‘Fit and forget’ – and the rest

‘Fit and forget’ – and the rest

From the mid 1960s, New Zealand women could choose from an increasing range of contraceptive methods, many of them long-acting. As a Family Planning doctor, Dame Margaret Sparrow’s main aim was to find the best method for each client. ‘I loved it when I found something that would suit.’

IUDs are ‘fit and forget’ devices that take the human error out of birth control. A woman can forget to take the pill, and condoms can break, but a good IUD can stay in place for years. Other long-acting, reversible methods of contraception (LARCs) include injections and implants.