting and revealing paper has a line-up of specialist and general practice doctors waiting to answer your health concerns – and it is for free! So come on, send in those nagging health bugs and let this week’s Sun Doctor deal with it. You don’t have to worry about revealing your true identity. Give us a pseudo, it’s fine!

DEAR SUN DOC

I am getting married soon and I am confused about what family planning method to take. My partner and I intend to take two years before trying to get pregnant. I have never been into any family planning method so this is novel to me. Notably, my periods are irregular. Please help.Annie

DEAR ANNIE,

Choosing a family planning method is very individualised because it depends on current health condition, possible health risks, lifestyle, affordability, convenience, availability, future fertility concerns, age and weight, the method’s effectiveness and potential side effects, and also acceptability to your partner. The underlying cause of the irregular periods also needs to be considered, especially if a hormonal method is chosen.

The family planning methods you can consider include:

• Condoms, either female or male.

• Daily pills.

• Hormonal patch, which is placed on the body for a week then removed, and a new patch is used.

• Contraceptive injections, which are given once every two or three months, depending on the specific medication

• Intra-uterine device (IUD)

• the IUD is effective for three to 10 years depending on which type you choose and can be removed whenever you are ready to conceive

• Vaginal ring. - Diaphragm, cervical cap or sponge with spermicide

• It is best to choose a contraceptive method in consultation with a doctor following an assessment and detailed evaluation of each method. It is also advisable for you to involve your partner in the decision making