Birth Control Medical Reference
Birth Control When You Have Medical Conditions: What's Safe?
- Innovations in Hormone-Based Birth Control
Experts continue to improve hormonal birth control options. Learn about changes in the pill, ring, patch, implant, IUD, or injection.
- What Is Extended-Use Birth Control?
New extended birth control pill routines can protect you from unplanned pregnancy and allow you to have fewer periods. Here’s what you need to know.
- What Is the Lactational Amenorrhea Method of Birth Control?
The lactation amenorrhea method (LAM) can be effective for birth control if you breastfeed 100% for the first 6 months. Learn the pros and cons.
- Birth Control Pill vs. Patch: Which Is Right for You?
Birth control pills and patches both work well to prevent pregnancy. Get to know the pros and cons of each so you can make the right choice.
- Oral Contraceptives and Cervical Cancer: What to Know
Birth control pills don’t cause cervical cancer, but they may make you more vulnerable to it. Learn more about the link.
- How Can Teens Get Birth Control?
When you’re a teen, can you get birth control without your parents’ permission? Do you need a prescription? Get answers to these questions and more.
- Birth Control and Spotting: What to Know
Spotting while you’re on birth control isn’t uncommon. Learn more about why it happens and how to stop it.
- Birth Control and High Blood Pressure: What to Know
Learn which forms of hormonal birth control can impact your blood pressure.
- 11-Beta-MNTDC: “The Pill” for Men
11-beta-MNTDC is a once-daily hormonal pill that men take to prevent their female partner from getting pregnant. Here’s how it works and when it might be available.
- Monoclonal Antibodies for Birth Control
Women may one day insert sperm-fighting antibodies into their vaginas as an effective, hormone-free means of birth control.
- Contraceptive Vaginal Gel: What to Know
Can a new type of single-use vaginal gel prevent pregnancy? Learn the facts about how it works and how it compares to your other birth control options.
- Birth Control Pill vs. the Ring: What to Know
Birth control pills and vaginal rings both have two hormones to keep you from getting pregnant. Here’s what you should know about how they compare.
- Autoimmune Illness and Birth Control
Autoimmune illnesses can cause high-risk pregnancies. Birth control is key. WebMD walks you through the contraception options.
- When to Use Backup Birth Control
Even careful couples can make a mistake. Find out when backup birth control is a good idea.
- Health Disparities and Bias in Contraception Access and Care
Birth control access is key to preventing unintended pregnancies. But race, socioeconomics, and where you live can play a role. Learn why.
- How to Talk to Your Partner About Birth Control
You need to have a rather unsexy talk before you get the party started with your partner. Here’s how to start the talk about birth control.
- How Are Hispanic Teenagers Using Birth Control?
Why do Hispanic teenagers get pregnant more often than their peers? We examine some barriers to effective birth control.
- Do Antibiotics Affect Birth Control?
With one exception – rifamycin antibiotics – that’s a myth.
- Who Uses Birth Control?
Which groups of people have the most access to birth control? We explore who benefits from this method of contraception and what obstacles some may face in getting it.
- Who’s Responsible for Birth Control?
To prevent pregnancy, each partner having sex has a role. Here’s how everyone can be proactive about contraception and not make assumptions.
- Rape and Emergency Contraception: What to Know
If you’ve been raped, it’s a good idea to see a doctor for care including emergency contraception to reduce your risk of getting pregnant. You can also find pills that will help prevent pregnancy at most pharmacies.
- Black Women and Birth Control
Black women have higher rates of unplanned pregnancies; contraception may play a role. Find the best birth control for you.
- What to Know About a Broken Condom
What do you do if a condom breaks? Condom breakage increases the chances of pregnancy and HIV risk. Broken condom what to do next.
- Birth Control During Menopause
Even though fertility may drop as you approach midlife, you still need to take birth control if you don’t plan to get pregnant.
- How and Where to Get Birth Control
Here’s how to get different types of contraceptives that help prevent pregnancy. Plus, learn what to do if costs get in the way.
- Birth Control: How to Talk to Your OB/GYN
How to talk to your doctor about birth control to ensure you get the type you need.
- Do You Know Your Long-Term Birth Control Options?
If you don’t want to take a pill every day, there are lots of long-term birth control options.
- Getting Your Birth Control via Telemedicine
If you need birth control, getting to the doctor’s office may be a challenge during the pandemic. Telemedicine is a great way to limit your risk.
- Can I Take Prenatal Vitamins While on Birth Control?
Learn more about the potential side effects of taking prenatal vitamins while on birth control.
- What to Know About Birth Control and Anxiety
Many women find that they’re more anxious after they start hormonal birth control. Find out why there could be a link between hormones in birth control and your anxiety.
- Depo-Provera and the Birth Control Pill
The birth control pill and shot are two effective ways to prevent pregnancy. Read on to learn about what they have in common, how they differ, and how you can switch from one method to the other.
- Do Birth Control Pills Cause Nausea?
Birth control pills are a safe, effective, simple, and affordable way to prevent pregnancy. They also can make periods lighter, improve acne, and they may help prevent certain diseases and conditions. But nausea can be one of their drawbacks.
- Birth Control and Ovarian Cancer
Certain types of birth control can lower your risk for ovarian cancer. Learn more about how the birth control pill, IUDs, and more affect your odds.
- Birth Control in Your 30s
Your body changes as you age. Read on to learn what to think about if you’re considering birth control in your 30s.
- Pregnancy and IUDs: What You Need to Know
It’s possible to still get pregnant with an IUD, but it’s very rare. Find out the causes and risks of a failed IUD.
- IUD vs. Birth Control Pills: What to Consider
Birth control pills and IUDs are two popular ways to prevent pregnancy. Find how they’re different, and how they work, to decide which one may be best for you.
- Why Is There No Male Birth Control Pill?
The "pill" is a popular contraceptive for women. But why don't men have a birth control pill?
- Types of IUDs: Which One Is Right for You?
IUDs provide an easy way to avoid pregnancy. Learn more about the two types, and which is better for you.
- Birth Control and Breast Size
Hormonal birth control can make your breasts look larger. Find out why birth control causes your breasts to grow and other side effects it can cause.
- Female Condoms (Internal Condoms)
Female condoms are another way women can take contraception into their own hands. Read on to find out the pros and cons of this type of condom.
- Birth Control Implants and Weight Gain
Many people think that birth control implants cause you to gain weight. Find out if birth control implants are related to your weight.
- Miss a Birth Control Pill? Side Effects, What to Do
It’s very common to miss a birth control pill at some point. Learn what to do next to get back on track.
- Over-the-Counter Birth Control
You can get several types of birth control without a prescription. Find out what they are, how they work, and which one might be best for you.
- What to Know About Birth Control and Depression
Birth control is known to lead to mood swings and other side effects. Find out if it also can cause depression.
- What to Know About Mirena and Depression
Some studies found that women who use Mirena IUD and other types of hormonal birth control may be more likely to show signs of depression. But what does other research say?
- IUD and Other Options for Emergency Contraception
IUDs are the most effective type of emergency contraceptive. Find out the side effects, risks, and how they work to prevent pregnancy.
- Yaz vs. Yasmin
What’s the difference between Yaz and Yasmin? These two common birth control pills both prevent pregnancy. Find out what’s different about them, and why both drugs have some serious risks to consider.
- Birth Control Pill vs. the Implant
Birth control pills have been around a while and doctors know a lot about the way they work. But how does “the pill” compare to newer methods like the implantable rods?
- Avoid These Common Birth Control Mistakes
Birth control only works if you use it correctly. Check out some common mistakes and learn how to avoid them to prevent an unplanned pregnancy.