Methods of contraception

Barrier methods

This page lists methods of contraceptionContraceptionMeans and methods of preventing pregnancy. Condoms and the contraceptive pill are examples…Read more that can help prevent a pregnancyPregnancyThe time when a woman is expecting a baby. The pregnancy begins when…Read more. If you are looking for information about terminating a pregnancy, then look have a look here: abortion.  

Barrier methods of contraception prevent sperm cells from reaching the egg cellEgg cellFemale sex cell. A woman is born with many egg cells in her…Read more. These forms of contraception form a physical barrier:

• condom;
• female condom;
• diaphragm.

Hormonal methods

The hormones prevent sperm cells from fertilising an egg cell:

• they prevent ovulationOvulationMoment at which a ripe egg cell is released from 1 of the…Read more.
• they make it more difficult for sperm cells to enter the uterusUterusOrgan in a woman's belly in which a foetus can grow.Read more and reach the egg cell.

The hormones also make sure that an egg cell cannot be implanted:

• contraceptive pill;
• vaginal ring;
• contraceptive patch;
• hormonal IUD;
• contraceptive implant;
• contraceptive injection.

Methods inserted in the uterus by a doctorDoctorSomeone who is trained to cure sick people. Doctors can prescribe medicines. A…Read more

A doctor puts these methods of contraception inside the woman’s uterus:

• hormonal IUD;
• copper IUD.

Natural family planningFamily planningWhen you plan your family, you decide whether, when and how many children…Read more

Natural family planning means that no methods of contraception are used. There are various methods of natural family planning:

• Not having sexual intercourse.
• Not having sexual intercourseSexual intercourseSexual act in which the penis penetrates (enters) the vagina or anus.Read more when a woman is in her fertile period.
• Withdrawing the penisPenisMale sexual organ. The penis is used for sex (ejaculation) or to urinate.Read more before the man ejaculates.
• Breast-feedingBreast-feedingA woman can breast-feed her baby with milk from her own breast, rather…Read more.

These methods are difficult to use correctly. This means that they are less reliable. It is difficult to predict the days on which a woman is most fertileFertileIf you are fertile, you are able to have a baby (if you…Read more. Breast-feeding only protects from a pregnancy under certain conditions. Withdrawing the penis before the man ejaculates can lead to sperm cells dripping from the penis before ejaculationEjaculationWhen a man has an orgasm and semen shoots out of or drips…Read more and thus to a possible pregnancy.

Permanent contraception

Sterilisation is permanent contraception. A doctor carries out a small operation on a man or a woman. Sterilisation prevents sperm cells from reaching the egg cell.

Abortion is not a method of contraception. You have an abortionAbortionDeliberate termination of a pregnancy, for instance if the pregnancy threatens the woman's…Read more when you are already pregnant and choose to terminate your pregnancy.