Your fertility can return within weeks after giving birth. Although your body may have barely recovered from childbirth, you may get pregnant when you have sex unless you are fully breastfeeding.

If you are fully breastfeeding and your periods have not resumed, you are protected from pregnancy. (1-2 per cent risk failure rate though). This is known as lactational amenorhoea method (LAM).

“It is therefore important that you use contraception as soon as you start having sex again if you do not want an unplanned pregnancy,” says the Department of General Obstetrics & Gynaecology​, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital​ (KKH), a member of the SingHealth​ group.

There are many reliable methods of contraception. Some are suitable for breastfeeding while some are not (see tables below). Some women may also not be suitable for certain types of contraception. For example, women with a history of breast cancer should not take the pill while women with a history of pelvic infection, are not suitable for a copper intrauterine device (IUD).

Most methods of contraception are reversible and most women will get pregnant within six months of stopping contraception. Irreversible methods like sterilisation must be considered carefully.

“We do not recommend that women under the age of 35 undergo these methods as they may regret it in future and may not be able to have another child.”

Please consult your doctor on the suitability and safety considerations of the contraceptive methods for you.