Pregnancy Prevention

There are many birth control methods that provide effective pregnancy prevention. Essentially, they fall into two categories: those that rely on hormones to help prevent pregnancy and those that are non-hormonal and work as a barrier to prevent sperm from reaching an egg. Only barrier methods also help reduce the risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD).

The links on each page provide reliable information about the various forms of contraception and may help you (and your partner) decide what options are best for you.

Barrier Methods

It has been reported that one of the earliest examples of use of a barrier contraceptive was illustrated on a cave painting in France, dating  between 15,000BC-10,000BC. The painting is of a man shown in the act, wearing a sheath.

Birth Control Pills

In the 1930s, researchers determined that hormones can prevent ovulation in rabbits. Based on that concept, futher research led to the development of the human birth control pill, first made available to women in the 1960s. A commercially available birth control pill for men may soon be on the market.

Birth Control Patch (Ortho Evra)

Depo-Provera

Emergency Contraception

If birth control methods fail or are not used, Emergency Contraception provides effective back up for pregnancy prevention if taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse.

Fertility Awareness-Based Methods

Fertility Awareness increases a woman's understanding of her body and her menstrual cycle. In ancient days, fertility awareness was paired with plants as an effective birth control method. One of the oldest know effective plants for birth control was silphium, used before 370 B.C. By the fourth century, A.D., Silphium was extinct.

Implanon

Intrauterine Devices (IUD)

There are stories of nomads in ancient days inserting peach pits into the uterus of their female camels in order to prevent them getting pregnant so they can manage the  long hauls across dessert. It became known that something placed in the uterus was an effective birth control method.

Progesterone-Only Pills

Sterilization

Sterilization for men and women is a permanent surgical procedure and most often, cannot be reversed.

Vaginal Ring (NuvaRing)