#MYCONTRACEPTION

Variation in your cycle is totally normal. Even if you're usually like clockwork, there are a number of reasons why your period could be late – from pregnancy to stress, or sudden weight loss or gain. If you've recently had unprotected sex, or if there's a chance your contraception hasn't worked as it should, here are some things to consider.

It may sound simple, but for many women remembering to take the pill every day is easier said than done. Whether you forgot your pill due to work, travel, family, or other distractions, we want you to know you're not alone. If you have forgotten to take the pill recently, here’s some support.

A broken condom is something many of us experience, through user error or a defect in the condom itself. Although it's disappointing this well-known and widely used barrier method failed you, there are still steps you can take to prevent a tear in the rubber from becoming a pregnancy.

Hormones occur naturally in the body, and they affect us all in different ways. Some methods of contraception contain hormones, which affect the menstrual cycle and/or the body to stop you from becoming pregnant when you don't want to be. Whether they act in the short term or the long term, their desired effect is similar.

The hormonal coil (IUS) is one of the most reliable long-acting contraceptives. Once fitted, it can remain in place for up to 3 to 5 years. That means no more having to remember to take a daily pill, change a patch every week, or make a monthly appointment for a contraceptive injection. Despite its ease of use, many women have concerns about getting an IUS fitted, and what they can expect afterwards.

Today's contraception methods are gentler on the body than they used to be, and generally they are designed to not influence your fertility after you stop using them. Even hormonal contraceptives like the long-acting hormonal coil allow you to return to fertility quickly, because the hormones in these methods leave the body quickly after you stop using them.