Introduction to birth control "Natural" methods of contraception Calendar rhythm method Basal body temperature method Mucus inspection method Symptothermal method Ovulation indicator testing kits Withdrawal method Lactational infertility Douching and urination Abstinence Introduction to birth control 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). 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. Nevertheless, no method of birth control available today offers perfect protection against sexually transmitted infections (sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs), except abstinence. But no matter what the process is called, sexually active people can choose from a plethora of methods to reduce the possibility of their becoming pregnant.

Terminology used to describe birth control methods include contraception, pregnancy prevention, fertility control, and family planning.