Birth Control Summary Birth control, also known as contraception, is designed to prevent pregnancy. Birth control methods may work in a number of different ways: Preventing sperm from getting to the eggs. Types include condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, and contraceptive sponges. Keeping the woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs that could be fertilized. Types include birth control pills, patches, shots, vaginal rings, and emergency contraceptive pills. IUDs, devices which are implanted into the uterus. They can be kept in place for several years. Sterilization, which permanently prevents a woman from getting pregnant or a man from being able to get a woman pregnant Your choice of birth control should depend on several factors. These include your health, frequency of sexual activity, number of sexual partners and desire to have children in the future. Your health care provider can help you select the best form of birth control for you. NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Teenagers Abstinence Nemours Foundation Birth Control Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Birth Control Explorer National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy Birth Control Patch Nemours Foundation Birth Control Pill Nemours Foundation Birth Control Ring Nemours Foundation Birth Control Shot Nemours Foundation Can a Girl Get Pregnant If She Has Sex during Her Period? Nemours Foundation CDC Vital Signs: Preventing Teen Pregnancy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cervical Cap Nemours Foundation Condom Nemours Foundation Diaphragm Nemours Foundation Emergency Contraception Nemours Foundation Especially for Teens: Birth Control American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Fertility Awareness Nemours Foundation IUD (Intrauterine Device) Nemours Foundation Spermicide Nemours Foundation Withdrawal Nemours Foundation Array Barrier methods of birth control – slideshow Birth control – slow release methods Birth control and family planning Birth control pill – slideshow Birth control pills – combination Birth control pills – overview Birth control pills – progestin only Condom application – slideshow Condoms – male Deciding about an IUD Female condoms Intrauterine devices (IUD) Specifics Barrier Methods of Birth Control: Spermicide, Condom, Sponge, Diaphragm, and Cervical Cap American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Birth Control: How to Use Your Diaphragm American Academy of Family Physicians Cervical Cap Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Combined Hormonal Birth Control: Pill, Patch, and Ring American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Contraceptive Sponge Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Depo-Provera: An Injectable Contraceptive American Academy of Family Physicians Emergency Contraception American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Emergency Contraception American Academy of Family Physicians Emergency Contraception Website Princeton University, Office of Population Research Essure Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Essure Permanent Birth Control Food and Drug Administration Female Condom Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Intrauterine Devices American College of Nurse-Midwives Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC): IUD and Implant American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Male Condoms Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Morning-After Pill Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Natural Family Planning American Academy of Family Physicians Progestin-Only Contraceptives American Academy of Family Physicians Progestin-Only Hormonal Birth Control: Pill and Injection American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Spermicide Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Withdrawal Method (Coitus Interruptus) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Start Here Birth Control Methods Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Birth Control: Medicines to Help You Food and Drug Administration Contraception and Birth Control National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Unintended Pregnancy Prevention: Contraception Centers for Disease Control and Prevention What Are the Different Types of Contraception? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Encyclopedia Birth control pills overdose Emergency contraception Vaginal sponge and spermicides Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Contraception National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Family Planning Services National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Intrauterine Devices National Institutes of Health Related Issues Contraception and Birth Control: Other FAQs National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Douching Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Effectiveness of Family Planning Methods Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Noncontraceptive Benefits of Birth Control Pills American Society for Reproductive Medicine Oral Contraceptives and Cancer Risk National Cancer Institute Statistics and Research FastStats: Contraceptive Use Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Key Statistics from the National Survey of Family Growth: Vasectomy National Center for Health Statistics Use of Emergency Contraception among Women Aged 15-44: United States, 2006-2010 National Center for Health Statistics Men How Effective Is Male Contraception? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Find an Expert National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Search for an Emergency Contraception Provider in the United States Princeton University, Office of Population Research womenshealth.gov Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Journal Articles Birth Control Latest News Obese Women on Birth Control Pills May Face Higher Risk of Rare Stroke HealthDay Birth Control Pills Linked to Fewer Severe Knee Injuries in Teen Girls HealthDay Condom Use Falls When Teen Girls Opt for IUDs Vs. the Pill HealthDay CDC Sets New Guidelines on Sex After Zika Exposure HealthDay
