Birth control

If you don't want to get pregnant, you need to think about contraception because you have a lot of changing sex partners.

They are often complete strangers whom you don't know and may never meet again.

This makes it difficult or impossible to share the consequences of a pregnancy.

There are many ways to prevent a pregnancy. They can be divided into hormonal and non-hormonal methods.

In addition, you should always use a condom, because this also protects you against STIs. 

Hormonal contraceptives use hormones to prevent a pregnancy.

The hormones control the menstrual cycle. They cause an artificial, very regular cycle. Most of them prevent ovulation.

The most important hormonal contraceptives include the pill, the vaginal ring, hormonal IUDs, contraceptive patches, contraceptive implants and injectables.

The most popular hormonal method in Germany is the pill. Taken regularly, it is a very safe contraceptive.

If you take the pill, you won't ovulate and will therefore be unable to get pregnant. Your gynaecologist can give you a prescription for the pill. With this prescription you can buy the pill at a chemist’s.

The “morning-after pill” differs from the contraceptive pill and is not one of the traditional contraceptive methods, but an emergency aid. You can find more information here.

Non-hormonal contraceptive methods work without hormones.

Most non-hormonal contraceptive methods prevent the sperm from reaching the egg.

Non-hormonal contraceptive methods do not interfere with the body's natural processes. They therefore have fewer side effects than hormonal contraceptive methods.

The most important non-hormonal contraceptives include the condom, the copper IUD and the diaphragm.

The most popular non-hormonal method in Germany is the condom. It is put on the man's penis and physically blocks sperm from fertilising the egg.

The condom must fit well, because otherwise it can slip off or tear. Then it no longer offers secure protection.

The condom is the only contraceptive that can protect you both against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV at the same time.

That is why using condoms is so important for your work and has been mandatory since 1 July 2017.

The morning-after pill is an emergency contraceptive: Sometimes contraceptive mishaps happen, for example, a condom tears during sex or the pill becomes ineffective due to vomiting. In this event you can go to the chemist’s and get the morning-after pill. It costs EUR20 to 35 and is available without a doctor's prescription at the chemist’s. If you take it within 24 hours of having sex at the latest, it will prevent an unwanted pregnancy.

Sterilisation is a permanent birth control method. It requires surgery and will leave you unable to get pregnant. But that also means you will no longer be able to have children. Even if you want to have them one day.

The temperature rhythm method is a natural method: It involves taking your body temperature every morning to find out the fertile days of your cycle. You can then estimate on which days the probability of pregnancy is high and on which days it is not. This method takes a lot of effort on your part, and it is not as safe as the other methods.

In your job, it is very important that you choose a safe method of contraception (in addition to a condom).

The many different birth control methods are not equally suitable for everyone.

The important criteria for your decision are for example your age, your life situation, your personal preferences and habits.

You should also consider whether you want a long-term solution, whether you want to worry about birth control every day, and of course how much money you are able and willing to spend on contraception.

You can ask a gynaecologist for advice.

There are also counselling centres that can support you. Also, you should perhaps ask your friends and colleagues about their experiences.