Birth control methods (contraceptives) are used to prevent pregnancy. Some of them can be found at your pharmacy and some require a visit to a health care provider (such as a nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, physician, or physician assistant). Contraceptives listed below with an asterisk (*) use hormones to prevent pregnancy. The contraceptive methods are in order so that the most effective ones are listed first.
Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy after any instance of unprotected sexual intercourse. Most women can safely use emergency contraception pills, even if they cannot use birth control pills regularly. Visit www.not-2-late.com to find out where to obtain it.
| Method | How to Use | Additional Information |
| Most Effective (typically prevents pregnancy >99% of the time) | ||
| Abstinence/Outercourse | Do not have vaginal intercourse | |
| Female sterilization: non-surgical (Essure®) or surgical (Laparoscopy, mini-laparotomy, laparotomy) | Procedure done by health care provider |
|
| Male sterilization (vasectomy) | Procedure done by health care provider |
|
| Intrauterine device (IUD; ParaGard®) | Inserted into uterus by health care provider |
|
| *Intrauterine system (IUS; Mirena®) | Inserted into uterus by health care provider |
|
| *Implant (Implanon®) | Inserted by health care provider into arm |
|
| Very Effective (typically prevents pregnancy 91% – 99% of the time) | ||
| *Injectables (Depo-Provera®) | Get intramuscular or subcutaneous injection monthly every 12 weeks |
|
| *Pills | Swallow pill every day at approximately the same time |
|
| *Patch (OrthoEvra®) | Apply 1 patch to skin each week for 3 weeks in a row, then remove patch for 1 week |
|
| Moderately Effective (typically prevents pregnancy 81% – 90% of the time) | ||
| Male condom (known as “rubbers”) | Apply to penis immediately before sex |
|
| Diaphragm | Insert into vagina with spermicide before sex |
|
| Sponge (for women who have had a full term pregnancy) | Insert into vagina before sex |
|
| Effective (typically prevents pregnancy up to 80% of the time) | ||
| Female condom | Insert into vagina up to 8 hours before sex |
|
| Fertility awareness (known as “natural family planning”) | Monitor cycle to determine when fertility likely/unlikely | |
| Cervical cap (FemCap®) | Insert into vagina immediately before sex | |
| Withdrawl | Man removes penis from vagina and area near vagina prior to ejaculation | |
| Spermicide | Insert into vagina no more the 1 hour before sex | |
About Audrey Kelly, PharmD