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Contraception, also known as birth control or family planning is the intentional prevention of conception or impregnation through the use of various devices, agents, drugs, sexual practices, or surgical procedures.

Methods

Barrier methods create a solid barrier to prevent the sperm from reaching the ovum. Barriers include condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps and the contraceptive sponge.

Hormonal methods include combinations of synthetic estrogen and progestins and can be delivered by pill, patch, vaginal ring or injection. There are also progesterone only formulas in minipill form, injection or implant.

Intrauterine methods also known as IUDs are shaped like a "T" and contain copper which has a spermicidal effect. The IUD is inserted into the fallopian tubes to prevent ova transfer to the uterus.

Surgical sterilization is known as tubal ligation in a female and vasectomy in males. A tubal ligation severs the fallopian tubes to prevent the ova from entering the uterus. A vasectomy is the surgical severence of the vas deferens, preventing sperm from combining with ejaculatory fluids. Even though both surgeries can be reversed they should be considered permanent as reversal is a highly specialized surgery, success cannot be guaranteed.

Non-surgical sterilization (permanent), inserts made of polyester fibres, nickel-titanium and stainless steel are inserted through the vagina, cervix, uterus and into the fallopian tubes. Over a period of approximately 90 days the body and the micro-inserts work together to form a scar tissue barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the ovum by blocking the fallopian tubes. A hysterosalpingogram (a a radiologic procedure using contrast dye) will confirm the blockage.

Fertility awareness methods or Natural Family Planning involve the use of the body's primary fertility signs to determine the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's cycle. This is the least reliable method as temperature charting and evaluating cervical mucus quality is often unreliable.

The Rhythm Method relies less upon very accurate charting of fertility signs and meticulously kept calendars and is loosely based on the menstrual cycle alone.

Coitus interruptus is when the male withdraws before ejaculation.

Avoiding vaginal intercourse by participating in "outercourse" or sex without penetration. Often practitioners will engage in oral or anal sex and believe that by avoiding penetrating the vagina that pregnancy is an impossibility. While improbable, it is not impossible and reliance on an extreme level of discipline is required while in a highly charged state.

Abstinence or celibacy is the only 100 percent guaranteed method of contraception.

Lactational Amenorrhea Method - shortly after childbirth while a woman is breastfeeding conception is less likely to occur. Even though this is the body's natural form of family planning it is not 100% reliable and a breastfeeding woman may choose to use a non-hormonal type of birth control.

Emergency Contraception by D. Ashley Hill, OBGYN.net Editorial Advisor.

Please visit the OBGYN.net Contraception Section for more articles and news.