Birth Control
Methods
Explore your options, compare effectiveness, and know what to expect — then find a trusted clinic near you when you’re ready.
Abstinence or "Not Right Now"
What is abstinence or "not right now"?
Choosing not to have sex as a way to prevent pregnancy.
Effectiveness
Abstinent or “not right now” is 100% effective for as long as you’re not having penis-in-vagina sex. But that’s hard for a lot of people to stick to.
Perfect use: 100% effective.
Typical use: No data.
Side effects
“Not right now” has no side effects.
STI protection
If you’re not having any kind of sex with a partner, you’re not at risk of STIs. But if you’re having outercourse, oral sex, or anal sex instead, you will still be at risk of STIs.
Hormones
“Not right now” doesn’t change your hormones at all.
Health benefits
There are no physical health benefits to “not right now” besides preventing pregnancy, but there are no side effects either!
Periods/bleeding
Not having sex won’t have any effect on your periods.
Cost
It’s free!
Birth Control Patch
What is the birth control patch?
A small skin patch changed weekly that releases hormones to prevent pregnancy.
Effectiveness
The patch is very effective the way most people use it.
Perfect use: Over 99% effective.
Typical use: 93% effective.
Side effects
Nausea, irregular bleeding, headaches, and sore breasts are the most common side effects, but they’re usually temporary.
STI protection
The patch doesn’t protect against STIs.
Hormones
The patch contains two kinds of hormones: estrogen and progestin.
Health benefits
The patch protects against endometrial and ovarian cancer, iron deficiency anemia, ovarian cysts, and pelvic inflammatory disease. It can also help with acne.
Periods/bleeding
With the patch, periods may be more regular, lighter, and shorter or you can choose to skip them all together.
Cost
Could be as low as $0 a month (with insurance) or as high as $44 a month.
Birth Control Pill
What is the birth control pill?
A daily pill that uses hormones to prevent pregnancy.
Effectiveness
The pill is very effective the way most people use it.
Perfect use: 98% to over 99% effective.
Typical use: 93% effective.
Side effects
Most common—but usually temporary—side effects are irregular bleeding, headaches, sore breasts, and nausea.
STI protection
The pill doesn’t protect against STIs.
Hormones
The pill contains hormones.
Health benefits
Some pills protect against ovarian and endometrial cancer, ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, and iron deficiency anemia. Some pills can also help with acne.
Periods/bleeding
With the pill, periods may be more regular, lighter, and shorter — or you can choose to skip them altogether.
Cost
As low as $0 or as high as $200 a month.
Birth Control Ring
What is the birth control ring?
A flexible ring placed in the vagina monthly to release pregnancy-preventing hormones.
Effectiveness
The ring is very effective the way most people use it.
Perfect use: 97-over 99% effective.
Typical use: 93% effective.
Side effects
Most common—but usually temporary—side effects are irregular bleeding, headaches, sore breasts, and nausea.
STI protection
The ring doesn’t protect against STIs.
Hormones
The ring contains two kinds of hormones: estrogen and progestin.
Health benefits
The ring protects against health problems like endometrial and ovarian cancer, anemia, ovarian cysts, and pelvic inflammatory disease. It can also help with acne.
Periods/bleeding
The ring may make periods more regular, lighter, and shorter or you can choose to skip them all together.
Cost
Anywhere from $0 (with insurance) to $200 a month.
Birth Control Shot (Depo-Provera)
What is a birth control shot?
A hormone shot given every three months to prevent pregnancy.
Effectiveness
The shot is very effective the way most people use it.
Perfect use: Over 99% effective.
Typical use: 96% effective
Side effects
Irregular bleeding, changes to appetite, and weight gain are the most common side effects.
STI protection
The shot doesn’t protect against STIs.
Hormones
The shot contains progestin.
Health benefits
The birth control shot may protect against ovarian and endometrial cancer and reduce symptoms of endometriosis.
Periods/bleeding
The shot may make your periods shorter and lighter or it may make them stop completely.
Cost
Could range from $0 (with insurance) to $200 every three months.
Cervical Cap
What is a cervical cap?
A small reusable barrier placed over the cervix before sex.
Effectiveness
The cervical cap is pretty effective when used properly. It’s more effective when used with spermicide.
Perfect use: No data.
Typical use: 71-86% effective.
Side effects
Irritation or discomfort are possible.
STI protection
The cervical cap doesn’t protect against STIs.
Hormones
The cervical cap is hormone-free.
Health benefits
The cervical cap doesn’t offer any real health benefits besides preventing pregnancy.
Periods/bleeding
Using the cervical cap won’t affect your periods at all. You shouldn’t use it when you have your period, though.
Cost
Pay once for fitting ($0-$200) and the cap ($0-$89); ongoing cost for spermicide of around $1 per dose.
Condom
What is a condom?
A barrier method worn during sex to help prevent pregnancy and STIs.
Effectiveness
Condoms are pretty effective the way most people use them.
Perfect use: 98% effective.
Typical use: 87% effective.
Side effects
If you’re sensitive, they could cause a little irritation. They may reduce sensation slightly when you’re having sex.
STI protection
Condoms offer STI protection as well as pregnancy prevention.
Hormones
Condoms are a hormone-free method of birth control.
Health benefits
Condoms don’t provide extra health benefits besides preventing pregnancy, but they do protect against most STIs.
Periods/bleeding
Using condoms won’t affect your periods at all.
Cost
Available for free at many clinics. Otherwise, around $1 each, but the price varies.
Diaphragm
What is a diaphragm?
A flexible barrier placed inside the vagina before sex to prevent pregnancy.
Effectiveness
The diaphragm (used with spermicide) is pretty effective when used properly.
Perfect use: 84% effective.
Typical use: 83% effective.
Side effects
Irritation or urinary tract infections are possible.
STI protection
The diaphragm doesn’t protect against STIs.
Hormones
The diaphragm doesn’t contain any hormones.
Health benefits
The diaphragm doesn’t offer any real health benefits besides preventing pregnancy.
Periods/bleeding
Using a diaphragm won’t affect your period. Don’t use the diaphragm when you have your period though.
Cost
Anywhere from $0 (with insurance) to $250, but you can keep using it for up to two years. Th extra cost for spermicide is about $1 per dose.
Emergency Contraception
What is an emergency contraception?
A pill taken after sex to help prevent pregnancy. In some cases, a non-hormonal IUD can also be used for emergency protection.
Effectiveness
The IUD as EC is super effective.
The prescription-only EC pill is more effective than the over-the-counter EC pill but neither is as good at preventing pregnancy as lots of methods you can use before or during sex.
Side effects
With the IUD, you might have bleeding changes and cramping. EC pills can cause temporary upset stomach, vomiting, changes to your period, and sore breasts.
STI protection
Emergency contraception doesn’t protect against STIs.
Hormones
There are hormonal and non-hormonal options.
Health benefits
Most kinds of emergency contraception don’t offer health benefits besides preventing pregnancy, except for the hormonal IUD.
Periods/bleeding
You may experience some bleeding after taking emergency contraception. There are no long-term effects unless you use the IUD as EC and keep it in for ongoing birth control.
Cost
Anywhere from $0-$1300.
Fertility Awareness
What is fertility awareness?
Tracking your cycle to avoid sex or use protection on fertile days.
Effectiveness
Pretty effective the way most people use them (but they’re not the easiest to use).
Perfect use: 95 to over 99% effective.
Typical use: 77-98% effective.
Side effects
None.
STI protection
Fertility awareness doesn’t protect against STIs.
Hormones
FAMs don’t affect your hormones at all.
Health benefits
Fertility awareness methods don’t have any real health benefits, besides preventing pregnancy and getting to know your body better.
Periods/bleeding
Fertility awareness won’t affect your periods at all.
Cost
It’s free!
Hormonal IUD
What is a hormonal IUD?
A small device placed in the uterus that releases hormones to prevent pregnancy for several years.
Effectiveness
The hormonal IUD is one of the most effective birth control methods.
Perfect use: Over 99% effective.
Typical use: Over 99% effective.
Side effects
You may have spotting between periods, cramps, and backaches.
STI protection
The Hormonal IUD doesn’t protect against STIs.
Hormones
The hormonal IUD contains progestin.
Health benefits
Hormonal IUDs may make periods lighter and less painful.
Periods/bleeding
You may have irregular bleeding for the first few months, but over time, you’re likely to have shorter, lighter periods. Your period may even go away completely.
Cost
Could range from $0 (with insurance) to $1300. There may be an extra cost for insertion and removal.
Non-Hormonal IUD
What is a non-hormonal IUD?
A hormone-free device placed in the uterus that prevents pregnancy for years.
Effectiveness
The non-hormonal IUD is one of the most effective birth control methods.
Perfect use: Over 99% effective.
Typical use: Over 99% effective
Side effects
You may have heavier periods with increased cramping.
STI protection
The Non-hormonal IUD doesn’t protect against STIs.
Hormones
The non-hormonal/copper IUD is hormone-free.
Health benefits
No real health benefits besides preventing pregnancy.
Periods/bleeding
Your period may get a little longer and heavier for several months after insertion.
Cost
Could range from $0 (with insurance) to $1300. There may be an extra cost for insertion and removal.
Implant (Nexplanon)
What is an implant?
A small rod placed under the skin of the arm that prevents pregnancy for several years.
Effectiveness
The implant is one of the most effective birth control methods.
Perfect use: Over 99% effective.
Typical use: Over 99% effective
Side effects
Irregular bleeding is the most common side effect.
ATI protection
The implant doesn’t protect against STIs.
Hormones
The implant contains progestin.
Health benefits
The implant may improve PMS and symptoms from endometriosis.
Periods/bleeding
The implant will probably make your periods lighter—they may stop completely after a while. It can also reduce menstrual cramping.
Cost
Could range from $0 (with insurance) to $1300. There may be an extra cost for insertion and removal.
Internal Condom
What is an internal condom?
A barrier worn inside the vagina during sex to help prevent pregnancy and STIs.
Effectiveness
Internal condoms are pretty effective the way most people use them.
Perfect use: 95% effective.
Typical use: 79% effective.
Side effects
If you’re sensitive, they could cause a little irritation. They may reduce sensation slightly when you’re having sex.
STI protection
Internal condoms offer STI protection as well as pregnancy prevention.
Hormones
Internal condoms are a hormone-free method of birth control.
Health benefits
Internal condoms don’t provide extra health benefits besides preventing pregnancy, but they do protect against most STIs.
Periods/bleeding
Using the internal condom won’t affect your period at all.
Cost
As low as $0 (with insurance) or as high as $3 per internal condom.
Spermicide
What is spermicide?
A product used before sex to help stop sperm from reaching an egg.
Effectiveness
Spermicide on its own, without a barrier method like a diaphragm or condom, is pretty effective the way most people use it. Prescription-only spermicide is more effective than over-the-counter spermicide.
Perfect use: 84-93% effective.
Typical use: 79-86% effective.
Side effects
Irritation or urinary tract infections are possible.
STI protection
Spermicide doesn’t protect against STIs.
Hormones
Spermicide is hormone-free.
Health benefits
Spermicide doesn’t offer any real health benefits besides preventing pregnancy.
Periods/bleeding
Spermicide won’t affect your periods.
Cost
Anywhere from $0 to $32 per dose.
Sterilization
What is sterilization?
A permanent medical procedure that prevents pregnancy.
Effectiveness
Sterilization is one of the most effective ways to prevent pregnancy.
Perfect use: >99% effective.
Typical use: >99% effective.
Side effects
Possible pain or discomfort right after the procedure.
STI protection
Sterilization doesn’t protect against STIs.
Hormones
Sterilization is hormone-free.
Health benefits
Tubal ligation can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer but vasectomy has no physical health benefits besides preventing pregnancy.
Periods/bleeding
Sterilization shouldn’t affect your periods at all.
Cost
As low as $0 (with insurance) or as high as $6,000.
Withdrawal
What is withdrawal?
Pulling out before ejaculation to reduce the chance of pregnancy.
Effectiveness
Pretty effective the way most people use it (but it’s hard to pull out on time every time).
Perfect use: 96% effective.
Typical use: 80% effective.
Side effects
None.
STI protection
Withdrawal doesn’t protect against STIs.
Hormones
Withdrawal doesn’t affect your hormones at all.
Health benefits
Withdrawal doesn’t have any real health benefits besides preventing pregnancy.
Periods/bleeding
The withdrawal method won’t affect your periods at all.
Cost
It’s free!