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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick responses to common public health, contraceptive options, product safety, purchasing, and Sangini franchising network enquiries.

All Frequently Asked Questions

/ 56 Questions

Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCPs)(Sunaulo Gulaf and Nilocon White)

No. There is no evidence that taking a “rest” is helpful. In fact, taking a “rest” from OCPs can lead to unintended pregnancy. OCPs can safely be used for many years without having to stop taking them periodically.

No. A woman is protected only as long as she takes her pills regularly.

Women who stop using OCPs can become pregnant as quickly as women who stop non hormonal methods. OCPs do not delay the return of a woman's fertility after she stops taking them. The bleeding pattern a woman had before she used OCPs generally returns after she stops taking them. Some women may have to wait a few months before their usual bleeding pattern returns.

No. Research on OCPs finds that they do not disrupt an existing pregnancy. They should not be used to try to cause an abortion. They will not do so.

No. Good evidence shows that OCPs will not cause birth defects and will not otherwise harm the fetus if a woman becomes pregnant while taking OCPs or accidentally starts to take OCPs when she is already pregnant.

No. Most women do not gain or lose weight due to OCPs. Weight changes naturally as life circumstances change and as people age. Because these changes in weight are so common, many women think that OCPs cause these gains or losses in weight. Studies find, however, that, on average, OCPs do not affect weight.

No. Instead, asking the right questions usually can help to make reasonably certain that a woman is not pregnant. No condition that could be detected by a pelvic examination rules out OCP use.

Yes. There is no minimum or maximum age for OCP use. OCPs can be an appropriate method for most women from onset of monthly bleeding (menarche) to menopause.

Women younger than age 35 who smoke can use low-dose OCPs. Women age 35 and older who smoke should choose a method without estrogen or, if they smoke fewer than 15 cigarettes a day, monthly injectables.

If pregnancy tests are not available, a woman can be given OCPs to take home with instructions to begin their use within 5 days after the start of her next monthly bleeding. She should use a backup method until then.

Yes. As soon as possible, but no more than 5 days after unprotected sex, a woman can take OCPs as ECPs.

Yes, for 2 reasons. Some side effects may be reduced by taking the pill at the same time each day. Also, taking a pill at the same time each day can help women remember to take their pills more consistently. Linking pill taking with a daily activity also helps women remember to take their pills.

Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECON)

No. ECPs do not work if a woman is already pregnant. When taken before a woman has ovulated, ECPs prevent the release of an egg from the ovary or delay its release by 5 to 7 days. By then, any sperm in the woman's reproductive tract will have died, since sperm can survive there for only about 5 days.

No. Good evidence shows that ECPs will not cause birth defects and will not otherwise harm the fetus if a woman is already pregnant when she takes ECPs or if ECPs fail to prevent pregnancy.

Women who take ECPs should understand that they could become pregnant the next time they have sex unless they begin to use another method of contraception at once. Because ECPs delay ovulation in some women, she may be most fertile soon after taking ECPs. If she wants ongoing protection from pregnancy, she must start using another contraceptive method at once.

Yes. Women with HIV, AIDS, and those on antiretroviral therapy can safely use ECPs.

No. To date, no evidence suggests that ECPs increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Worldwide studies of progestin-only ECPs, including a United States Food and Drug Administration review, have not found higher rates of ectopic pregnancy after ECPs failed than are found among pregnancies generally.

No. Nearly all other contraceptive methods are more effective in preventing pregnancy. A woman who uses ECPs regularly for contraception is more likely to have an unintended pregnancy than a woman who uses another contraceptive regularly. Still, women using other methods of contraception should know about ECPs and how to obtain them if needed—for example, if a condom breaks or a woman misses 3 or more combined oral contraceptive pills.

Yes. Taking ECPs is simple, and medical supervision is not needed. Studies show that young and adult women find the label and instructions easy to understand. ECPs are approved for over-the- counter sales or nonprescription use in many countries.

Injectable (Sangini)

Yes. Women at risk for STIs can use injectables. The few studies available have found that women using DMPA were more likely to acquire chlamydia than women not using hormonal contraception. The reason for this difference is not known. There are few studies available on use of NET-EN and STIs. Like anyone else at risk for STIs, a user of injectables who may be at risk for STIs should be advised to use condoms correctly every time she has sex. Consistent and correct condom use will reduce her risk of becoming infected if she is exposed to an STI.

Probably not, especially if she is breastfeeding. Eventually most women using injectables will not have monthly bleeding. If she has been getting her injections on time, she is probably not pregnant and can keep using injectables. If she is still worried after being reassured, she can be offered a pregnancy test, if available, or referred for one. If not having monthly bleeding bothers her, switching to another method may help.

Yes. This is a good choice for a breastfeeding mother who wants a hormonal method. Injectables are safe for both the mother and the baby starting as early as 6 weeks after childbirth. They do not affect milk production.

Women gain an average of 1-2 kg per year when using DMPA. Some of the weight increase may be the usual weight gain as people age. Some women, particularly overweight adolescents, have gained much more than 1-2 kg per year. At the same time, some users of injectables lose weight or have no significant change in weight. Asian women in particular do not tend to gain weight when using DMPA.

No. Research on injectables finds that they do not disrupt an existing pregnancy. They should not be used to try to cause an abortion. They will not do so.

No. There may be a delay in regaining fertility after stopping progestin- only injectables, but in time the woman will be able to become pregnant as before, although fertility decreases as women get older. The bleeding pattern a woman had before she used injectables generally returns several months after the last injection even if she had no monthly bleeding while using injectables. Some women may have to wait several months before their usual bleeding pattern returns.

Women who stop using DMPA wait about 4 months longer on average to become pregnant than women who have used other methods. This means they become pregnant on average 10 months after their last injection. A woman should not be worried if she has not become pregnant even as much as 12 months after stopping use. The length of time a woman has used injectables makes no difference to how quickly she becomes pregnant once she stops having injections. After stopping injectables, a woman may ovulate before her monthly bleeding returns—and thus can become pregnant. If she wants to continue avoiding pregnancy, she should start another method before monthly bleeding returns.

Many studies show that DMPA does not cause cancer. DMPA use helps protect against cancer of the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer).

No. Good evidence shows that progestin-only injectables will not cause birth defects and will not otherwise harm the fetus if a woman becomes pregnant while using injectables or accidentally starts injectables when she is already pregnant.

In 2008 WHO revised its guidance based on new research findings. The new guidance recommends giving a woman her next DMPA injection if she is up to 4 weeks late, without the need for further evidence that she is not pregnant. Whether a woman is late for reinjection or not, her next injection of DMPA should be planned for 3 months later.

Implants

No. Routine periodic visits are not necessary for implant users. Annual visits may be helpful for other preventive care, but they are not required. Of course, women are welcome to return at any time with questions.

Leaving the implants in place beyond their effective lifespan is generally not recommended if the woman continues to be at risk of pregnancy. The implants themselves are not dangerous, but as the hormone levels in the implants drop, they become less and less effective.

No. Studies have not shown increased risk of any cancer with use of implants.

Women who stop using implants can become pregnant as quickly as women who stop nonhormonal methods. Implants do not delay the return of a woman's fertility after they are removed. The bleeding pattern a woman had before she used implants generally returns after they are removed. Some women may have to wait a few months before their usual bleeding pattern returns.

No. Good evidence shows that implants will not cause birth defects and will not otherwise harm the fetus if a woman becomes pregnant while using implants or accidentally has implants inserted when she is already pregnant.

Implants do not move around in a woman's body. The implants remain where they are inserted until they are removed. Rarely, a rod may start to come out, most often in the first 4 months after insertion. This usually happens because they were not inserted well or because of an infection where they were inserted. In these cases, the woman will see the implants coming out. Some women may have a sudden change in bleeding pattern. If a woman notices a rod coming out, she should start using a backup method and return to the clinic at once.

No. On the contrary, implants greatly reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies are extremely rare among implant users.

WHO guidance calls for waiting until at least 6 weeks after childbirth to start a progestin-only contraceptive.

No. These women should know, however, that they need to have Jadelle replaced sooner to maintain a high level of protection from pregnancy. Among women who used Jadelle implants and who weighed 80 kg or more, the pregnancy rate was 6 per 100 in the fifth year of use. These women should have their implants replaced after 4 years.

Yes, a woman can do her usual work immediately after leaving the clinic as long as she does not bump the insertion site or get it wet.

No. Instead, asking the right questions can help the provider be reasonably certain she is not pregnant. No condition that can be detected by a pelvic examination rules out use of implants.

IUD

By itself, the IUD does not cause PID. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are the primary direct causes of PID. IUD insertion when a woman has gonorrhea or chlamydia may lead to PID, however. This does not happen often. When it does, it is most likely to occur in the first 20 days after IUD insertion.

Yes. There is no minimum or maximum age limit. An IUD should be removed after menopause has occurred—within 12 months after her last monthly bleeding.

No. If a woman develops a new STI after her IUD has been inserted, she is not especially at risk of developing PID because of the IUD. She can continue to use the IUD while she is being treated for the STI. Removing the IUD has no benefit and may leave her at risk of unwanted pregnancy.

No. A woman can become pregnant once the IUD is removed just as quickly as a woman who has never used an IUD, although fertility decreases as women get older.

Yes. A woman who has not had children generally can use an IUD, but she should understand that the IUD is more likely to come out because her uterus may be smaller than the uterus of a woman who has given birth.

The IUD never travels to the heart, brain, or any other part of the body outside the abdomen. The IUD normally stays within the uterus like a seed within a shell. Rarely, the IUD may come through the wall of the uterus into the abdominal cavity. This is most often due to a mistake during insertion. If it is discovered within 6 weeks or so after insertion or if it is causing symptoms at any time, the IUD will need to be removed by laparoscopic or laparotomic surgery. Usually, however, the out-of-place IUD causes no problems and should be left where it is. The woman will need another contraceptive method.

No. This is not necessary, and it could be harmful. Removing the old IUD and immediately inserting a new IUD poses less risk of infection than 2 separate procedures. Also, a woman could become pregnant during a “rest period” before her new IUD is inserted.

No, usually not. Most recent research done where STIs are not common suggests that PID risk is low with or without antibiotics. When appropriate questions to screen for STI risk are used and IUD insertion is done with proper infection-prevention procedures (including the no-touch insertion technique), there is little risk of infection. Antibiotics may be considered, however, in areas where STIs are common and STI screening is limited.

No. For a woman having menstrual cycles, an IUD can be inserted at any time during her menstrual cycle if it is reasonably certain that the woman is not pregnant. Inserting the IUD during her monthly bleeding may be a good time because she is not likely to be pregnant, and insertion may be easier. It is not as easy to see signs of infection during monthly bleeding, however.

No. On the contrary, IUDs greatly reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies are rare among IUD users.

Male Condoms (Dhaal, Panther and D'zire)

Yes, male condoms are effective, but only if used correctly with every act of sex. When used consistently and correctly, only 2 of every 100 women whose partners use condoms become pregnant over the first year of use. Many people, however, do not use condoms every time they have sex or do not use them correctly. This reduces protection from pregnancy.

On average, condoms are 80% to 95% effective in protecting people from HIV infection when used correctly with every act of sex. This means that condom use prevents 80% to 95% of HIV transmissions that would have occurred without condoms.

Yes. STIs can be passed from one person to another during any sex act that inserts the penis into any part of another person's body (penetration). Some sex acts are riskier than others. For example, the risk of becoming infected with HIV is 5 times higher with unprotected receptive anal sex than with unprotected receptive vaginal sex. When using a latex condom for anal sex, a water- or silicone-based lubricant is essential to help keep the condom from breaking.

No. On average, about 2% of condoms break or slip off completely during sex, primarily because they are used incorrectly. Used properly, condoms seldom break. In some studies with higher breakage rates, often a few users experienced most of the breakage in the entire study. Other studies also suggest that, while most people use condoms correctly, there are a few who consistently misuse condoms, which leads to breaks or slips. Thus, it is important to teach people the right way to open, put on, and take off condoms and also to avoid practices that increase the risk of breakage.

If a condom slips or breaks, taking emergency contraceptive pills can reduce the risk that a woman will become pregnant (e.g., ECPs).

No. Allergy to latex is uncommon in the general population, and reports of mild allergic reactions to condoms are very rare.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Search Results ("matching" ) All Frequently Asked Questions

Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCPs)(Sunaulo Gulaf and Nilocon White)

Should a woman take a “rest” from OCPs after taking them for a time?

If a woman has been taking OCPs for a long time, will she still be protected from pregnancy after she stops taking OCPs?

How long does it take to become pregnant after stopping OCPs?

Do OCPs cause abortion?

Do OCPs cause birth defects? Will the fetus be harmed if a woman accidentally takes OCPs while she is pregnant?

Do OCPs cause women to gain or lose a lot of weight?

Must a woman have a pelvic examination before she can start OCPs or at follow-up visits?

Can a woman safely take OCPs throughout her life?

Can women who smoke use OCPs safely?

What if a client wants to use OCPs but it is not reasonably certain that she is not pregnant after using the pregnancy checklist?

Can OCPs be used as emergency contraceptive pills (EcPs) after unprotected sex?

Is it important for a woman to take her OCPs at the same time each day?

Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECON)

Do ECPs disrupt an existing pregnancy?

Do ECPs cause birth defects? Will the fetus be harmed if a woman accidentally takes ECPs while she is pregnant?

How long do ECPs protect a woman from pregnancy?

Are ECPs safe for women with HIV or AIDS? can women on antiretroviral therapy safely use ECPs?

If ECPs failed to prevent pregnancy, does a woman have a greater chance of that pregnancy being an ectopic pregnancy?

Should women use ECPs as a regular method of contraception?

If a woman buys ECPs over the counter, can she use them correctly?

Injectable (Sangini)

Can women who could get sexually transmitted infections (STIs) use injectables?

If a woman does not have monthly bleeding while using progestin-only injectables, does this mean that she is pregnant?

Can a woman who is breastfeeding safely use injectables?

How much weight do women gain when they use progestin-only injectables?

Do DMPA cause abortion?

Do progestin-only injectables make a woman infertile?

How long does it take to become pregnant after stopping DMPA?

Does DMPA cause cancer?

Do progestin-only injectables cause birth defects? Will the fetus be harmed if a woman accidentally uses progestin-only injectables while she is pregnant?

What if a woman returns for her next injection late?

Implants

Do users of implants require follow-up visits?

Can implants be left permanently in a woman's arm?

Do implants cause cancer?

How long does is take to become pregnant after the implants are removed?

Do implants cause birth defects? Will the fetus be harmed if a woman accidentally becomes pregnant with implants in place?

Can implants move around within a woman's body or come out of her arm?

Do implants increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy?

How soon can a breastfeeding woman start a progestin-only method—implants, progestin-only pills or injectables?

Should heavy women avoid implants?

Can a woman work soon after having implants inserted?

Must a woman have a pelvic examination before she can have implants inserted?

IUD

Does the IUD cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)?

Can young women and older women use IUDs?

If a current IUD user has a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or has become at very high individual risk of becoming infected with an STI, should her IUD be removed?

Does the IUD make a woman infertile?

Can a woman who has never had a baby use an IUD?

Can the IUD travel from the woman's uterus to other parts of her body, such as her heart or her brain?

Should a woman have a “rest period” after using her IUD for several years or after the IUD reaches its recommended time for removal?

Should antibiotics be routinely given before IUD insertion?

Must an IUD be inserted only during a woman's monthly bleeding?

Do IUDs increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy?

Male Condoms (Dhaal, Panther and D'zire)

Are condoms effective at preventing pregnancy?

How well do condoms help protect against HIV infection?

Will using condoms reduce the risk of STI transmission during anal sex?

Do condoms often break or slip off during sex?

What can men and women do to reduce the risk of pregnancy and STIs if a condom slips or breaks during sex?

Is allergy to latex common?

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