Analytics preferences. With your permission, Google Analytics measures general site activity using a general content category rather than the specific health page. It does not receive form answers, health details or query strings. Privacy details.

HerDoc

HerDoc is launching soon. We are not taking appointments yet.

Join the waitlist

Choosing contraception: what matters to me

Use this sheet to organise what you want from contraception and what you would like to discuss. You can have a particular option in mind or ask for help exploring your choices. You do not need to decide before your appointment.

Write only what feels useful, on paper or in your own notes. Keep completed notes somewhere private. This sheet does not score your answers or tell you which methods are medically suitable for you.

Last updated 30 October 2026

On this page

If you need advice after sex

If you have had sex without effective contraception, or think your method may have failed, contact a pharmacist, doctor or sexual-health service promptly about emergency contraception. Do not wait to complete this sheet or for a routine appointment. Read healthdirect’s emergency contraception advice.

1. My priorities

What matters most to me? You might think about fitting contraception into your routine, pregnancy prevention, bleeding changes, hormones, privacy, cost or protection from sexually transmissible infections (STIs). It is fine to be unsure or to have several priorities.

The things I most want to discuss:

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

2. My previous experience

If I have used contraception before, what worked well and what was difficult? Include effects or concerns you noticed, even if you are unsure what caused them. Leave this section blank if you have not used contraception before.

What I have tried and what I want my clinician to know:

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

3. My plans and practical needs

What would fit my everyday life? Consider remembering a routine, accessing appointments, costs, privacy, and how you feel about insertion or removal procedures. If future pregnancy is something you want to discuss, note your plans or uncertainty.

My plans, practical needs or concerns:

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

4. What I want to discuss

Are there options I want to ask about, effects I want to understand or questions about STI protection? Have your medicines and relevant health history handy, including any recent pregnancy or breastfeeding. You can discuss personal details privately rather than write them here.

My questions:

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

5. My next steps

During the appointment, record what you agree. If starting or switching a method, ask when protection begins and whether you need extra protection in the meantime. Ask what to do if something goes wrong, when to seek help and how to arrange follow-up.

What we agreed, including any starting or switching instructions:

____________________________________________________________

Follow-up or questions still to discuss:

____________________________________________________________

Sources and further reading