What Exactly is Birth Control?

Planning and spacing out children is important, but not always easy to do without the means of birth control to help raise your chances of an unplanned pregnancy. Within a year(a twelve month period), most couples have close to a ninety percent chance of a pregnancy if there is no birth control method used, granted that there isn't any infertility problems. Birth control, also called contraception, is the voluntary prevention of pregnancy. There are many different types and methods that are available now.

Here are some of the many different types of birth control that are used today.

Abstinence - 100% Effective

There is only one birth control method that is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy, and it is abstinence. Abstinence is refraining from sexual intercourse entirely. There are many birth controls, and some of them are about 99% effective, but not 100% effective.

The Condom - 90% Effective

The condom is a thin rubber sheath that a man fits over his penis just before sexual intercourse. Condoms are about ninety percent effective in preventing pregnancy, if used properly. Remember that there still is about a ten percent chance of pregnancy even if a condom is used, and that they are not 100% effective in preventing pregnancy, HIV, AIDS, or sexually transmitted diseases. Because the rubber sheath is so thin, the condom during use can develop small, tiny holes in it, allowing the sperm to leak through. Condoms also do not protect against any kind of STD, infection, or HIV. There is no prescription required with a condom, and they are readily available at most stores for convenience. Using spermicide along with a condom also makes this birth control method nearly 95% effective in preventing pregnancy.

Spermicide - 80% Effective