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Which method? At a glance How effective is it? Periods on birth control How to choose Starting and stopping Emergency contraception Warning signs When to see a doctor When to get in-person care Can an online doctor help? Health tools All pages How Mobi Doctor works Frequently asked questions Sources
Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, for most. Of the 19 birth control topics on Mobi Doctor, 12 are usually handled online, 1 partly, and 6 are assessed online and then fitted, given or carried out in person.
- Most effective: the implant, the coils and sterilisation: fewer than 1 in 100 users become pregnant in a year, because there is nothing to remember.
- Pill, patch and ring: more than 99% effective used perfectly, but with typical use about 7 to 9 in 100 users become pregnant in a year.
- After unprotected sex: the copper IUD within 5 days is the most effective emergency contraception; emergency pills work best the sooner they are taken.
- Emergency: call 112 for chest pain, sudden breathlessness or coughing up blood, sudden weakness or numbness on one side, or sudden, severe pain low in your tummy with a missed period or a positive pregnancy test.
Call 112 or go to an emergency department for chest pain, sudden breathlessness or coughing up blood; sudden weakness or numbness on one side, a drooping face or difficulty speaking; sudden, severe pain low in your tummy with a missed period, a positive pregnancy test, shoulder-tip pain or fainting; or swelling of the face, lips or throat after contact with a condom or a medicine.
Which method of contraception suits you?
Choose what matters most to you. Each page explains how the method works, how well it works, the side effects, who it suits, and what a doctor can do online.
- Unprotected sex or a split condomEmergency contraception
- A daily pill with oestrogenCombined pill
- A daily pill without oestrogenProgestogen-only pill
- A weekly patch on your skinContraceptive patch
- A ring you put in yourselfVaginal ring
- A small rod in your upper armContraceptive implant
- An injection every 13 weeksContraceptive injection
- A coil with no hormonesCopper coil (IUD)
- A coil that makes periods lighterHormonal coil (IUS)
- Protection from infections tooCondoms
- A condom you put in yourselfFemale condoms
- A barrier used only for sexDiaphragm and cap
- Permanent, for menVasectomy
- Permanent, for womenFemale sterilisation
- Over 40, or nearing the menopauseContraception in perimenopause
Want to avoid hormones? See non-hormonal contraception. Missed a pill? See missed pill. Need to move a period for a holiday or an event? See period delay. Unexpected bleeding on hormonal contraception? See breakthrough bleeding.
Every method of contraception at a glance
The table lists the methods covered on Mobi Doctor: how you use each one, how many users become pregnant in a year with typical use, and how much of the care works online. The pill, patch, ring and barrier methods are usually handled online; the implant, coils, injection and sterilisation are assessed online and then fitted, given or carried out in person.
| Method | How you use it | Pregnancies in a year, typical use | Online care | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Implant | A small rod under the skin of the upper arm, for 3 years | Fewer than 1 in 100 | Assessed online | Contraceptive Implant |
| Hormonal coil | A small device in the womb, for 3 to 8 years by type | Fewer than 1 in 100 | Assessed online | Hormonal Coil (IUS) |
| Copper coil | A small copper device in the womb, for 5 or 10 years | Fewer than 1 in 100 | Assessed online | Copper Coil (IUD) |
| Vasectomy | A minor procedure; permanent | Fewer than 1 in 100 | Assessed online | Vasectomy |
| Female sterilisation | An operation; permanent | Fewer than 1 in 100 | Assessed online | Female Sterilisation |
| Injection | An injection every 13 weeks | About 6 in 100 | Assessed online | Contraceptive Injection |
| Combined pill | A pill every day, with or without a break | About 7 to 9 in 100 | Handled online | Combined Pill |
| Progestogen-only pill | A pill every day, with no break | About 7 to 9 in 100 | Handled online | Progestogen-Only Pill (Mini Pill) |
| Patch | A new patch every week | About 7 to 9 in 100 | Handled online | Contraceptive Patch |
| Vaginal ring | A ring in the vagina, changed every 3 weeks or as advised | About 7 to 9 in 100 | Handled online | Vaginal Ring |
| External condoms | Every time you have sex | About 13 to 18 in 100 | Handled online | Condoms |
| Diaphragm or cap | With spermicide, every time you have sex | About 12 to 17 in 100 | Handled online | Diaphragm and Cap |
| Internal condoms | Every time you have sex | About 21 in 100 | Handled online | Female Condoms |
| Fertility awareness | Daily records of your cycle | About 24 in 100 | Handled online | Non-Hormonal Contraception |
Without any contraception, about 85 in 100 sexually active women become pregnant within a year. What each online-care label means is explained under online care for contraception.
How effective is birth control?
It depends mostly on how much the method relies on you. With the implant, the coils and sterilisation, fewer than 1 in 100 users become pregnant in a year. The pill, patch and ring are more than 99% effective used perfectly, but with typical use about 7 to 9 in 100 users become pregnant, and with condoms or a diaphragm about 12 to 21 in 100.
The gap between perfect and typical use is the effect of real life: a late pill, a patch that came off, a condom put on halfway through. Methods that work for years without any action from you, called long-acting reversible contraception, have almost no gap, which is why they are the most effective reversible methods.
- Nothing to remember: the implant, the hormonal coil and the copper coil, all more than 99% effective.
- Something to remember every few months: the injection, every 13 weeks.
- Something to remember every day, week or month: the pill, the patch and the ring.
- Something to do every time you have sex: condoms, the diaphragm and the cap.
Worldwide, the World Health Organization estimates that of 1.9 billion women of reproductive age in 2021, 874 million used a modern method of contraception, and 164 million had an unmet need for contraception.
Does birth control stop periods?
Some methods can. Almost half of users of the injection have no periods after a year, and periods often become lighter or stop with the hormonal coil. The combined pill, patch or ring can be used without a break so that you have fewer or no bleeds. The copper coil does not stop periods and can make them heavier.
| Method | What usually happens to periods | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Combined pill, patch or ring | Regular, lighter bleeds in the break; fewer or no bleeds if you skip the break | Combined Pill Period Delay |
| Progestogen-only pill | Can be irregular, lighter, more frequent or stop | Progestogen-Only Pill (Mini Pill) |
| Implant | Unpredictable: infrequent or none for some, frequent or longer for others | Contraceptive Implant |
| Injection | Often irregular at first; almost half have none after a year | Contraceptive Injection |
| Hormonal coil | Lighter, shorter and less painful over time; some have none | Hormonal Coil (IUS) |
| Copper coil | Carry on as before, but can become heavier, longer or more painful | Copper Coil (IUD) |
Having no periods on hormonal contraception is safe and does not mean you are pregnant or that the method has stopped working, as long as you have used it correctly; if in doubt, take a pregnancy test. Bleeding between periods is common in the first 3 months of a new method, but new bleeding after months of settled cycles, or bleeding after sex, needs a check: see breakthrough bleeding.
What is the best type of birth control for you?
There is no single best method. The best one is the one that suits your health, works well enough for your plans and fits how you live. A doctor can help you weigh these up in one consultation, and you can change method at any time.
| What matters most | Methods that fit | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Not having to remember anything | The implant, the hormonal coil or the copper coil | Contraceptive Implant Hormonal Coil (IUS) Copper Coil (IUD) |
| No hormones | The copper coil, condoms, the diaphragm, fertility awareness | Non-Hormonal Contraception |
| Lighter or fewer periods | The hormonal coil, the injection, or a combined method without a break | Hormonal Coil (IUS) Period Delay |
| Protection against infections | Condoms, on their own or with another method | Condoms Female Condoms |
| A reason to avoid oestrogen | Progestogen-only and non-hormonal methods | Progestogen-Only Pill (Mini Pill) Non-Hormonal Contraception |
| A pregnancy soon after stopping | Any method except the injection, after which fertility can take up to a year to return | Contraceptive Injection |
| No more children, ever | Vasectomy, female sterilisation, or a long-acting method that is as effective | Vasectomy Female Sterilisation |
| Over 40 | Most methods, with some changes at 50 and 55 | Contraception in Perimenopause |
Who should not use oestrogen?
Combined methods (the combined pill, patch and ring) contain oestrogen, which slightly raises the risk of blood clots, heart attack and stroke. They are usually avoided if you have migraine with aura, have had a blood clot, are 35 or over and smoke, have high blood pressure, are 50 or over, or are in the first weeks after giving birth. Progestogen-only and non-hormonal methods are usually fine in these situations. See migraine with aura.
Should I go on birth control?
If you are having sex that could lead to a pregnancy and you do not want one now, yes, and the choice of method is yours. Some people also use hormonal methods for heavy or painful periods, acne or premenstrual symptoms. Only condoms protect against sexually transmitted infections, so they are worth using as well with a new partner.
Starting, switching and coming off the pill
Side effects of a new pill, patch or ring, such as spotting, sore breasts, feeling sick or headaches, often settle within about 3 months. You can stop any method whenever you want, with an implant or coil removed by a doctor or nurse, but use another one straight away if you do not want to get pregnant, because protection ends quickly.
How long does it take for your body to get used to the pill?
Usually up to 3 months. Bleeding between periods is common at first and often settles in that time; if it does not, or side effects bother you, a different pill or method may suit you better. Bleeding that starts after months without problems needs a check, because it can be an infection or a missed pill rather than the pill itself.
Should I come off the pill?
If it suits you and is still safe for your health, there is no need to take breaks from it. It is worth reviewing if side effects last beyond 3 months, if something changes your health, such as a first migraine with aura, a blood clot or high blood pressure, if you reach 50, or if you want to get pregnant.
Switching methods
Start the new method before the old one stops working, or use condoms in between. The exact timing depends on the 2 methods, and a doctor can give you a plan with no gap. After stopping the pill, patch, ring, implant or a coil, fertility returns quickly; after the injection it can take up to a year.
Medicines that affect contraception
Some medicines for epilepsy, tuberculosis and HIV, and the herbal remedy St John’s wort, can make the pill, patch, ring and implant less effective. Tell the doctor about everything you take, including remedies bought without a prescription.
After unprotected sex: emergency contraception
There are 3 options. The copper IUD can be fitted up to 5 days after unprotected sex and is the most effective. Ulipristal acetate works up to 5 days (120 hours) and levonorgestrel up to 3 days (72 hours) after sex. The sooner, the better.
| Option | Time limit after sex | How well it works |
|---|---|---|
| Copper IUD | Up to 5 days, or up to 5 days after the earliest likely date of ovulation | The most effective; prevents more than 99% of pregnancies |
| Ulipristal acetate pill | Up to 5 days (120 hours) | Works best the sooner it is taken |
| Levonorgestrel pill | Up to 3 days (72 hours) | Works best the sooner it is taken |
Take a pregnancy test 3 weeks after the unprotected sex, whatever you used. A late or missed pill does not always mean you need emergency contraception: the missed pill rules tell you when you do. See emergency contraception for which pill to take and how a doctor can help.
Warning signs while using contraception
Serious problems are rare. The signs that need emergency care are those of a blood clot, a stroke, an ectopic pregnancy and a severe allergic reaction: call 112 for chest pain, sudden breathlessness, weakness on one side, severe pain low in your tummy with a missed period, or swelling of the face, lips or throat.
| Warning sign | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Chest pain, sudden breathlessness or coughing up blood | It can be a blood clot in the lungs, a rare risk of combined methods | Call 112 |
| Sudden weakness or numbness on one side, a drooping face or difficulty speaking | It can be a stroke | Call 112 |
| Sudden, severe pain low in your tummy with a missed period, a positive test, shoulder-tip pain or fainting | It can be an ectopic pregnancy | Call 112 |
| Swelling of the face, lips or throat, or difficulty breathing | It can be a severe allergic reaction | Call 112 |
| A painful, swollen calf, usually on one side | It can be a blood clot in the leg | Get medical advice the same day |
| A first migraine with aura while using a combined method | Oestrogen adds to the risk of stroke | Get medical advice the same day |
| Pain and a high temperature in the weeks after a coil fitting | It can be an infection | Get medical advice the same day |
| Bleeding after sex, or new bleeding between periods after months without | It can be an infection or a problem with the cervix | Book a consultation |
When should I speak to a doctor about contraception?
Book a consultation if:
- you want to start, change or stop contraception
- you have had unprotected sex, a split condom or missed pills
- side effects have lasted more than 3 months
- you have new bleeding between periods or after sex
- something about your health has changed: migraine with aura, high blood pressure, a blood clot, or a new medicine
- you are turning 50, or want to know when you can stop
- you want to delay a period for a holiday or an event
- you are thinking about a vasectomy or sterilisation
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- chest pain, sudden breathlessness or coughing up blood
- sudden weakness or numbness on one side, a drooping face or difficulty speaking
- sudden, severe pain low in your tummy, especially with a missed period, a positive pregnancy test, shoulder-tip pain or fainting
- swelling of the face, lips or throat, or difficulty breathing, after contact with a condom or a medicine
- a condom failure with a partner who has or may have HIV, for treatment to prevent HIV, which must start within 72 hours
Get medical advice the same day for:
- unprotected sex, a split condom or missed pills, for emergency contraception
- a painful, swollen calf while using a combined method
- a first migraine with aura while using a combined method
- pain and a high temperature after a coil fitting, or a positive pregnancy test with a coil in place
- a coil whose threads you cannot feel, or an implant you cannot feel
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
Can an online doctor prescribe contraception?
Yes, for most. Choosing contraception is mostly a conversation about your health, your periods and your plans. Of the 19 birth control topics covered on Mobi Doctor, 12 are usually handled online, 63% in all; 1, breakthrough bleeding, is partly handled online, and 6, the implant, the copper and hormonal coils, the injection, vasectomy and female sterilisation, are assessed online and then fitted, given or carried out in person. A prescription is never issued without a consultation.
What the doctor can do online
The doctor listens, looks at any photos you share and decides with you what helps. If a medicine is the right answer, the doctor prescribes it. If you need an examination, a test or urgent care, the doctor tells you where to go.
- Safety checked first Migraine with aura, blood clots, blood pressure, smoking, your age and your other medicines are checked before any method with oestrogen is suggested.
- A method that suits you How well each method works, its side effects and what it does to periods, so you choose with the full picture.
- Help when it goes wrong Emergency contraception, missed pill advice, and a plan after a split condom or a late injection.
- Problems sorted Bleeding between periods, side effects, switching methods, and when to stop at 50 or 55.
For the combined pill, patch or ring, the doctor needs a recent blood pressure reading and your height and weight; a pharmacy or a home monitor can give you the reading.
What still needs in-person care
- fitting and removing an implant or a coil, and the injection unless you have been trained to give it yourself
- vasectomy and female sterilisation, and the semen test after a vasectomy
- sizing a diaphragm or cap
- examinations, tests for sexually transmitted infections, and scans for unusual bleeding or pain
- emergency care for the warning signs above
What the online-care labels mean
| Label | What it means | Pages |
|---|---|---|
| Handled online | Usually managed online with advice, a prescription when one is suitable, and emergency contraception when it is needed | 12, including the combined pill, the progestogen-only pill, the patch, the ring, condoms and emergency contraception |
| Partly online | Reviewed by video, but the cause may need an examination or tests in person | 1: breakthrough bleeding |
| Assessed online | Assessed by video, and the doctor tells you where to go; the fitting, injection or procedure is in person | 6: the implant, the copper coil, the hormonal coil, the injection, vasectomy and female sterilisation |
Not sure which method is right for you? A doctor can help you decide in one consultation.
See available times →Health tools for contraception
Free tools on Mobi Doctor:
- Symptom NavigatorPick a body area, including urinary and genital symptoms, or type a symptom to find the right page
- Medicine Shortage TrackerLive shortage reports for medicines across Europe, from official registers
- European Travel Health IndexDestinations rated on summer heat, mosquitoes, tap water and access to doctors
All birth control pages
Most of these can be handled online. Each page covers how the method works, how well it works, the side effects, and the signs that need in-person care.
Pills, patch and ring
Long-acting methods
Barrier and hormone-free methods
Emergencies, bleeding and life stages
Permanent methods
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CET. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about contraception: say what you use now or have used before, what you want from a method, and anything about your health, such as migraines, blood pressure or medicines.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Frequently asked questions about birth control
What is contraception?
Any method that prevents pregnancy, also called birth control. Methods include pills, the patch, the ring, the injection, the implant, coils, condoms, the diaphragm, fertility awareness and sterilisation. Only condoms also protect against sexually transmitted infections.
What is the best type of birth control?
The one that suits your health and plans. The implant and coils are the most effective reversible methods, with fewer than 1 in 100 users becoming pregnant in a year, while the pill, patch and ring suit people who prefer something they control.
How effective is birth control?
With the implant, coils and sterilisation, fewer than 1 in 100 users become pregnant in a year. With typical use, about 6 in 100 on the injection, 7 to 9 in 100 on the pill, patch or ring, and 12 to 21 in 100 with condoms or a diaphragm.
Does birth control stop periods?
Some methods can. Almost half of injection users have no periods after a year, periods often become lighter or stop with the hormonal coil, and the combined pill, patch or ring can be used without a break. The copper coil can make periods heavier.
Should I go on birth control?
If you are having sex that could lead to a pregnancy and do not want one now, contraception protects you, and the method is your choice. Some people also use hormonal methods for heavy or painful periods or acne.
How long does it take for your body to get used to the pill?
Usually up to 3 months. Spotting, sore breasts, feeling sick and headaches are common at first and often settle. If they do not, a different pill or method may suit you better.
Should I come off the pill?
There is no need for breaks if the pill suits you and is still safe for you. Review it if side effects last beyond 3 months, your health changes, you reach 50, or you want to get pregnant.
Which contraception has no hormones?
The copper coil, condoms, the diaphragm or cap, fertility awareness, withdrawal (not recommended), female sterilisation and vasectomy. The copper coil is the most effective of these that can be reversed.
What should I do after unprotected sex?
Get emergency contraception as soon as possible: the copper IUD up to 5 days after sex, ulipristal acetate up to 5 days, or levonorgestrel up to 3 days. Take a pregnancy test 3 weeks later.
Who should not use the combined pill?
People with migraine with aura, a past blood clot or high blood pressure, those 35 or over who smoke, those 50 or over, and anyone in the first weeks after giving birth. Progestogen-only and non-hormonal methods are usually suitable instead.
Does contraception protect against sexually transmitted infections?
Only condoms do. Use them as well as any other method with a new partner, and get tested if you might have been exposed.
Can an online doctor prescribe contraception?
Yes, for most. Of the 19 birth control topics covered on Mobi Doctor, 12 are usually handled online, including the pill, patch, ring and emergency contraception. The implant, coils, injection and sterilisation are assessed online and done in person.
- Family planning/contraception methods, WHO, World Health Organization, fact sheet, 3 July 2025.
- Which methods are best at preventing pregnancy? How can I stop my periods?, Contraception Choices, College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (UK), frequently asked questions.
- FSRH Guideline: Combined Hormonal Contraception, Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (now the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare), January 2019, amended October 2023.
- FSRH Clinical Guideline: Emergency Contraception, Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (now the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare), March 2017, amended July 2023.
- FSRH Clinical Guideline: Intrauterine Contraception, Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (now the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare), March 2023, amended July 2023.
- FSRH Clinical Guideline: Progestogen-only Injectable Contraception, Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (now the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare), December 2014, amended July 2023.
- FSRH CEU Guidance: Problematic Bleeding with Hormonal Contraception, Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (now the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare), July 2015.
- FSRH Clinical Guideline: Contraception for Women Aged over 40 Years, Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (now the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare), August 2017, amended September 2019 and July 2023.
- Natural family planning (fertility awareness), NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 9 February 2024.
- Ectopic pregnancy, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 23 August 2022.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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