{"id":9158,"date":"2026-06-04T15:27:50","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T15:27:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mariestopes.or.ug\/services\/\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T11:45:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T11:45:09","slug":"long-term-methods","status":"publish","type":"services","link":"https:\/\/www.mariestopes.or.ug\/lg\/services\/long-term-methods\/","title":{"rendered":"Long-term methods"},"content":{"rendered":"

Long-term methods<\/h1>

Contraception to prevent pregnancy for a long time.<\/h3><\/div><\/div>
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Long-term contraceptive methods are effective at preventing pregnancy for a long time \u2013 often several years. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are reversible so you can plan a future pregnancy at a time that\u2019s right for you. They also don\u2019t interrupt sex, so once they\u2019re fitted you can forget about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compare the features of the different long-term methods in the table below to find the one that’s right for you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Talk to us<\/h4>

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Tukwasaganye<\/a>\u00a0to book a contraception consultation.<\/p>

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Efficacy with perfect use<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Efficacy with typical use<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Hormonal or non-hormonal<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Effect on periods<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Alleviates painful \/ heavy periods<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Protects against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Protection length<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Effect on fertility<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Okuteeka mu mubiri<\/p><\/div>

Injection<\/p><\/div>

IUD (copper coil)<\/p><\/div>

IUS<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

More than 99%<\/p><\/div>

More than 99%\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

More than 99%<\/p><\/div>

More than 99%<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

More than 99%<\/p><\/div>

94%<\/p><\/div>

More than 99%<\/p><\/div>

More than 99%<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Hormonal (progestogen-only)<\/p><\/div>

Hormonal (progestogen-only)<\/p><\/div>

Non-hormonal<\/p><\/div>

Hormonal (progestogen-only)<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Bleeding pattern can be unpredictable. Your periods may become irregular, lighter,\u00a0heavier\u00a0or longer<\/p><\/div>

Bleeding pattern can be unpredictable. Your periods may become irregular, heavier, shorter, lighter or stop altogether. There is a trend towards less bleeding the longer you use<\/p><\/div>

Your periods may become heavier,\u00a0longer\u00a0or more painful, though this may improve after a few months<\/p><\/div>

It can make your periods lighter, shorter or stop altogether, so it may help people who have heavy or painful periods<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Yes<\/p><\/div>

Yes<\/p><\/div>

No<\/p><\/div>

Yes<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

No<\/p><\/div>

No<\/p><\/div>

No<\/p><\/div>

No<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

3 years<\/p><\/div>

8 – 13 weeks (depending on type)<\/p><\/div>

5 – 10 years (depending on type)<\/p><\/div>

3 – 8 years (depending on type)<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Fertility returns to normal immediately once removed<\/p><\/div>

Can take up to 1 year for fertility to return to normal after it wears off<\/p><\/div>

Fertility returns to normal immediately once removed<\/p><\/div>

Fertility returns to normal immediately once removed<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>