Birth Control

Birth control is how you prevent pregnancy. There are lots of different birth control options out there. We’re here to help you figure it all out.

Pick what’s important to you to find your best birth control method:

Filter By Showing all 18 methods No methods match all of the filters selected Showing 1 filtered method Showing 0 filtered methods

• Most effective and convenient
• A to Z / Alphabetical
• Most Viewed

• Doctor or Nurse Required
• Best At Preventing Pregnancy
• Easiest to Use
• menstruation Helps with Periods
• mortar Less or No Hormones
• Helps Prevent STDs

Showing all 18 methods No methods match all of the filters selected Showing 1 filtered method Showing 0 filtered methods Show All

Birth Control Implant

Birth Control Implant

• 99% Effective
• Can cost $0 to $1300
• Lasts Up To 5 years

• 99% Effective
• $0 to $1300
• 5 years

• Best at Preventing Pregnancy
• Easiest to Use
• Helps with periods
• Less or No Hormones
• Doctor or Nurse

• What is it?
• How effective is the birth control implant?
• How can I get the birth control implant?
• What happens when the birth control implant is inserted?
• What are the side effects of the birth control implant?
• How safe is the birth control implant?
• What are the benefits of using the birth control implant?
• What are the disadvantages of birth control implants?
• What happens when the birth control implant is removed?

Best at Preventing Pregnancy

• Less than 1 out of 100 people will get pregnant each year

Easiest to Use

• Mistake proof – once it’s in place, you don’t need to do anything for up to 5 years

menstruation

Helps with periods

• Can make periods and cramps lighter or go away altogether

mortar

Less or No Hormones

• Progestin-only and no estrogen

Doctor or Nurse

• Placed and removed by a doctor or nurse

IUD

IUD

• 99% Effective
• Can cost $0 to $1300
• Lasts Up To 3-12 years

• 99% Effective
• $0 to $1300
• 3-12 years

• Best at Preventing Pregnancy
• Easiest to Use
• Helps with periods
• Less or No Hormones
• Doctor or Nurse

• What is it?
• How effective are IUDs?
• How can I get an IUD?
• What's an IUD insertion like?
• What are the side effects of IUDs?
• How safe is the IUD?
• What are the benefits of IUDs?
• What are the disadvantages of IUDs?
• How does IUD removal work?
• What are hormonal IUDs?
• What are non-hormonal IUDs?

Best at Preventing Pregnancy

• Less than 1 out of 100 people will get pregnant each year

Easiest to Use

• Mistake proof – once it’s put in, there’s nothing you need to do for up to 3-12 years

menstruation

Helps with periods

• Can make periods and cramps lighter or go away altogether (only hormonal IUDs)

mortar

Less or No Hormones

• No hormones in copper IUD
• No estrogen in hormonal IUDs

Doctor or Nurse

• Placed and removed by a doctor or nurse

Birth Control Shot

Birth Control Shot

• 96% Effective
• Can cost $0 to $150
• Get every 3 months

• 96% Effective
• $0 to $150
• 3 months

• Best at Preventing Pregnancy
• Helps with periods
• Less or No Hormones
• Doctor or Nurse

• What is it?
• How effective is the birth control shot?
• Are there birth control shot side effects?
• How safe is the birth control shot?
• How do I use the birth control shot?
• How much does the birth control shot cost?
• What are the benefits of the birth control shot?
• What are the disadvantages of the birth control shot?

Best at Preventing Pregnancy

• Only 6 out of 100 people will get pregnant each year
• Works even better if you always get it on time

menstruation

Helps with periods

• Can make periods and cramps lighter or go away altogether

mortar

Less or No Hormones

• Progestin-only and no estrogen

Doctor or Nurse

• You get or give yourself a shot every 3 months

Birth Control Vaginal Ring

Birth Control Vaginal Ring

• 93% Effective
• Can cost $0 to $200
• Put in and take out once a month

• 93% Effective
• $0 to $200
• Monthly

• Best at Preventing Pregnancy
• Helps with Periods
• Doctor or Nurse

• What is it?
• How effective is the birth control ring?
• What are the side effects of the birth control ring?
• How safe is the birth control ring?
• How do I use the birth control ring?
• What do I do if I make a mistake with the ring?
• How do I get the birth control ring?
• What are the benefits of the birth control ring?
• What are the disadvantages of the birth control ring?

Best at Preventing Pregnancy

• Only 9 out of 100 people will get pregnant each year
• Works even better if you always change your ring on time
  

menstruation

Helps with Periods

• Regulates and lightens periods, eases period symptoms
• Can be used to skip periods

Doctor or Nurse

• You need a prescription from a doctor or nurse

Birth Control Patch

Birth Control Patch

• 93% Effective
• Can cost $0 to $150
• Replace weekly

• 93% Effective
• $0 to $150
• Weekly

• Best at Preventing Pregnancy
• Helps with Periods
• Doctor or Nurse

• What is it?
• How effective is the birth control patch?
• What are the side effects of the birth control patch?
• How safe is the birth control patch?
• How do I use the birth control patch?
• What do I do if I make a patch mistake?
• How do I get the birth control patch?
• What are the benefits of the birth control patch?
• What are the disadvantages of the patch?

Best at Preventing Pregnancy

• Only 9 out of 100 people will get pregnant each year
• Works even better if you always change your patch on time

menstruation

Helps with Periods

• Regulates and lightens periods, eases period symptoms
• Can be used to skip periods
  

Doctor or Nurse

• You need a prescription from a Doctor or Nurse Required

Birth Control Pill

Birth Control Pill

• 93% Effective
• Can cost $0 to $50
• Take daily

• 93% Effective
• $0 to $50
• Daily

• Best at Preventing Pregnancy
• Helps with Periods
• Less or No Hormones
• Doctor or Nurse

• What is it?
• How effective is the birth control pill?
• What are the side effects of the birth control pill?
• How safe is the birth control pill?
• How do I use the birth control pill?
• What do I do if I miss a birth control pill?
• How do I get birth control pills?
• What are the benefits of the birth control pill?
• What are the disadvantages of the pill?

Best at Preventing Pregnancy

• Only 9 out of 100 people will get pregnant each year
• Works even better if you always take your pill each day
  

menstruation

Helps with Periods

• Regulates and lightens periods, eases period symptoms
• Can be used to skip periods

mortar

Less or No Hormones

• No estrogen in progestin-only pills (mini-pills)

Doctor or Nurse

• You need a prescription from a doctor or nurse

Condom

Condom

• 87% Effective
• Can cost $0 to $2
• Use every time

• 87% Effective
• $0 to $2
• Every time

• Less or No Hormones
• Helps Prevent STDs

• What is it?
• How effective are condoms?
• How to put a condom on
• How do I get condoms?
• What are the benefits of condoms?
• What are the disadvantages of condoms?

mortar

Less or No Hormones

• No hormones

Helps Prevent STDs

• Helps prevent STDs during oral, vaginal, or anal sex

Internal Condom

Internal Condom

• 79% Effective
• Can cost $0 to $3
• Use every time

• 79% Effective
• $0 to $3
• Every time

• Less or No Hormones
• Helps Prevent STDs

• What is it?
• How effective are internal condoms?
• How do I use an internal condom?
• How do I buy internal condoms?
• What are the advantages of internal condoms?
• What are the disadvantages of using internal condoms?

mortar

Less or No Hormones

• No hormones

Helps Prevent STDs

• Helps prevent STDs during vaginal or anal sex

Diaphragm

Diaphragm

• 83% Effective
• Can cost $0 to $75
• Use every time

• 83% Effective
• $0 to $75
• Every time

• Less or No Hormones
• Doctor or Nurse

• What is it?
• How effective are diaphragms?
• How do I use a diaphragm?
• How do I get a diaphragm?
• How safe is the diaphragm?
• What are the benefits of diaphragms?
• What are the disadvantages of diaphragms?

mortar

Less or No Hormones

• No hormones

Doctor or Nurse

• You need a prescription from a Doctor or Nurse Required

Birth Control Sponge

Birth Control Sponge

• 78 or 86% Effective
• Can cost $0 to $15
• Use every time

• 78 or 86% Effective
• $0 to $15
• Every time

• Less or No Hormones

• What is it?
• How effective is the sponge?
• How do I use the sponge?
• How do I get the sponge?
• How safe is the sponge?
• What are the benefits of the sponge?
• What are the disadvantages of using the sponge?

mortar

Less or No Hormones

• No hormones

Cervical Cap

Cervical Cap

• 71 or 86% Effective
• Can cost $0 to $90
• Use every time

• 71 or 86% Effective
• $0 to $90
• Every time

• Less or No Hormones
• Doctor or Nurse

• What is it?
• How effective are cervical caps?
• How do I use a cervical cap?
• How do I get a cervical cap?
• How safe are cervical caps?
• What are the benefits of cervical caps?
• What are the disadvantages of using cervical caps?

mortar

Less or No Hormones

• No hormones

Doctor or Nurse

• You need a prescription from a doctor or nurse

Spermicide & Gel

Spermicide & Gel

• 79 or 86% Effective
• Can cost $0 to $270
• Use every time

• 79 or 86% Effective
• $0 to $270
• Every time

• Less or No Hormones

• What is it?
• How effective is spermicide?
• How do I use spermicide?
• How do I get spermicide?
• What are the benefits of spermicide?
• What are the disadvantages of using spermicide?
• How safe is spermicide?
• Phexxi

mortar

Less or No Hormones

• No hormones

Fertility Awareness (FAMs)

Fertility Awareness (FAMs)

• 77-98% Effective
• Can cost $0 to $20
• Use daily

• 77-98% Effective
• $0 to $20
• Daily

• Less or No Hormones

• What is it?
• What’s the temperature method of FAMs?
• What's the cervical mucus method of FAMs?
• What's the calendar method of FAMs?
• What's the Standard Days method?
• Are fertility awareness methods right for me?

mortar

Less or No Hormones

• No hormones

Withdrawal (Pull Out Method)

Withdrawal (Pull Out Method)

• 78% Effective
• Cost $0
• Use Every Time

• 78% Effective
• $0
• Every time

• Less or No Hormones

• What is it?
• How effective is pulling out?
• How does pulling out work?
• What are the benefits of the pull out method?
• What are the disadvantages of the pull out method?

mortar

Less or No Hormones

• No hormones

Outercourse and Abstinence

Outercourse and Abstinence

• 100% Effective
• Cost $0
• Used every time

• 100% Effective
• $0
• Every time

• Best at Preventing Pregnancy
• Less or No Hormones

• What is it?
• How effective are abstinence and outercourse?
• How do I talk about abstinence and outercourse?
• What are the benefits and disadvantages of abstinence and outercourse?

Best at Preventing Pregnancy

• 100% effective, as long as you stick to it
• If you never get semen (cum) on the vulva or in the vagina, pregnancy can’t happen

mortar

Less or No Hormones

• No hormones

Breastfeeding as Birth Control

Breastfeeding as Birth Control

• 98% Effective
• Cost $0
• Do every 4-5 hours

• 98% Effective
• $0
• Every time

• Less or No Hormones

• What is it?
• What are the benefits of using breastfeeding as birth control?
• What are the disadvantages of using breastfeeding as birth control?
• What’s the best birth control option while breastfeeding?

mortar

Less or No Hormones

• Uses your body’s own hormones

Sterilization (Tubal Ligation)

Sterilization (Tubal Ligation)

• 99% Effective
• Can cost $0 to $6000
• Lasts for Life

• 99% Effective
• $0 to $6000
• For life

• Best at Preventing Pregnancy
• Easiest to Use
• Less or No Hormones
• Doctor or Nurse

• What is it?
• How effective is tubal ligation?
• How safe is tubal ligation?
• What can I expect if I get a tubal ligation?
• How do I get a tubal ligation?
• What are the benefits of sterilization?
• What are the disadvantages of tubal ligation?

Best at Preventing Pregnancy

• Less than 1 out of 100 people will get pregnant each year

Easiest to Use

• Mistake proof – once you get sterilized, there’s nothing else you need to do

mortar

Less or No Hormones

• No hormones

Doctor or Nurse

• Procedure done by a Doctor or Nurse Required

Vasectomy

Vasectomy

• 99% Effective
• Can cost $0 to $1000
• Lasts for life

• 99% Effective
• $0 to $1000
• For life

• Best at Preventing Pregnancy
• Easiest to Use
• Less or No Hormones
• Doctor or Nurse

• What is it?
• How effective is a vasectomy?
• How safe is a vasectomy?
• What can I expect during and after having a vasectomy?
• How do I get a vasectomy?
• What are the benefits of vasectomy?
• What are the disadvantages of getting a vasectomy?

Best at Preventing Pregnancy

• Less than 1 out of 100 people will get pregnant each year

Easiest to Use

• Mistake proof – once you get a vasectomy, there’s nothing else you need to do

mortar

Less or No Hormones

• No hormones

Doctor or Nurse

• Procedure done by a Doctor or Nurse Required

What do the experts say about birth control?

Read questions and answers about birth control on our blog.

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Spot On Period Tracker

Spot On is a period and birth control tracking mobile app available for Android and iOS phones that can help you stay on top of your birth control method and track your cycle. The app provides customized appointment reminders, and puts birth control and sexual health resources from the experts at Planned Parenthood at your fingertips.

Discouraged by the Cost of Birth Control? We Can Help

We do our best to help you afford the birth control method you choose — no matter what your situation is. Whether you have your own health insurance, are on your parents’ plan, or don’t have insurance at all, we’ve got you covered. Find a health center near you.

Is health insurance not an option for you? We can get you set up with state or locally funded programs that help cover the cost of your birth control.

Accidents Happen. That’s Why There’s Emergency Contraception

Emergency contraception is a safe and effective way to prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex. There are a few different kinds. Find out which one is right for you.

Need answers? Chat with us.

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Need answers? Chat with us.

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Ask us anything. Seriously.

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