Talk to your doctor or health-care practitioner to see which method of birth control is right for you.
For thousands of years, women have used various forms of contraception, also known as birth control. In 2011, women have many forms of female contraceptive methods available, from pills to shots to patches and intrauterine devices. Education about each method will ensure that you choose the form of female contraception that is right for your body.
Basics
It might take several tries before you find the method of birth control that is right for your body and lifestyle. Although the pill is still one of the most popular forms of female contraception, there are many others to choose from.
Female contraception falls into two basic categories: barrier methods, which rely on devices; and hormonal methods, which rely on hormones to prevent pregnancy.
However, there are also natural methods that rely on neither. Female contraception is not 100 percent effective, although forms such as the pill come very close. Note that not all forms of female contraception prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
Barriers
Barrier methods are devices that are inserted into the vagina before intercourse to prevent or block sperm from entering a woman's uterus. There are female condoms, spermicides, diaphragms, cervical caps and contraceptive sponges. Spermicides are chemicals designed to kill sperm on contact. They come in foam, jelly and cream forms, but they are also available as foaming tablets and vaginal suppositories. Diaphragms and cervical caps, sponges and female condoms are soft barriers made of rubber, latex or polyurethane that block or line the vagina and cervix to prevent sperm from entering. Many barrier methods are used in conjunction with spermicides for added effectiveness.
Hormonal
Hormonal methods of female contraception contain manufactured hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. They prevent pregnancy by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg, causing the cervical mucus to thicken or thinning the uterine lining.
Hormonal contraceptives include the birth control pill, which is prescribed by a doctor and taken daily to prevent pregnancy. There are also contraceptive shots such as Lunelle and Depo-Provera, which are administered by a doctor, preventing pregnancy for one to three months.
The vaginal ring is a flexible ring that is inserted into the vagina, and the patch is a placed on the buttocks, thigh or arm, where they release hormones.
Conversely an intrauterine device, or IUD, is inserted into the uterus by a health-care professional. IUDs contain copper or hormones that thin the lining of the uterus to reduce the chances of a fertilized egg attaching to the uterine wall.
Natural Methods
Some women do not like the idea of chemicals or manufactured hormones entering their bodies. In this case, there are natural methods of female contraception that rely on the observation of the body as well as calculating ovulation. Women who prefer natural contraception record their body temperature and note changes in cervical mucus daily to determine when they are ovulating. Natural family planning requires seven to 10 days of abstinence each month or the use of barrier methods during ovulation to prevent pregnancy.
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