Different Methods to Prevent Pregnancy | Safer Choices

Choosing how to prevent pregnancy is a personal health decision. There is no single option that suits everyone, so understanding the main methods helps you find a match for your body, your habits, and your plans about children.

Some methods work quietly in the background for years, others rely on daily steps or protection used at the time of sex. Alongside effectiveness, you will see how methods differ in side effects, maintenance, and protection against sexually transmitted infections.

Different Methods To Prevent Pregnancy At A Glance

Health agencies group pregnancy prevention options into a few broad types: long-acting reversible contraception, short-acting hormonal methods, barrier methods, natural methods, emergency contraception, and permanent procedures. Each group has strengths and trade-offs.

Method Type	Examples	Pregnancies Per 100 People In A Year (Typical Use)
Long-Acting Reversible	Copper IUD, Hormonal IUD, Implant	Fewer than 1
Short-Acting Hormonal	Pill, Patch, Vaginal Ring, Injection	About 4–7
Barrier Methods	Male Condom, Female Condom, Diaphragm	About 13–21
Natural Methods	Fertility Awareness, Withdrawal	About 15–25 or more
Spermicides And Gels	Spermicide Foam, Gel, Film, Pessary	About 20 or more
Emergency Contraception	Emergency Pills, Copper IUD After Sex	Used after unprotected sex
Permanent Procedures	Tubal Ligation, Vasectomy	Fewer than 1

Numbers in this table reflect large reviews used by bodies such as the FDA birth control chart and the WHO contraception fact sheet. They describe what happens in real-world use, not perfect textbook use.

When you read about different methods to prevent pregnancy, think about your health conditions, medicines, comfort with procedures, period pattern, and whether you need protection from infections. A short visit with a doctor, nurse, or midwife can help you weigh these factors safely.

Cost, access, and local health policies shape which contraceptives are realistic options for you. Clinics, pharmacies, and public health programs may offer certain methods at low or no cost, depending on where you live.

Long-Acting Methods That Work In The Background

Long-acting reversible contraception, often shortened to LARC, includes methods that last several years and do not need action during sex. Once in place, they give steady protection and are among the most reliable reversible methods available.

Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)

An intrauterine device is a small T-shaped device placed in the uterus by a trained clinician. Copper IUDs release copper ions that make it harder for sperm to move and survive. Hormonal IUDs release a form of progestin, which thickens cervical mucus and can thin the lining of the uterus. Both types work for several years, depending on the brand, and typical use leads to fewer than one pregnancy per hundred users in a year.

Contraceptive Implant

The contraceptive implant is a small flexible rod inserted under the skin of the upper arm. It releases progestin slowly into the bloodstream and can prevent pregnancy for three to five years. Many users notice changes in bleeding patterns, such as lighter, less frequent periods or irregular spotting.

Short-Acting Hormonal Methods You Use Regularly

Short-acting hormonal methods rely on regular action from the user, such as taking a pill daily or applying a patch on schedule. That means habits and routine make a real difference to how well they work.

Birth Control Pills

Combined pills contain oestrogen and progestin, while progestin-only pills contain only one hormone. Both mainly stop the ovaries releasing an egg. With typical use, combined pills lead to about seven pregnancies per hundred users each year, while perfect use brings the risk down to below one.

Contraceptive Patch And Vaginal Ring

The patch and ring deliver similar hormones to combined pills but in different ways. The patch sticks to the skin and is changed weekly. The vaginal ring sits inside the vagina for three weeks at a time, then is removed for a ring-free week. Effectiveness sits in a similar range to combined pills.

Contraceptive Injection

The contraceptive injection, given every eight to thirteen weeks depending on the product, contains a progestin that stops ovulation and thickens cervical mucus. Typical use leads to around four pregnancies per hundred users in a year, and fertility can take several months to return once injections stop.

Barrier Methods That Work During Sex

Barrier methods try to stop sperm reaching the egg by placing a physical barrier over the cervix or around the penis. They work only when used every time you have sex and in the right way.

Male And Female Condoms

Male condoms fit over the penis; female condoms line the vagina. Both are made from thin material that blocks sperm. With typical use, male condoms lead to about thirteen pregnancies per hundred users each year, while careful use every time brings the risk down sharply.

A major advantage is that condoms help reduce the chance of many sexually transmitted infections. WHO notes that they are the only contraceptive method that both prevents pregnancy and lowers STI risk at the same time.

Diaphragm, Cervical Cap, And Sponge

These devices sit inside the vagina and sit over the cervix. They are usually used with spermicide to reduce sperm movement. Effectiveness depends heavily on correct placement and using them every time.

Non-Hormonal And Natural Ways To Prevent Pregnancy

Some people prefer pregnancy prevention without hormones or implanted devices. These methods can work for those who are strongly motivated, able to track cycles carefully, and ready to use backup methods at certain times.

Fertility Awareness Methods

Fertility awareness involves tracking signs such as cycle length, basal body temperature, and cervical mucus to work out fertile days. You then avoid vaginal sex or use another method during fertile windows.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal means the penis is removed from the vagina before ejaculation. It costs nothing and needs no devices, but pregnancy risk stays high in typical use, partly due to timing errors and the chance of sperm in pre-ejaculate fluid.

None of the non-hormonal methods described in this section protect against sexually transmitted infections, so many people add condoms, especially with new or multiple partners. These approaches also rely on clear communication about timing, fertile days, and what to do if tracking slips or unprotected sex occurs.

Emergency Contraception For Occasional Back-Up

Emergency contraception is meant for use after unprotected sex or when another method fails, such as a condom break. It is not a regular method, but it can cut pregnancy risk when something unexpected happens.

Emergency Contraceptive Pills

Emergency pills work mainly by delaying ovulation. Some types are taken within three days of unprotected sex, while others can work up to five days, with earlier use giving better results. They are sold under different brand names and may be available over the counter or from clinics, depending on where you live.

Copper IUD As Emergency Contraception

A copper IUD inserted within five days of unprotected sex is one of the most effective ways to prevent pregnancy afterwards. It then continues to work as long-term contraception. This option needs an appointment with a clinician who fits IUDs.

Permanent Methods For People Confident About No More Pregnancies

Permanent contraception is best for people who feel sure they do not want children in the years ahead. These procedures are treated as non-reversible, while reversal surgery may be attempted in some cases.

Tubal Ligation

Tubal ligation is a procedure that closes or blocks the fallopian tubes so eggs cannot meet sperm. It can be done through small cuts in the abdomen with laparoscopic surgery.

Vasectomy

Vasectomy involves cutting or blocking the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles. It is usually done under local anaesthetic and often takes less than an hour.

Comparing Methods To Prevent An Unplanned Pregnancy

When you compare methods to prevent an unplanned pregnancy, effectiveness is only one piece of the picture. How you feel about hormones, your comfort with procedures, your period patterns, and whether you want protection from infections all matter as well.

Method	Maintenance	May Suit You If You…
Copper Or Hormonal IUD	Check threads monthly, replace every 3–10 years	Want strong protection without daily action
Implant	Check site, replace every 3–5 years	Prefer a small arm device over uterine insertion
Pill, Patch, Ring	Daily or weekly steps	Like the idea of regular cycles and easy stopping
Injection	Clinic or pharmacy every 2–3 months	Want to think about contraception only a few times a year
Condoms	Used every time you have sex	Want pregnancy and STI protection together
Fertility Awareness	Daily tracking and charting	Prefer no devices or hormones and can track cycles closely
Tubal Ligation Or Vasectomy	One-time procedure	Feel sure you do not want any more pregnancies

When you meet with a clinician, share your medical history, medicines, period pattern, and any worries about bleeding, weight, or mood. Ask how each method works, what usually happens in the first few months, and how easy it is to switch if something does not feel right.

Different methods to prevent pregnancy give you real choice over your reproductive life. Long-acting options such as IUDs and implants tend to give the strongest protection with the least daily effort, while short-acting hormonal methods and barrier methods suit those who like flexibility or who cannot have certain hormones.

Natural methods and withdrawal can be part of a plan for people ready to track cycles carefully and accept a higher pregnancy risk. Permanent procedures work well for people who feel settled about not wanting any more children. Whatever you choose, talking openly with partners and your health care team makes it more likely that your method will fit your life over the long run.