About Birth Control
Comparing Birth Control Methods
There are many kinds of birth control methods to help prevent unplanned pregnancies. Barring abstinence, no option is 100% effective and without risks. Use the tool below to compare your birth control options side by side. Then, discuss your birth control options and personal circumstances with your healthcare professional to make your choice.
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It's important to remember that even the most effective and appropriate methods of birth control methods can fail if you don't use them correctly and consistently. Whether it's a daily pill, a weekly patch or a diaphragm that you use as needed, the success of your birth control method depends on you. So make sure you fully understand how to use the birth control method you choose, and if you have any questions or concerns, talk with your healthcare professional to resolve them.
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Acne vulgaris |  |
Also called pimples, acne vulgaris is the common form of acne that most often affects teens or young adults. It is caused by overactive oil...
Anemia | |
A condition which is caused by having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the...
Birth Control | |
Also known as family planning, fertility control or contraception, birth control includes any practices, methods or devices that are used...
Birth control patch | |
The transdermal patch delivers hormones (progestin and estrogen) through the skin and into your bloodstream to prevent your ovaries...
Birth control pills | |
Also called oral contraceptives, birth control pills are usually small pills taken by mouth for either 21, 24 or 28 days or continuously...
Cervical cap | |
A barrier contraceptive device that consists of a soft rubber cup with a round rim that fits snugly around the cervix. A cervical cap is...
Cervix | |
The lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb), a hollow, pear-shaped organ in the lower abdomen. The cervix opens into the vagina.
Condom | |
Both male and female versions of the condom are available, however, the word most often refers to the male condom. Both are barrier...
Contraceptive or hormone implants | |
Implants are a long-term, reversible means of contraception. Matchstick-sized, hormone-containing rods made of synthetic materials are...
Diaphragm | |
A diaphragm is a soft latex or silicone cup that requires fitting by a healthcare professional. When it is properly fitted and inserted...
Endometrium | |
The lining of the uterus, which is shed monthly in response to hormonal changes that occur during menstruation. The endometrium then...
Ethinyl estradiol | |
A synthetic estrogen used in almost all birth control pills that combine estrogen and progestin. It is also used in other hormonal therapies.
Fallopian tubes | |
Fallopian tubes are the passage between the ovaries and the uterus. They have small hair-like projections called cilia that help transport...
Gynecologist | |
A doctor who specializes in gynecology, the branch of medicine concerned with the health of and treating of conditions associated with the..
HIV | |
Acronym for the human immunodeficiency virus, the cause of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
Hormones | |
Hormones are natural chemical agents that are secreted by specialized glands (such as the thyroid gland) and regulate the activity of...
Hormone injections | |
Like the Pill and implants, contraceptive injections contain hormones, and they are administered by a healthcare professional at regular...
Intrauterine Devices (IUD) | |
IUD is short for Intrauterine Device- a small device placed in the uterus by a healthcare professional. IUDs are made of soft, flexible...
Menarche | |
Also known as female puberty, menarche is the time of life when menstruation first begins. Menstruation may be irregular and unpredictable...
Menstrual cramps | |
Lower abdominal cramping, usually in the beginning of the menstrual cycle, caused by contractions of the uterus as it expels lining, and...
Menstrual cycle | |
The monthly cycle of changes in the ovaries and the lining of the uterus (endometrium), the process starts with the preparation of an egg...
Menstruation | |
The periodic blood discharge that flows from the woman's uterus. Also called menorrhea. Usually occurring at four week intervals as part...
Natural family planning | |
Natural family planning by periodic abstinence isn't a single method, but a variety of methods that help a couple figure out which days...
Norgestimate | |
A synthetic progestin (hormone) commonly used in combination with estrogen in birth control pills.
OB/GYN | |
OB is short for an obstetrician, a doctor who delivers babies. GYN is short for gynecologist, a physician who specializes in the health...
Ovary | |
One of a pair of reproductive glands in women that produce eggs and female hormones. They are the size and shape of almonds, and located...
Ovulation | |
The release of the mature egg from the ovary in response to a hormonal signal. Most women ovulate 14 or 15 days from the first day of their...
Progesterone | |
A female hormone made in the ovary and by the placenta. Progesterone prepares the lining of the uterus (the womb) to receive and sustain...
Sexually Transmitted Diseases | |
STDs are infections that can be passed from one person to another through any type of sexual contact, including kissing, oral-genital...
Side effects | |
Problems related to a treatment beyond the desired effect or in addition to the desired effect.
Sperm | |
A sperm is the male sex cell which combines with the female egg in the process of fertilization.
Spermicides | |
Spermicides are over-the-counter, nonhormonal chemical foams, creams, jellies, film or suppositories inserted into the vagina up to 15...
Spotting | |
Light bleeding between menstrual periods. Women who are ovulating normally can experience spotting. The use of hormonal birth control...
Sterilization | |
For women, tubal sterilization or 'tying the tubes' involves surgically closing the fallopian tubes to prevent eggs and sperm from coming...
Uterus | |
Also called the womb, the uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ located between the bladder and the rectum in a woman's lower abdomen...
Vagina | |
The canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the body. Vaginal walls lined with mucus membrane, and the vagina, has numerous...
Vaginal ring | |
A soft, flexible vaginal ring about 2 inches in diameter delivers low doses of estrogen and progestin into the body. This helps prevent...
Serious as well as minor side effects have been reported with the use of oral contraceptives. Serious risks, which can be life threatening, include blood clots, stroke and heart attacks, and are increased if you smoke cigarettes. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects, especially if you are over 35. Women who use oral contraceptives are strongly advised not to smoke. Some women should not use the Pill, including women who have blood clots, certain cancers, a history of heart attack or stroke, as well as those who are or may be pregnant. The Pill does not protect against HIV or sexually transmitted diseases.
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Last modified Aug 14 2008 at 12:45:16 EDT