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If a woman is sexually active and she is fertile and physically able to become pregnant, she needs to ask
herself, "Do I want to become pregnant now?" If her answer is "No," she must use some method of birth
control (contraception).
Terminology used to describe birth control methods include contraception, pregnancy prevention, fertility
control, and family planning. But no matter what the terminology, sexually active people can choose from
a variety of methods to reduce the possibility of their becoming pregnant. Nevertheless, no method of
birth control available today offers perfect protection against sexually transmitted infections (sexually
transmitted diseases, or STDs), except abstinence.
In simple terms, all methods of birth control are based on either preventing a man's sperm from reaching
and entering a woman's egg (fertilization) or preventing the fertilized egg from implanting in the woman's
uterus (her womb) and starting to grow. New methods of birth control are being developed and tested all
the time. And what is appropriate for a couple at one point may change with time and circumstances.
Unfortunately, no birth control method, except abstinence, is considered to be 100% effective.
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REFERENCES:
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise: "Birth Control Choosing a Birth Control Method."
ACOG: "Birth Control."
ACOG: "Natural Family Planning."
American Pregnancy Association: "Fertility Awareness: Natural Family Planning."
American Pregnancy Association: "Withdrawal."
Jones R. Contraception, June 2009; vol 79: pp 407-410.
Nemours Foundation: "Birth Control: Spermicide."
ACOG: "Barrier Methods of Contraception."
Nemours Foundation: "Birth Control: Condom."