HealthTree Blog

Contraception means to prevent pregnancy by the use of some method of birth control such as drugs, surgical procedures, implanted devices, or sexual practices. There are five types of contraception methods that are widely used today.  They are: Barrier, Behavioral, Emergency, Hormonal and Sterilization.

The barrier methods involve use of a device such as a cervical cap, condoms (which are available for both men and women), sponges, diaphragms and spermicide.  These devices do not allow sperm to enter the uterus, thus preventing fertilization of the egg.  The condom is considered to be the most effective in the prevention of sexually transmitted disease and also has a 70 to 90 percent pregnancy prevention rate.  The cervical cap, diaphragm and sponge are not as effective in preventing pregnancy.  Spermicidal is not as effective alone and should be used in conjunction with the other barrier methods.

Abstinence, fertility-awareness method, lactational amenorrhea method, and withdrawal are all behavioral methods which are also called “natural family planning methods”.  Of all these methods, abstinence is considered to be most effective and withdrawal the least effective in preventing pregnancy.  All of the other barrier methods are effective if practiced correctly.

Birth control patches, pills, rings, shots and implants are hormonal methods of birth control.  These methods do not allow the eggs to be released from the ovaries by controlling the levels of estrogen and progestin in a woman’s body.  The effective rate of these is high, however, each one of these methods differ in usage.  The pill is taken each day of the month, while the implant can last for as long as five years.

Vasectomy and tubal ligation are methods of permanent contraception and are considered to be very effective. However, these options should only be chosen if a man or woman know they do not want to have any more children.