(birth control) Birth control, also known as contraception, is the use of medicines, devices, or surgery to prevent pregnancy. There are many different types. Some are reversible, while others are permanent. Some types can also help prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). There are several different types of birth control, and they work in different ways:

Barrier methods
Male condom	A thin sheath that covers the penis to collect sperm and prevent it from entering the woman's body. Condoms that are made of latex and polyurethane can help prevent STIs.
Female condom	A thin, flexible plastic pouch. Part of the condom is inserted into the vagina before intercourse to prevent sperm from entering the uterus. The uterus, or womb, is the place where the baby grows during pregnancy. Female condoms can also help prevent STIs.
Contraceptive sponge	A small sponge that you put into the vagina to cover the cervix (the opening of the uterus). The sponge also contains a spermicide to kill sperm.
Spermicide	A substance that can kill sperm cells. It comes in a foam, jelly, cream, suppository, or film. You put it into the vagina near the uterus. Spermicide can be used alone or with a diaphragm or cervical cap.
Diaphragm and cervical cap	Cups that are placed inside the vagina to cover the cervix. They may be used with spermicide. They come in different sizes, so it's important to see your health care provider to figure out which size works best for you.
Hormonal methods
Oral contraceptives ("the pill")	Pills that a woman takes every day. They may contain only progestin or both progestin and estrogen.
Contraceptive patch	A patch that a woman puts on her skin each week. The patch releases hormones into the bloodstream.
Vaginal ring	A thin, flexible ring. The woman inserts the ring into the vagina, where it continually releases hormones for three weeks. She takes it out for the fourth week. After that week, she puts in a new ring.
Injectable birth control	An injection of a hormone that a woman gets once every three months. This is done in your provider's office.
Implant	A single, thin rod that a provider inserts under the skin of a women's upper arm. It is done in your provider's office. The implant can last for four years.
Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs)
Intrauterine device (IUD)	A small, T-shaped device that a provider inserts into the uterus. This is done in the provider's office. IUDs can last from 3 to 10 years. There are two types: hormonal IUDs and copper IUDs.
Sterilization
Tubal ligation	A surgery that prevents a woman from getting pregnant. It is permanent.
Vasectomy	A surgery that prevents a man from getting someone pregnant. It is permanent.

There are some types of pregnancy prevention that do not involve medicines, devices, or surgery:

Other forms of pregnancy prevention
Fertility awareness-based methods	They are also called natural rhythm methods. They involve tracking the woman's fertility cycle and avoiding sex or using barrier methods on the days when she is most likely to get pregnant. This method may have higher pregnancy rates than other types.
Lactational amenorrhea method (LAM)	A form of natural birth control for breastfeeding mothers. It relies on the new mother feeding her baby only breastmilk for up to six months and having no periods or spotting during that time.
Withdrawal	During intercourse, the penis is pulled out of the vagina before ejaculation. The goal is to keep sperm from entering the vagina. But the sperm can leak out before the penis is pulled out, so this method has higher... MedlinePlus U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025 (contraception) Prevention of CONCEPTION by blocking fertility temporarily, or permanently (STERILIZATION, REPRODUCTIVE). Common means of reversible contraception include NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING METHODS; CONTRACEPTIVE AGENTS; or CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES. NLM Medical Subject Headings U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025 (contraception) The prevention of conception or impregnation by the use of devices or drugs or surgery. NCI U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021 A couple�s decision to begin, prevent, or interrupt a pregnancy may be influenced by many factors including maternal medical disorders, risks involved in the pregnancy, and socioeconomic factors. Merck Manuals Merck & Co., Inc., 2025 A patient's choice of contraceptive method involves factors such as efficacy, safety, noncontraceptive benefits, cost, and personal considerations. Periodic abstinence Contraceptive techniques based on periodic abstinence include the following: Coitus interruptus Lactational amenorrhea Natural family planning Natural family planning is... Medscape WebMD, 2025 Birth control, the voluntary limiting of human reproduction, using such means as sexual abstinence, contraception, induced abortion, and surgical sterilization. It includes the spacing as well as the number of children in a family. Birth control encompasses the wide range of rational and irrational... Encyclopedia Britannica Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2025 Contraception, in human physiology, birth control through the deliberate prevention of conception or impregnation. The link between pregnancy and a man's semen was dimly understood even in ancient times, so that the earliest contraceptive methods involved preventing semen from entering the woman's... Encyclopedia Britannica Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2025 Return to OpenMD Medical Dictionary > C Try this search on: Farlex, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary, or Wordnik This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.