Women have a wide range of birth control options and there are many factors that may influence a woman's birth control choices. These factors may include cost, convenience, expense, religious beliefs, and existing medical conditions.

We've categorized the most common methods of birth control as follows: abstinence, barrier, hormonal, intrauterine, natural contraceptions methods, and sterilization.

Abstinence
Abstinece is the oldest and, arguably, the only 100% fool-proof method of birth control. Learn more about abstinence.

Barrier Methods
Barrier methods of birth control include male and female condoms, diphragms, and cervical caps. Learn more about barrier birth control.

Hormonal Methods
Hormonal methods of birth control include birth control pills, birth control patches, vaginal rings, implants, and injections. Learn more about hormonal birth control.

Intrauterine Devices
Intrauterine devices are a method of long term birth control in which a small t-shaped device is inserted into the uterus. The devices are usually copper, which kills sperm, or coated with hormones that kill sperm while causing other reactions that reduce the chance of pregnancy. (Some intrauterine devices could also be classified as hormonal methods of birth control). Learn more about intrauterine devices.

Natural Contraception
Natural contraception includes methods such as family planning, withdrawal, and fertility awareness, also referred to as the rhythm method. Learn more about natural contraception.

Sterilization
Sterilization is a surgical method of birth control that blocks the fallopian tubes and prevents sperm from reaching the eggs for fertilization. Sterilization surgeries are also called tubal ligation, tubal sterilization, and tubal occlusion. Learn more about sterilization.