In case you’re in a dedicated relationship and don’t need children, or in the event you merely need to preserve your loved ones dimension modest, you may need to know — what are the contraception choices in Singapore?
How available are these contraceptives, how a lot do they price, and the way efficient are they? Right here’s what each accountable man and lady ought to know.
Contents
- Overview of contraception choices
- Contraception tablets in Singapore
- Patch, ring and implant
- Getting an IUD
- Ligation or vasectomy
- Emergency contraception (morning after capsule)
- Conclusion: which methodology is probably the most cost-effective?
Overview of contraception in Singapore
Many dedicated {couples} practise the rhythm methodology (intercourse solely whilst you’re not ovulating) and withdrawal (a.ok.a. pull out) “methodology”, that are a little bit of a chance. Sperm, in any case, will be extraordinarily tenacious — they will actually lay in look ahead to days and days till an egg seems.
Condoms are one other low cost and available type of contraception. In actuality, although, condoms are solely about 85% efficient in stopping pregnancies. Give it some thought — out of 100 occasions you could have intercourse, there are 15 occasions when you might get pregnant. That’s a reasonably excessive threat in the event you don’t need a child.
There are different contraception strategies which have larger success charges — however in addition they require more cash, extra self-discipline to make use of or extra dedication (since they’re tougher to reverse). All require a physician’s prescription.
These contraception choices will be break up into just a few classes.
- Hormonal contraception works by releasing hormones into the girl’s physique to cease ovulation so there aren’t any eggs to fertilise. You possibly can take them in capsule type (widespread in Singapore), or as an injection, patch, implant or ring in your physique (much less widespread).
- Intrauterine system (IUD) is a non-hormonal type of contraception that’s not for the faint of coronary heart. It’s a small object that’s inserted and left contained in the uterus to bodily cease sperm from having their means with the egg.
- Surgical procedure (ligation or vasectomy) is an choice in the event you verify assure chop don’t need a child, ever.
We’ll additionally contact on emergency contraception (the morning after capsule), a final recourse in the event you forgot to take your capsule. Nevertheless it’s clearly not a sustainable contraception methodology.
Let’s bounce into the choices one after the other.
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Contraception tablets in Singapore
The most typical type of hormonal contraception in Singapore, contraceptive tablets are taken by girls not simply to stop pregnancies however even for issues like controlling zits.
They comprise hormones (estrogen and progestin) that cease ovulation so there aren’t any eggs for the sperm to fertilise. On the identical time, they thicken the mucus on the cervix, making it tougher for sperm to maneuver, and skinny the lining of the uterus, making it tough for a fertilised egg be implanted.
Usually there shall be per week every month the place you don’t take the capsule. That is whenever you get your “interval”, which is often only a small quantity of blood.
Execs of contraception tablets
Contemplating how simple they’re to make use of, contraception tablets are extremely efficient (91%) when used accurately. They’re additionally very simple to reverse — simply cease taking them and your fertility will return instantly.
The uncomfortable side effects of contraception tablets can differ loads. One of many good uncomfortable side effects is that it could possibly assist management zits (which is why even sexually inactive individuals generally take them).
For girls with menstrual-related points, additionally it is a godsend. The capsule will help regulate menstruation so the circulation is much less heavy and extra common, enhance PMS signs, and even cut back fibroids, endometriosis and the chance of ovarian and endometrial cancers.
Cons of contraception tablets
Whereas they’re simple to take, tablets are additionally simple to mess up. Treatment or alcohol could intervene with the capsule’s effectiveness. (So does merely forgetting to take your capsule that day.)
They’ll simply as simply have adverse uncomfortable side effects like bloating, complications, nausea, temper swings, weight achieve, melancholy, fatigue and (sarcastically) decreased libido. These unsexy uncomfortable side effects often go away when the dosage is adjusted or in the event you change model. Strive it out for 3 months earlier than you regulate.
BC tablets are usually not really helpful in the event you’re over 35 and smoke. The prospect of blood clots, stroke and even coronary heart assault will increase together with your age and the way closely you smoke.
How a lot do contraception tablets price?
You have to get a prescription from a GP or a gynaecologist. Nevertheless, no physician in Singapore will prescribe the capsule to a woman beneath 16 as a result of it’s unlawful.
The three most typical manufacturers utilized in Singapore are Microgynon 30 (from polyclinics), Yasmin, Yaz and Diane-35. They vary from $35 to $50 for a month’s provide. The most cost effective is Microgynon 30 and Diane-35, whereas Yasmin (typically referred to as the branded contraception capsule) is the priciest.
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Patch, ring, injection & implant in Singapore
These less-common hormonal contraception gadgets are both worn outdoors the feminine physique, or implanted into it. All of them work just like the capsule. They launch hormones into the physique to stop ovulation and thicken cervical mucus to make it harder for the sperm to get to the egg.
The distinction is that these contraception strategies require much less consideration than the capsule, which must be taken each day and on the identical time every single day.
Execs and cons of the patch (Evra patch)
Often known as Ortho Evra or Evra patch, it is a skinny patch worn on the stomach, thigh, buttocks or arms. You solely have to substitute it weekly. For every month-to-month cycle, you put on it for 3 weeks and depart it off for the 4th week.
It’s fairly low upkeep, but 91% to 99% efficient. Nevertheless, it may be uncomfortable to put on.
By way of uncomfortable side effects, it tends to have the constructive uncomfortable side effects of the capsule. However you may get nausea, tender breasts and bleeding between intervals.
Execs and cons of the ring (NuvaRing)
The NuvaRing is a gentle plastic ring inserted into the vagina as soon as for 3 weeks. You take away it within the 4th week and substitute with a brand new one subsequent month.
Just like the patch, it’s 91% to 99% efficient and has comparable uncomfortable side effects to the patch, each constructive and adverse. Different adverse uncomfortable side effects related to the ring are vaginal irritation, elevated vaginal discharge, an infection and modifications in intercourse drive.
Execs and cons of contraception injection
It is a shot of hormones given by your GP or gynae each 3 months to stop ovulation. Just like the capsule, hormones are launched to stop ovulation and thicken the cervical mucus.
It’s 94% to 99% efficient and straightforward to make use of (so long as you bear in mind to go in your jab!), and non-invasive too.
Nevertheless, attainable uncomfortable side effects embody weight achieve and irregular intervals within the first 3 months as your physique adjusts. Do you have to resolve to have children sooner or later, it additionally takes a very long time to regain fertility – often 6 to 12 months.
Execs and cons of the implant
A gentle plastic rod inserted (by your physician) beneath the pores and skin of the higher arm. You possibly can’t take away it your self – you want a physician to do it.
It lasts 3 to five years and is 99% efficient, so it’s undoubtedly a dedication. Then again, it’s the most cost-effective of the hormonal contraception choices if this lengthy dedication interval fits you (i.e. you’re SUPER positive you received’t need a child within the subsequent few years).
Negative effects embody weight achieve, bloating and irregular intervals.
How a lot do they price?
In case you’re dedicated to being kid-free in the long term, the under-the-skin contraception implant is probably the most cost-effective choice because it’s a one-time cost of $400 to $600 for 3 years, which works out to about $11 to $17 per thirty days.
As a lower-commitment choice, the patch will be fairly reasonably priced, simply barely greater than the capsule at $36 to $50 a month.
The NuvaRing and BC injection are the costliest of the lot. The NuvaRing is about $60 per thirty days, whereas the jab is $150 to $200 per injection, which works out to be across the identical.
All of them require a physician’s prescription so that you’ll have to think about the price of session and any charges as properly.
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Getting an IUD in Singapore
IUD is brief for “intrauterine system”, which is precisely what it appears like – a small, T-shape system that’s inserted and sits contained in the uterus.
There are 2 sorts of IUDs — hormonal and non-hormonal.
The hormonal ones work identical to the capsule, releasing hormones to stop being pregnant. Widespread model names are Mirena and Jaydess, and so they final about 3 to six years.
The non-hormonal ones (copper IUDs) work by altering the way in which sperm transfer as a result of it releases copper ions, that are poisonous to sperm. Even when fertilisation occurs, the copper surroundings makes implantation tough. Copper IUDs are tremendous long-lasting, efficient as much as 12 years.
Execs of IUD
In its ease of use, an IUD is similar to an implant. They’re each put in by docs, then left to do their work. The distinction is that hormonal IUDs use the artificial hormone, levonorgestrel, whereas implants use the artificial hormone, etonogestrel.
Just like the implant, IUDs are long-term and 99% efficient. As a bonus, they will’t be felt and don’t require any upkeep or altering all through the interval. They’re additionally simple to reverse.
For individuals who don’t need hormonal contraception, IUDs are one of many few types of non-hormonal contraception (together with condoms and surgical procedure).
Cons of IUD
The most important con of the IUD is that there’s actually one thing sitting in your uterus. In case you don’t admire a deep probe down there, then an implant can be higher for you.
There is perhaps quite a bit of bleeding within the first 3 months, and it could be tough to take away after lengthy use. On very uncommon events, it could fall out.
How a lot do they price?
An IUD prices round $400 to $500 in a go. However contemplating it could possibly final a extremely very long time – so long as 6 years (hormonal IUD) or 12 years (copper IUD), this truly works out to be a really cost-effective long-term contraception methodology.
Because you want a physician to prescribe and insert it, bear in mind you’ll have to think about physician’s charges too.
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Ligation or vasectomy in Singapore
The one really everlasting type of contraception is sterilisation, and that entails surgical procedure – both vasectomy (for males) or ligation (for girls).
Vasectomies contain reducing the ducts that carry sperm. Given the male anatomy, that is truly a quite simple a fuss-free day process that doesn’t require hospitalisation. It’s additionally cheaper than ligation.
Ligation entails keyhole surgical procedure to shut the fallopian tubes (often utilizing clips) so eggs can’t journey to the uterus. Equally, it’s a day surgical procedure, however given the feminine anatomy, ligations must be extra invasive.
Execs of vasectomy/ligation
It’s tremendous efficient! And in addition everlasting. As soon as it’s executed, you possibly can go forward and do your factor with out ever worrying about making infants by chance (though you need to wait out the primary 2 months for sperms to filter out from his system).
It is likely one of the only a few contraception choices accessible to males. In case you actually don’t need to father any kids, a vasectomy is the one technique to assure that (as girls could make errors or just neglect to preserve the opposite types of contraception).
Cons of vasectomy/ligation
Once more, it’s everlasting. Do you have to change your thoughts, it’s attainable to surgically reverse sterilisation, however there is no such thing as a assure that fertility shall be restored.
How a lot do they price?
There’s an enormous distinction between doing these procedures in private and non-private hospitals.
At a public hospital, a vasectomy prices solely about $200, whereas the price inflates 10x to about $2,000 to $3,000 in the event you go for a non-public hospital. (Hurry up and get on that ready record!)
Equally, ligation prices about $1,000 at a public hospital, however in a non-public hospital, the price shoots as much as $10,000 to $14,000.
In case you go for both of those procedures, you’re more likely to be executed with procreation and doubtless in your early 40s. This implies you’ll have had about 15 baby-bearing years left. In case you took the price and divided it by these years, what looks as if an costly selection isn’t actually that costly in any case.
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Emergency contraception (morning after capsule)
That is contraceptive taken by the girl after, slightly than earlier than intercourse. That’s why it’s additionally referred to as the “morning after capsule”. It may be used as much as 120 hours after unprotected intercourse. The capsule works identical to a contraception capsule — it prevents ovulation, thickens cervical mucus and thins the uterine lining.
Cons of emergency contraception
In case you’ve already begun ovulation, it could not work. That makes it slightly dangerous. (To not point out it’s additionally an unsustainably nerve-wracking type of contraception!)
Emergency contraception isn’t meant to be a BC methodology, nevertheless it does present an alternate in case you have not been utilizing common strategies correctly. For instance, in the event you found a tear within the condom or forgot to take a capsule.
How a lot do they price?
Once more, you possibly can solely get them out of your GP or gynaecologist. Solely these above 16 shall be prescribed the capsule. It’s very costly at $40 to $50 a capsule — you undoubtedly don’t need to take that each time you could have intercourse.
There are literally options to emergency contraception (EC) which your physician can suggest. For instance, you possibly can take the next dose of your common contraception capsule, or you might insert a copper IUD.
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So, which contraception methodology is probably the most cost-effective?
Okay, so that you’ve seen all of it. Now what? Right here’s a chart that will help you evaluate the price of every sort of contraception methodology so you possibly can resolve:
| Contraception methodology | Price | Notes |
| Vasectomy (male surgical procedure) | From $200 (public hospital) / $2,000 (personal) | Everlasting one-time process |
| Ligation (feminine surgical procedure) | From $1,000 (public hospital) / $10,000 (personal) | Everlasting one-time process |
| IUD | $400 to $500 | 99% efficient. Lasts 3 to six years (hormonal IUD) or as much as 12 (copper IUD) |
| Implant | $400 to $600 (works out to about $11 to $17 per thirty days) | 99% efficient. Lasts as much as 3 years |
| Tablet | $25 to $40 per thirty days | 91% efficient, greatest to mix with one other methodology e.g. condoms. Should bear in mind to take the capsule each day. Brief time period, simple to reverse |
| Evra patch | $36 to $50 per thirty days | 91% to 99% efficient. Want to vary patch weekly. Brief time period, simple to reverse |
| NuvaRing | About $60 per thirty days | 91% to 99% efficient. Inserted into vagina as soon as a month. Brief time period, simple to reverse |
| Injection | $150 to $200 for 3 months (works out to$50 to $67 per thirty days) | 94% to 99%. Should bear in mind to go for jab each 3 months. Takes fairly lengthy (6 to 12 months) to reverse |
Oh, and in case you’re questioning, these remedies are usually not lined by medical health insurance in Singapore besides in very, very uncommon circumstances (e.g. you could have been hospitalised for a medical situation and contraception is deemed medically obligatory).
Nevertheless, our nationwide medical health insurance scheme, MediShield Life, does cowl sure being pregnant problems — helpful to know in the event you plan to have children sooner or later. You possibly can enhance your MediShield protection with an Built-in Protect Plan.
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