The first few months of university or college are not only filled with exciting changes, but there is also the increased need for you to make choices and decisions about many aspects of your life.
This could be a good time to consider your contraceptive choice to ensure you are using, or starting to use, the best method to suit your new lifestyle. Contraception is not a subject to be shy about; it is a part of everyday life and should be considered carefully to choose the best method for you!
According to a recent survey*, 16-20 year olds are the age group who are most (27%, n=375) unsure about the suitability of their contraceptive choice. There are around 15 different methods of contraception to choose from, however almost one in five (19%, n=3000) women spend less than 10 minutes on this important decision. In fact contraception, based on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the shortest time) is given a similar amount of consideration (6.44) as what to have for lunch (8.18) and what hair style/colour to have (7.33)!
To help you make this important decision and to ensure you are fully clued up on your options, find out more about each of the methods and look at some frequently asked questions by exploring the Talk Choice website further. This website is designed to inform you of your options and to assist you in the decision making process.
To assist you in the decision of where to go on your next night out, follow this link to download, print and play the ‘decision maker challenge’
Finally, if you have moved away from home, don’t forget to register with a GP in the first few weeks of university or college and book an appointment to discuss your contraceptive choices.
- *Online survey of 3,000 women aged 16-40 years old, conducted on 20th-22nd June 2011 by One Poll, on behalf of MSD’s www.talkchoice.co.uk