Condoms are thin, stretchy pouches made of latex, plastic or lambskin. They are worn over the penis during sex to catch semen. Condoms provide protection from both pregnancy and STDs.

Condoms slip over the penis and prevent semen from entering the vagina during sexual intercourse.

Condoms are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy when used properly. They are also highly effective in preventing the transmission of HIV and most STDs. To be effective, condoms must be put on before genital contact begins.

Condoms can be purchased at pharmacies, supermarkets and online. You can also get free condoms at many health clinics. Check our Clinic Finder for your nearest clinic.

IUD stands for Intrauterine Device. It is a small piece of t-shaped plastic that is placed inside of a woman’s uterus by a doctor.

The shape of the IUD interferes with the way that sperm move through a woman’s body, preventing the sperm from fertilizing an egg.

Although the method of the IUD sounds odd, it is one of the most effective methods of birth control with a 99% pregnancy prevention rating. Depending on the brand you and your doctor choose, one IUD can prevent pregnancy for anywhere from 3-12 years at a time.

If an IUD user wants to become pregnant, the IUD can be removed at any point. If you aren’t ready to become pregnant as soon as you have an IUD taken out, be sure to protect yourself with an alternate method, like a condom.

You can find IUDs at most health clinics. Talk to your doctor if you are interested in using an IUD.

If you are sexually active, make sure that you are protecting yourself with some form of birth control

The pill or “oral contraception” is a form of birth control that is taken by mouth once a day, every day.

Although there are many different types of birth control pills out there, they all work in a similar way. The pills prevent pregnancy by releasing doses of hormones that keep a woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs.

When used correctly, birth control pills are incredibly effective, preventing pregnancy more than 99% of the time. BUT, the key to your birth control pills working effectively is taking them on a rigid schedule. This means taking the pill at the same time – every single day. Forgetting to take your birth control pill for just one day can increase your chances of getting pregnant.

To get birth control pills, you must have a prescription from a doctor.

If you are sexually active, make sure that you are protecting yourself with some form of birth control.

The shot, also known as Depo-Provera, is birth control in the form of a hormone shot. It is effective at helping prevent pregnancy, and must be given once every three months by your doctor.

The shot contains a hormone called progestin that prevents a woman’s ovaries from releasing its eggs. It also thickens the substances within a woman’s cervix to block sperm from entering.

The shot is incredibly effective in preventing pregnancy (94-99%) – IF it is taken consistently every three months

The shot can be found in most health clinics, so talk to your doctor for information on how you can begin using the Depo-Provera shot.

If you are sexually active, make sure that you are protecting yourself with some form of birth control.

The implant (also known as Implanon or Nexplanon) is birth control in the form of a very small rod (smaller than the size of a match) that is inserted by a doctor right under the skin of a woman’s upper arm. Because the implant is small, it is hardly visible in most cases.

The rod releases hormones that keep a woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs and also thickens the cervical mucus to prevent sperm from getting to the egg in the first place.

The implant is incredibly effective, preventing pregnancy in 99% of cases, and continues to prevent pregnancy for up to 3 years without any other maintenance. However, if a woman wishes to become pregnant, she can do so once the implant is removed. If a woman gets the implant removed and is not ready for a child, she should protect herself with another birth control method right away.

Because the implant has to be inserted by a doctor, it can only find be found in a doctor’s office or a health clinic. Talk to your doctor if you are interested in getting the implant.

If you are sexually active, make sure that you are protecting yourself with some form of birth control.

The patch, medically known as Ortho Evra, is a thin piece of plastic that sticks onto a woman’s stomach, upper/outer arm, buttocks or upper torso like a Band-Aid. It is less than two inches wide and comes in the color beige.

The patch releases hormones that prevent a woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs. The hormones also thicken a woman’s cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching the eggs.

The effectiveness of the patch ranges from 91-99%. You have to change the patch around the same time once a week for three weeks, and then go without the patch for the fourth week. The patch is very effective if you stick to this weekly schedule, but your chances of becoming pregnant go up if you don’t follow the right routine.

To start using the patch, you have to get a prescription from your doctor. If you are interested in getting the patch, talk to your doctor.

If you are sexually active, make sure that you are protecting yourself with some form of birth control.

Abstinence is the ultimate form of birth control in which people avoid ANY kind of sexual activity with another person – including vaginal, oral and anal sex.

Abstinence prevents pregnancy by not putting anything to chance. When you don’t engage in any sexual activity, you cannot get pregnant.

Abstinence is effective 100% of the time, every time. But if you ever change your mind about having sex, make sure you use protection.

Female condoms, sometimes called internal condoms, are small nitrile (soft plastic) pouches that prevent semen from reaching an egg. They are similar to regular condoms except they are placed inside the vagina instead of over the penis.

Female condoms prevent semen from entering the vagina and reaching an egg. They can be worn during vaginal or anal sex.

Female condoms are 95% effective at preventing pregnancy when used properly. However, do NOT use a female condom and regular condom at the same time. They are not designed to work together and will actually increase the likelihood of tears and leaks.

Female condoms can be more difficult to find than regular condoms. The only FDA approved brand available in the U.S. is the FC2 Female Condom®. You can buy them online or at many Planned Parenthood health centers.

The ring, more commonly known as NuvaRing, is birth control in the form of a small, flexible ring that a woman inserts into her vagina.

The ring releases hormones that prevent a woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs. The hormones also thicken a woman’s cervical mucus to prevent any sperm from reaching the eggs.

The effectiveness of the ring ranges from 91-99%, but you have to insert and remove the ring on the proper schedule for this method to really be effective.  Someone using the ring must insert it into the vagina, leave it there for three weeks, and then remove the ring for the fourth week. At the end of each four-week cycle, you will get a new ring and repeat the process.

In order to use the ring, you must have a prescription from your doctor. If you are interested in using the ring, talk to your doctor.

If you are sexually active, make sure that you are protecting yourself with some form of birth control.

The diaphragm is a shallow cup made of soft silicone that covers your cervix during sex to prevent pregnancy.

The diaphragm creates a barrier that covers your cervix. It must be used with spermicide (a cream or gel that kills sperm) to work properly. The diaphragm keeps the spermicide in place to stop sperm from moving and reaching an egg.

The diaphragm is 95% effective at preventing pregnancy when used properly. Make sure to follow the directions carefully and use one every time you have sex.

Diaphragms come in different sizes, so you will need a prescription from a nurse a doctor to ensure proper fit.