There are no strict rules as to when a young woman should visit her gynaecologist for the first time for an examination. It is certainly advisable for her to do so at the latest when she decides to start having intercourse.

A method for peace of mind

Rarely does a young woman who starts coitus want to have a child right away. Usually she is planning a pregnancy, but at a somewhat later date. So she looks for a contraceptive method that is effective, does not interfere with intercourse and does not affect fertility in the future.
Surveys of young women indicate that they are primarily guided by efficacy when choosing a contraceptive method. According to WHO data, the most effective method is hormonal contraception, irrespective of the type and route of administration of hormones - and this is the case both with full adherence to all recommendations and with typical use.
The others, i.e. natural methods, the condom, vaginal barrier products and chemical methods, are not as effective. Young women often do not have regular intercourse, intercourse is sometimes spontaneous and therefore natural methods can be completely useless. The other methods mentioned above interfere with intercourse, which - even if fully accepted - affects the correctness of use. It is well known that any inaccuracy in the use of contraceptives significantly reduces their effectiveness.
However, it is worth highlighting the beneficial effect of the condom in protecting against infection with sexually transmitted diseases, including those caused by H. pyloriV and HIV. The condom is a recommended method in cases of increased risk of contracting these diseases and very infrequent intercourse. It can be used in parallel with hormonal contraception.

Individual case

There is no one method of contraception that is right for everyone. That is why it is so important to consult a doctor, who - on the basis of a discussion with the woman and the tests carried out - helps to choose a method that is fully acceptable and well tolerated. Young women most often choose hormonal contraception because of its high efficacy. Due to their age and, in most cases, good health, there are usually no medical contraindications to hormonal protection.
The available forms of hormonal contraception differ in the route of administration, the type of hormonal compounds used, the dose and the duration of their effect. The choice is really wide. In healthy women up to the age of 20, according to the recommendations of the Polish Gynaecological Society, there are no contraindications to the use of one- and two-component pills or subcutaneous implants, injections and modern hormonal intrauterine systems. It is these methods that are proposed in the first instance. The availability of different contraceptive preparations means that every patient can choose the right one for her. Longer-term methods are recommended for women who do not have a regular lifestyle, work at different times of the day, travel a lot, can be distracted and are not used to taking contraception daily/weekly/monthly.

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Regularity is key

Hormonal agents must be taken regularly. Incorrect, irregular use significantly reduces the effectiveness of the method and increases the risk of side effects. These do not affect a woman's overall health, but are inconvenient, cause concern and may lead to contraception being discontinued.
The greatest risk of error is with the pill. They must be taken daily with a seven-day break. To reduce the risk of missing a pill, blister packs of 28 pills - for a full cycle - with hormone pills and placebo pills are increasingly common. There are less frequent occasions of error with the use of the patch (stuck on and off once a week) and the vaginal ring (inserted and removed once every four weeks).
The most convenient in this respect are the hormone-containing IUDs (inserted once every 3 years or 5 years) and the subcutaneous implant (inserted once every 3 years). When using these, there is virtually no possibility of making a mistake. Both the IUD and the implant are inserted by a doctor.