Cervical Cap

The cervical cap is a small latex cup that a women inserts into her vagina before sexual intercourse. The cervical cap fits snugly over the woman's cervix. It is smaller than the diaphragm and is used with spermicidal cream or jelly. The cervical cap works by blocking sperm from entering the uterus.

Condoms

Condoms are thin barriers made of latex, plastic, or natural membranes. They look like long, thin, deflated balloons. There are both male and female condoms. The male condom fits over a man's penis. The female condom fits inside a woman's vagina. Both male and female condoms work by preventing sperm from entering the vagina and reaching an egg.

Contraceptive Patch ("The Patch")

The contraceptive patch is a thin plastic patch about the size of a matchbook, that a woman wears on her skin to prevent pregnancy. The patch contains hormones just like the ones in most birth control pills. It releases these hormones through the skin and into the bloodstream. Instead of taking a pill every day, a woman sticks on a new patch each week. The patch works mainly by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg.

Depo-Provera ("The Shot")

Depo-Provera is a shot that a women gets 4 times a year (every 12 weeks) to prevent pregnancy. It contains medicine that is like progesterone, a hormone that is naturally present in a woman's body. The shot works mainly by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg.

Diaphragm

The diaphragm is a soft, latex dome that a woman inserts into her vagina before sexual intercourse. It fits over the cervix and is held in place by her vaginal muscles. It always needs to be used with spermicidal cream or jelly. The diaphragm works by blocking the opening to the uterus so that sperm cannot enter.

Emergency Contraception ("EC")

EC (sometimes called "the morning after pill") is a special dose of birth control pills that prevents pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex. The sooner EC is taken, the more effective it is. EC is very safe. It is not an abortion pill. EC works mainly by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg.

Intrauterine Device (IUD)

The IUD is a small, T-shaped piece of flexible plastic that fits inside a woman's uterus to prevent pregnancy. There are 2 types of IUD's: copper and progestin (a hormone found in birth control pills.) The copper IUD lasts 10 years and the progestin IUD lasts 5 years. IUD's work mainly by preventing fertilization, and interfering with the sperm's ability to reach the egg.

Oral Contraceptives ("The Pill")

Birth control pills, often call "The Pill", are pills that a woman takes daily to prevent pregnancy. They are made of hormones similar to those found naturally in a woman's body. The Pill works mainly by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg.

Spermicides

Spermicide is a chemical that kills sperm. It comes in different forms: foams, film, creams, jellies, and suppositories. A woman inserts spermicide deep into her vagina just before having sexual intercourse. Spermicides provide some pregnancy protection when used alone, but they are much more effective when used with another method, like the condom, diaphragm, or cervical cap.

Female Sterilization (tubal ligation)

Female sterilization is a form of permanent birth control. This means it is not reversible. A tubal ligation is a minor operation that blocks a women's fallopian tubes (the tubes that carry the egg to the uterus). Female sterilization works by blocking the egg from reaching sperm.

Male Sterilization (vasectomy)

Male sterilization is a form of permanent birth control. This means it is not reversible. A vasectomy is a simple operation that blocks the tubes that carry sperm from the man's testes to his penis. Male sterilization works by blocking the sperm from leaving the man's body.

Vaginal Contraceptive Ring ("The Ring")

The Ring is a small, flexible plastic ring - about 2 inches wide - that a woman places in her vagina each month to prevent pregnancy. The Ring contains hormones just like the ones in most birth control pills. It releases these hormones into a woman's body through her vagina. Instead of taking a pill every day, a woman puts in a new ring each month. The Ring works mainly by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg.