It's expensive, it takes heaps of time and it hurts. Why do we put so much effort into maintaining body hair? And what can happen when you decide not to anymore?

It has been 55 years since the pill hit the Australian market and it remains the most popular method of contraception, despite a host of other longer-acting options becoming available in that time.

We use contraception for a bunch of different reasons: to ward off STIs, to stop unplanned pregnancies, to regulate hormonal issues, and as a general precaution when having sex with a new partner. There are heaps of different methods out there, and each of them has different advantages and side effects to think about.