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:
- Most effective and convenient
- A to Z / Alphabetical
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Showing all 18 methods No methods match all of the filters selected Showing 1 filtered method Showing 0 filtered methods Show All
Low Maintenance
Birth Control Implant
Birth Control Implant
- 99% Effective
- Can cost $0 to $2200
- Lasts Up To 5 years
- 99% Effective
- $0 to $2200
- 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
Helps with periods
- Can make periods and cramps lighter or go away altogether
Less or No Hormones
- Progestin-only and no estrogen
Doctor or Nurse
- Placed and removed by a doctor or nurse
Low Maintenance
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
Helps with periods
- Can make periods and cramps lighter or go away altogether (only hormonal IUDs)
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
Used On a Schedule
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
Helps with periods
- Can make periods and cramps lighter or go away altogether
Less or No Hormones
- Progestin-only and no estrogen
Doctor or Nurse
- You get or give yourself a shot every 3 months
Used On a Schedule
Birth Control vagin*l Ring
Birth Control vagin*l 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
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
Used On a Schedule
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
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
Used On a Schedule
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
Helps with Periods
Regulates and lightens periods, eases period symptoms
Can be used to skip periods
Less or No Hormones
- No estrogen in progestin-only pills (mini-pills)
Doctor or Nurse
- You need a prescription from a doctor or nurse
Use Every Time
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?
Less or No Hormones
- No hormones
Helps Prevent STDs
- Helps prevent STDs during oral, vagin*l, or anal sex
Use Every Time
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?
Less or No Hormones
- No hormones
Helps Prevent STDs
- Helps prevent STDs during vagin*l or anal sex
Use Every Time
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?
Less or No Hormones
- No hormones
Doctor or Nurse
- You need a prescription from a Doctor or Nurse Required
Use Every Time
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?
Less or No Hormones
- No hormones
Use Every Time
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?
Less or No Hormones
- No hormones
Doctor or Nurse
- Youneed a prescription from a doctor or nurse
Use Every Time
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
Less or No Hormones
- No hormones
Lifestyle
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?
Less or No Hormones
- No hormones
Lifestyle
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?
Less or No Hormones
- No hormones
Lifestyle
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 sem*n (cum) on the vulva or in the vagin*, pregnancy can’t happen
Less or No Hormones
- No hormones
Lifestyle
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?
Less or No Hormones
- Uses your body’s own hormones
Permanent
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
Less or No Hormones
- No hormones
Doctor or Nurse
- Procedure done by a Doctor or Nurse Required
Permanent
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
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.
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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.
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Many insurance plans, including Medicaid, cover Planned Parenthood services.
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We’ll help you navigate your state’s health insurance plans.Learn more
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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.
LEARN MORE
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