1 of 9 / Overview

What to Consider When Choosing Birth Control

Choosing birth control involves considering effectiveness, side effects, lifestyle, health, and personal preferences to find the best method.

How and Where to Get Birth Control

Birth control is available through clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, and online services with guidance from healthcare professionals.

Birth Control: How to Talk to Your OB/GYN

Prepare questions, discuss health history, lifestyle, side effects, future pregnancy plans, and preferred birth control methods openly with your OB/GYN.

How to Talk to Your Partner About Birth Control

Openly discuss birth control preferences, health concerns, future plans, comfort levels, and shared responsibility with honesty and respect.

2 of 9 / Types

Birth Control: What Type Is Right for You?

Choosing the right birth control depends on your health, lifestyle, future pregnancy plans, effectiveness, convenience, and personal preferences.

How Effective Are Different Types of Birth Control?

Different birth control methods vary in effectiveness, from highly reliable implants and IUDs to less effective barrier methods.

Nonhormonal Birth Control

Nonhormonal birth control methods prevent pregnancy without hormones, including condoms, copper IUDs, diaphragms, fertility awareness, and spermicide.

Best Birth Control for STI and Pregnancy Prevention

Using condoms consistently offers the best dual protection against sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy during sexual activity.

3 of 9 / Hormonal Methods

Birth Control Pills

Birth control pills are daily medications that prevent pregnancy by regulating hormones, stopping ovulation, and controlling menstrual cycles.

What Is the Minipill?

The minipill is a progestin-only birth control pill that prevents pregnancy by thickening cervical mucus and stopping ovulation.

What Is Extended-Use Birth Control?

Extended-use birth control allows fewer periods by continuously using hormonal contraception for longer cycles without monthly breaks.

Do Birth Control Pills Cause Nausea?

Birth Control Pills may cause nausea due to hormonal changes, especially during initial use, but symptoms usually improve over time.

4 of 9 / Barrier Methods

Condoms

Condoms help prevent pregnancy and reduce sexually transmitted infections by creating a protective barrier during sexual activity.

Does Condom Size Matter?

Choosing the correct condom size improves comfort, safety, and effectiveness by reducing breakage, slipping, and discomfort during intimacy.

What to Know About a Broken Condom

A broken condom can increase pregnancy and STI risk; emergency contraception and STI testing may be needed promptly.

Female Condoms: Effectiveness and Benefits

Female condoms provide effective pregnancy and STI protection, offer female-controlled contraception, enhance comfort, and support safer intimate relationships.

5 of 9 / Behavioral Methods

'Natural' Birth Control: What to Know

“Natural” birth control methods track fertility signs and menstrual cycles to help prevent pregnancy without hormones or devices.

Pull Out Method (Withdrawal)

The pull-out method involves withdrawing the penis before ejaculation to reduce pregnancy risk, but it’s less reliable.

What Is the Lactational Amenorrhea Method of Birth Control?

The Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) is a temporary birth control method using exclusive breastfeeding to naturally prevent pregnancy after childbirth.

Do Birth Control Pills Cause Nausea?

Birth Control Pills may cause nausea due to hormonal changes, especially during initial use, but symptoms usually improve over time.

6 of 9 / Medical Methods

Birth Control and Sterilization

Birth control and sterilization are methods to prevent pregnancy temporarily or permanently, helping individuals plan families responsibly.

What Is Tubal Ligation?

Tubal ligation is a permanent birth control procedure that blocks or seals fallopian tubes to prevent pregnancy.

Pregnancy After Tubal Ligation: Can It Happen?

Pregnancy after tubal ligation is rare but possible due to tube reconnection, increasing risk of ectopic pregnancy complications.

7 of 9 / Male Birth Control

Male Birth Control Options

Male birth control options include condoms, vasectomy, withdrawal, and emerging hormonal methods for preventing unintended pregnancy effectively.

Vasectomy

Vasectomy is a safe, permanent male birth control procedure that prevents sperm from reaching semen during ejaculation.

What Is a No-Scalpel Vasectomy?

A no-scalpel vasectomy is a minimally invasive procedure for male birth control with faster recovery and reduced discomfort.

11-Beta-MNTDC: “The Pill” for Men

11-Beta-MNTDC is an experimental male contraceptive pill designed to reduce fertility safely without affecting long-term reproductive health.

8 of 9 / Emergency Contraception

Emergency Contraception FAQ

Find answers about emergency contraception, effectiveness, timing, safety, side effects, and important reproductive health guidance for women.

Emergency Contraception: What to Expect

Learn what emergency contraception is, how it works, possible side effects, timing, effectiveness, and important healthcare guidance.

Levonorgestrel Emergency Contraception

Levonorgestrel emergency contraception helps prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure when taken within recommended time limits.

9 of 9 / Side Effects & Complications

Birth Control Side Effects and Risks

Birth control may cause nausea, mood changes, weight fluctuations, headaches, and rare health risks depending on individual health conditions.

Birth Control and Spotting: What to Know

Learn how birth control may cause spotting, why it happens, common symptoms, and when medical advice is needed.

Birth Control and Breast Size

Birth control may cause temporary breast size changes due to hormonal fluctuations, water retention, and changes in body composition.

How Hormonal Birth Control Can Affect Your Mood

Hormonal birth control may influence mood, causing emotional changes, anxiety, irritability, stress, or mood swings in some individuals.

Sign up for our free Pregnancy and Baby Newsletter

Get news and information about pregnancy and infant health

By clicking Subscribe, I agree to the WebMD Terms & Conditions & Privacy Policy and understand that I may opt out of WebMD subscriptions at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Suggested Reads about Birth Control

10 Things to Know About Birth Control If You’re Transgender or Nonbinary

Learn essential birth control information, healthcare options, safety guidance, and reproductive wellness support for transgender and nonbinary individuals.

Other Reasons to Use Birth Control

Birth control may also help regulate periods, reduce acne, manage hormonal imbalance, ease cramps, and support reproductive health.

His Turn: 8 Options in the Pipeline for Male Birth Control

Explore emerging male birth control options, innovative treatments, effectiveness, safety research, and future possibilities for reproductive health management.

Your Birth Control Options

Explore safe and effective birth control options, including pills, implants, condoms, IUDs, and long-term family planning solutions.

Top Search Terms for Birth Control


John Doe

John Doe

Sony CEO
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Curabitur laoreet cursus volutpat. Aliquam sit amet ligula et justo tincidunt laorsoet non vitae lorem.
John Doe

John Doe

Sony CEO
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Curabitur laoreet cursus volutpat. Aliquam sit amet ligula et justo tincidunt laorsoet non vitae lorem.
John Doe

John Doe

Sony CEO
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Curabitur laoreet cursus volutpat. Aliquam sit amet ligula et justo tincidunt laorsoet non vitae lorem.
John Doe

John Doe

Sony CEO
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Curabitur laoreet cursus volutpat. Aliquam sit amet ligula et justo tincidunt laorsoet non vitae lorem.

8 million+ Physician Ratings & Reviews

Search for Obstetrician-Gynecologists in your area

Find Doctors and Dentists Near you

You can also search by physician, practice, or hospital name