Contraception and Sexuality

Abstract

AbstractIn some countries, midwives play a large part in contraceptive care. In many other countries, contraception is not a part of the midwife’s scope of practice till the baby is born. They then have to counsel about contraception and eventually about intervals between pregnancies. For healthy motherhood and good parenthood, the young mother should not become pregnant within a year and a half after childbirth. So counselling or prescribing contraception is an integral part of good postpartum care and falls under the midwife’s responsibility.Every contraceptive method has advantages and disadvantages, whether physical, emotional, relational, or sexual. This chapter will address the sexual consequences of various contraceptive methods with up-to-date information on the pros and cons of each method. In the context of this book, contraception during postpartum and breastfeeding will get extra attention.The chapter will include information on emergency contraception and the situation when contraception has failed.This chapter is part of ‘Midwifery and Sexuality’, a Springer Nature open-access textbook for midwives and related healthcare professionals.