MORE women in Oxfordshire are turning away from the pill and condoms in favour of longer-lasting contraception, figures show.

NHS data shows that women who get their contraception from local sexual health clinics are increasingly choosing these more invasive, but longer-lasting methods.

In 2017/18, contraceptives like the implant, the coil or the injection were the method of choice for 38 per cent of women visiting local clinics.

That's an increase compared to 2014/15, when 33 per cent of women chose these methods.

Despite this, contraceptives like condoms and the pill were still the preferred pick for women - with 62 per cent choosing the short-term method.

NHS guidelines say that well-organised people with regular routines are well-suited to short-term contraceptives - using condoms every time you have sex, or taking the pill every day.

The guidelines say the pill is more than 99 per cent effective at preventing pregnancy if it's taken according to instructions.

Women wanting a more permanent method can get an intrauterine device - more commonly known as the coil - which can last for up to 10 years.

The implant, which is put into the upper arm, lasts three years and is very easy to remove. A contraceptive injection covers a shorter period - lasting for 8 to 13 weeks.

In Oxfordshire, 16 per cent of women said they were using the coil as their main method of contraception, while 14% opted for the implant and 8% for the injection.

On the short-term side, 57 per cent of women said they were taking the pill, and 2% said that they used condoms as the main method.

Family Planning Association deputy chief executive Bekki Burbidge said: "The combined pill is still a popular choice, and has a range of advantages such as making periods lighter, and reducing PMS symptoms.

"But you have to remember to take it at around the same time each day, and it can be easy to miss one," she added. "If it's not always used according to instructions then it's only around 91% effective.

The NHS figures are limited to women who visit specialist services for contraceptive advice.

In Oxfordshire, 9,175 women went to sexual health clinics rather than going to their GP or over-the-counter methods.