Birth Control (cont.)

Medical Author:
Medical Editor:

Birth Control At A Glance

Comment on this
  • Methods of birth control include barrier, mechanical, hormonal, and natural methods, as well as emergency and permanent methods.
  • All methods of birth control are based on either preventing a man's sperm from reaching and entering a woman's egg (fertilization) or preventing the fertilized egg from implanting in the woman's uterus (her womb) and starting to grow.
  • No birth control method, except abstinence, is considered to be 100% effective.
  • No method of birth control available today offers perfect protection against sexually transmitted infections (sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs), except abstinence.

REFERENCE: eMedicine.com. Contraception.
<http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/258507-overview>

Previous Contributing Medical Authors: Barbara K. Hecht, Ph.D. and Carolyn Janet Crandall, MD, FACP


Last Editorial Review: 7/16/2010


Patient Comments

Viewers share their comments

Birth Control - Types Question: What type of birth control do you use and why?
Birth Control - Methods Question: If you have used different types of birth control, what is your preferred method and why?
Birth Control - Education Question: How and from whom did you learn about birth control?

Get the latest health and medical information delivered direct to your inbox FREE!