Keep control

5 things that could make contraception less effective, by CAMILLA FOSTER

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THE UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has raised concerns about a possible link between popular weight-loss injections and contraception.

To date, MHRA has received more than 40 reports of pregnancies among women using weight-loss jabs, some of whom were using contraception.

Here Dr Alisha Esmail, women’s health GP at London Gynaecology, highlights other factors that may influence hormonal contraception’s effectiveness...

1. ILLNESS

“Vomiting within a few hours of taking a contraception pill can reduce its effectiveness, says Dr Esmail.

“If you have vomiting or diarrhoea soon after taking your pill, your body might not absorb it properly, which can lower the hormone levels needed for it to work properly,” she explains. “Remember, this applies to the morning-after pill too, which is especially time-sensitive.

“If you've been unwell, it's a good idea to use back-up contraception and check in with a clinician - they can help work out if you need to take another dose or consider a different option.”

2. WEIGHT