Have you been to your six-week postpartum checkup and walked out with only a script for the pill?
This is how it often goes, you're sitting in the GP's office, baby on your lap or crying in the pram. You're tired, the appointment's running late. Your GP asks about contraception, you say you're not sure, and they hand you a script for the mini pill. The conversation takes about two minutes. You leave thinking, was that really all my options?
It's not. But when appointments are rushed and contraception feels like just another box to tick, the full conversation often doesn't happen.
Why the Pill Keeps Coming Up
The pill is familiar, most GPs can prescribe it without extra training. It's quick to discuss and honestly, when you're managing a postpartum checkup that also needs to cover healing, mental health, breastfeeding and everything else, it's easy for contraception to get squeezed into the last five minutes.
But when you're sleep-deprived, managing feeds around the clock and possibly looking after other children, taking a pill at the same time every day is a big ask. Especially the mini pill, which needs to be taken within a three-hour window to stay effective.
Miss that window and your protection drops. Which is a lot of pressure when you're trying to remember if you've eaten lunch.
What Else Is Out There
Breastfeeding as Contraception
Yes, breastfeeding can work as contraception. But only if you're exclusively breastfeeding (including overnight), your baby's under six months and you haven't had a period yet.
Once baby starts sleeping longer stretches, or you introduce solids, or your period comes back, the effectiveness drops. So if another pregnancy right now would throw everything sideways, it's worth having a backup plan.
Different Types of Pills
The mini pill is progesterone-only, so it won't affect milk supply the way estrogen can. But that three-hour window is strict. And if you're anything like most new parents, your sense of time becomes pretty fluid in those early months.
There's also Slinda, a newer progesterone-only pill that's more forgiving with timing. It recently went on the PBS, so it's more affordable now. And it's suitable if you can't take estrogen due to migraines or a history of blood clots.
The combined pill (the standard one most people know) contains estrogen, which can reduce milk supply. So it's generally not recommended until at least six weeks postpartum, and even then, only if breastfeeding is well established and you haven't had supply issues.
The Set and Forget Options
These methods don't require you to remember anything daily.
The Contraceptive Implant
It's a small rod that goes under the skin of your arm. Takes seconds to insert with a bit of local anaesthetic. Lasts three years and then you can forget about it.
The trade-off? Irregular bleeding for the first three months is common. Some people spot daily, some have heavier bursts, some have nothing for weeks and then it comes back. It's annoying, but it usually settles by the three-month mark.
IUDs
Copper IUD: No hormones at all. Lasts up to 10 years. Great if you want to avoid hormones entirely. The catch? It can make periods heavier and more painful for some people. And it's not on the PBS, so you're looking at out of pocket expense, plus the insertion cost.
Mirena IUD: Contains progesterone, works locally in the uterus. Minimal hormone absorption into your system. Lasts eight years. Many people stop getting periods altogether with the Mirena, which can feel like a relief after months (or years) of bleeding.
Kyleena (Mini IUD): Same idea as the Mirena but with less hormone. Lasts five years. Good if you want the lowest possible dose while still being effective.
Both the Mirena and Kyleena are on the PBS, which does make them more affordable but the copper IUD isn’t, which is frustrating because it’s a solid non-hormonal option.
IUD insertion is usually done from six weeks postpartum onwards. The uterus is softer right after birth, which slightly increases the risk of perforation during insertion. It's still rare, but waiting a bit gives things time to firm up.
What to Actually Expect
With IUDs and implants, the first three months can be a bit chaotic in terms of bleeding. Spotting, heavier bleeding, nothing for a week, then it's back again. It's frustrating, but it's normal. Most people start to see a pattern emerge around six to eight weeks, and by three months, things usually settle into something more predictable.
If you're already breastfeeding and not getting periods, the transition tends to be smoother. You're already in a low-hormone, no-period state, so adding an IUD often just maintains that.
The Cost Reality
The Mirena and Kyleena are on the PBS. However, the copper IUD isn’t, which is frustrating because it's a solid non-hormonal option.
Pills vary, some are subsidised, some aren't. It's worth asking your GP about cost upfront, because affordability absolutely affects what you can realistically access.
When You Want Another Baby
If you're planning to try again in a year or two, you might be wondering how long it takes for fertility to return after stopping contraception.
With IUDs, it can happen immediately, like, same cycle. Because IUDs don't stop ovulation (they work locally in the uterus), you can conceive very quickly once it's out. GPs will often ask if you've had unprotected sex in the week before removal, just in case there's already sperm on its way.
With the pill and implant, it usually takes one to three months for your cycle to regulate and fertility to return.
The exception is the Depo injection (a progesterone shot given every 12 weeks). Fertility can take up to 18-24 months to return after your last injection. So if you're thinking about another baby soonish, it's generally not the best fit.
And Then There's Vasectomy
If you're done having children, vasectomy should absolutely be part of the conversation. It's a simple, minimally invasive procedure. There’s far less involved than an IUD insertion.
And yet, it often doesn't even come up.
Contraception isn't just the responsibility of the person who gave birth. Sometimes, it's their turn.
What to Actually Ask Your GP
If you're heading into your six-week check (or any postpartum appointment), here's what to bring up:
- What are all my options for contraception right now?
- How does breastfeeding affect each one?
- What side effects should I expect?
- What's the cost, and what's on the PBS?
- How quickly can I get pregnant again if I change my mind?
If you're only offered the pill and nothing else gets mentioned, it's okay to ask: would I be suitable for an IUD or implant?
Sometimes, your GP doesn't have the specific training to insert them. That's not a reflection on you or your needs. It just means you might need to see a different GP who works in that space. More GPs are training in women's health and contraceptive insertion now, and there are dedicated clinics opening up across Australia.
If you're not getting the answers you need, find someone who'll give them to you.
The Real Conversation
You deserve to know what's available. Not just what's fastest to prescribe.
Whether you choose the pill, an IUD, an implant, condoms or nothing at all, it should be your choice. Based on what works for your body, your baby, your life.
And if something isn't working, you can change your mind. Contraception isn't set in stone. Finding what suits you might take some trial and error.
But the conversation should start with all your options on the table. Not just the default one.
Want to hear more on this topic? Listen to the full conversation with Dr Natasha Vavrek on The Science of Motherhood podcast here.
Disclaimer: The information in this blog presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this article is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.
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