Contraception Types

Being a parent can be a wonderful and life changing event but not until you’re ready, in the mean time you may want to bone up on your knowledge of contraception types to keep an unplanned pregnancy from happening to you. From contraception types for women to contraception types for men there is something for every situation to keep you safe from getting a girl pregnant before you’re ready. The important thing to remember with contraception is that many are not useful in protecting against STDs and there are none that are 100 percent effective. Even using any of these contraception types or a combination of some will never protect you 100 percent so pair their uses with care and common sense for maximum protection.

1. Abstinence. Abstinence means when someone willingly refrains from having sex, it is also the only of the contraception types that is 100 percent effective against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. This is not always the way to go for everyone, but it is also an option that is often overlooked.
2. Birth control pills. A type of hormonal contraceptive, birth control pills are relatively easy to get with a doctor’s prescription and are pills that your lady would take every day. If taken properly, less than one in 100 women will get pregnant while using birth control pills.
3. Birth control patch. Another option that's up to your girlfriend to acquire. The patch is also a type of hormonal contraception, most commonly called an Ortho-Evra Patch. The patch is placed on the upper arm, hip or buttocks and releases hormones through the sticky side of the patch; the patch is changed once a week.
4. Birth control injections. Most common type is Depo-Provera; this one of the contraception types can be both more convenient and less depending on how on your girlfriend's fear of needles.  If you she doesn't want to worry about daily pills or weekly patch changing (and you don't want to worry if she's being consistent or not), this shot is given to her by her doctor and prevents pregnancy for three months at a time.
5. IUD. IUD stands for Intrauterine Device and is another of the contraception types that is considered a hormonal contraceptive. An IUD is a small plastic contraceptive filled with copper or hormones that is inserted directly into the uterus by a doctor.
6. NuvaRing/Vaginal Ring. The NuvaRing is a soft flexible ring that is placed into the vagina every month for three weeks at a time. Each month a new ring is used. Vaginal rings work by releasing estrogen and progesterone into a woman's body and are 99 percent effective if used properly.
7. Condoms. Condoms move into the contraception types that are considered barrier methods. Male condoms are thin latex tubes that are rolled over the penis prior to penetration, the condom catches the sperm and protects against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Condoms may also come in the female variety which consists of a latex tube that is inserted into the vagina, female condoms are not quite as effective as male condoms as they are more difficult to use properly.
8. Diaphragm. A diaphragm is one of the reusable contraception types that is a soft cup filled with spermicidal jelly and is placed into the vagina prior to intercourse. When used properly the diaphragm is 94 percent effective.
9. Cervical Cap. A cervical cap is similar to the diaphragm as it works by covering the women’s cervix and is filled with spermicidal jelly. Its effectiveness however, is not quite comparable to that of the diaphragms; the cervical cap is only 86 percent effective.
10. Sterilization. This last option of the contraception types is the most drastic and should never be done with out properly thinking through all your options. Sterilization occurs with having a vasectomy (surgically closing the tubes that carry sperm). Female sterilization is done by surgically closing the fallopian tubes and is called tubal ligation. Both procedures are very routine and safe, though nearly impossible to ever reverse.