Birth Control Methods

Abstinence

Avoiding all sexual activity

  • Effectiveness: 100%
  • Frequently Used: Every day
  • Side Effects: None
  • Menstrual Changes: None

Cervical Cap

Silicone cup that you insert into your vagina to cover your cervix to keep sperm out of your uterus

  • Effectiveness: 80%
  • Frequently Used: Every time you have sexual intercourse
  • Side Effects: Allergic reaction, bladder infection, or irritation
  • Menstrual Changes: None
  • Non-Hormonal: Yes

Diaphragm

Silicone, dome-shaped cup that you insert into your vagina to cover your cervix to keep sperm out of your uterus

  • Effectiveness: 83%
  • Frequently Used: Every time you have sexual intercourse
  • Side Effects: Allergic reaction, bladder infection, or irritation
  • Menstrual Changes: None
  • Non-Hormonal: Yes

Emergency Contraception Pills

Taken after someone who can get pregnant has unprotected sex to stop a pregnancy before it starts

  • Effectiveness: 97%
  • Frequently Used: Every day
  • Side Effects: Nausea, cramping, fatigue, headaches, dizziness
  • Menstrual Changes: Spotting/Unpredictable
  • Hormonal: Yes

Female Condoms (Internal)

Worn inside the vagina for pregnancy prevention and STI prevention

  • Effectiveness: 79%
  • Frequently Used: Every time you have sexual intercourse
  • Side Effects: Irritation
  • Menstrual Changes: None
  • Non-Hormonal: Yes


Fertility Awareness-Based Methods 

Tracking of your menstrual cycle that helps you determine when you should avoid unprotected sex

  • Effectiveness: 85%
  • Frequently Used: Every day
  • Side Effects: None
  • Menstrual Changes: None
  • Non-Hormonal: Yes

Hormonal IUDs

Small T-shaped devices placed inside uterus

  • Effectiveness: >99%
  • Frequently Used: up to 6 years
  • Side Effects: Weight changes, headaches, and breast tenderness
  • Menstrual Changes: Lighter, infrequent, or no periods
  • Hormonal: Yes

Implant

Small rod, about the size of a matchstick, that's inserted under the skin of your upper arm

  • Effectiveness: >99%
  • Frequently Used: up to 3 years
  • Side Effects: Weight changes, headaches, and breast tenderness
  • Menstrual Changes: Lighter, infrequent, or no periods
  • Hormonal: Yes

Lactational Amenorrhea Method (Breastfeeding)

Form of birth control where you rely exclusively on breastfeeding to prevent pregnancy

  • Effectiveness: 98%
  • Frequently Used: Every 4-6 hours
  • Side Effects: None
  • Menstrual Changes: No periods
  • Non-Hormonal: Yes

Male Condoms (External)

Slips over the penis to prevent pregnancy and lower the risk of STIs by keeping sperm out of the vagina

  • Effectiveness: 87%
  • Frequently Used: Every time you have sexual intercourse
  • Side Effects: Irritation
  • Menstrual Changes: None
  • Non-Hormonal: Yes

Non-Hormonal IUDs

Small, T-shaped device placed inside uterus

  • Effectiveness: >99%
  • Frequently Used: up to 10 years
  • Side Effects: Increased cramps
  • Menstrual Changes: Heavier periods
  • Non-Hormonal: Yes

Patch

Thin square that sticks to your skin that releases hormones to prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs

  • Effectiveness: 93%
  • Frequently Used: Weekly
  • Side Effects: Irritation, weight changes, headaches, and breast tenderness
  • Menstrual Changes: Lighter, regular periods
  • Hormonal: Yes

Pill

Releases hormones that keep your ovaries from releasing eggs

  • Effectiveness: 93%
  • Frequently Used: Every day
  • Side Effects: Weight changes, headaches, and breast tenderness
  • Menstrual Changes: Lighter, regular periods
  • Hormonal: Yes

Progestin-Only Pill

Releases hormones that keep your ovaries from releasing eggs

  • Effectiveness: 93%
  • Frequently Used: Every day
  • Side Effects: Weight changes, headaches, and breast tenderness
  • Menstrual Changes: Lighter, infrequent, or no periods
  • Hormonal: Yes

Ring

Small, flexible ring worn inside the vagina, releases hormones to prevent pregnancy

  • Effectiveness: 93%
  • Frequently Used: Monthly
  • Side Effects: Weight changes, headaches, and breast tenderness
  • Menstrual Changes: Lighter, regular periods
  • Hormonal: Yes

Shot

A shot you get every 3 months that keeps you from getting pregnant

  • Effectiveness: 96%
  • Frequently Used: Every 3 months
  • Side Effects: Weight changes, headaches, and breast tenderness
  • Menstrual Changes: Lighter, infrequent, or no periods
  • Hormonal: Yes

Spermicide 

Substance inserted into the vagina as a foam, gel, cream, film, or suppository

  • Effectiveness: 79%
  • Frequently Used: Every time you have sexual intercourse
  • Side Effects: Allergic reaction, bladder infection, or irritation
  • Menstrual Changes: None
  • Non-Hormonal: Yes

Sponge

Round piece of white plastic foam inserted in your vagina to block sperm from getting into your uterus and continuously releases spermicide

  • Effectiveness: 73-86%
  • Frequently Used: Every time you have sexual intercourse
  • Side Effects: Allergic reaction, bladder infection, or irritation
  • Menstrual Changes: None
  • Non-Hormonal: Yes

Female Sterilization

Surgical procedures that block the fallopian tubes so you can't get pregnant

  • Effectiveness: >99%
  • Frequently Used: Once
  • Side Effects: None
  • Menstrual Changes: None
  • Non-Hormonal: Yes

Vasectomy

Surgical procedures that block the release of sperm so he can't get you pregnant

  • Effectiveness: 99%
  • Frequently Used: Once
  • Side Effects: None
  • Menstrual Changes: None
  • Non-Hormonal: Yes

Withdrawal (Pull-Out Method)

Pulling the penis out of the vagina before ejaculation

  • Effectiveness: 80%
  • Frequently Used: Every time you have sexual intercourse
  • Side Effects: None
  • Menstrual Changes: None
  • Non-Hormonal: Yes