Women have many choices when it comes to avoiding pregnancy, but men have only two. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 99% of sexually active women used at least one contraceptive method at some point between 2006 and 2010. Here's a look at a variety of birth control methods and how they each work.
A woman's choice —
Women have many choices when it comes to avoiding pregnancy, but men have only two. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 99% of sexually active women used at least one contraceptive method at some point between 2006 and 2010. Here's a look at a variety of birth control methods and how they each work.
Photo Illustration/Thinkstock
A male condom is a thin covering worn on the penis during intercourse. It can prevent sexually transmitted diseases, and is about 82% effective at preventing pregnancy.
A male condom is a thin covering worn on the penis during intercourse. It can prevent sexually transmitted diseases, and is about 82% effective at preventing pregnancy.
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During a vasectomy, a surgeon cuts the vas deferens, the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles. It has a failure rate of about 0.15% and can be reversed, but the procedure is complicated.
During a vasectomy, a surgeon cuts the vas deferens, the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles. It has a failure rate of about 0.15% and can be reversed, but the procedure is complicated.
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An intrauterine device, or IUD, is a flexible T-shaped device that's inserted by a doctor into a woman's uterus. The devices block sperm and change the lining of the uterus, which may keep a fertilized egg from attaching. Pregnancy is prevented from three to 12 years, depending on the type.
IUD —
An intrauterine device, or IUD, is a flexible T-shaped device that's inserted by a doctor into a woman's uterus. The devices block sperm and change the lining of the uterus, which may keep a fertilized egg from attaching. Pregnancy is prevented from three to 12 years, depending on the type.
Photo Illustration/Thinkstock
Approved in 1960 by the Food and Drug Administration, oral contraceptives involve taking a daily pill with a combination of estrogen and a progestin. The hormones prevent ovulation and thicken a woman's cervical mucus, blocking sperm from fertilizing an egg.
The pill —
Approved in 1960 by the Food and Drug Administration, oral contraceptives involve taking a daily pill with a combination of estrogen and a progestin. The hormones prevent ovulation and thicken a woman's cervical mucus, blocking sperm from fertilizing an egg.
Condoms aren't just for men. The female condom fits inside the vagina with a ring at one end that covers the cervix. When used correctly all of the time, the National Institutes of Health says, it's 95% effective, with bonus protection from sexually transmitted infections.
Female condom —
Condoms aren't just for men. The female condom fits inside the vagina with a ring at one end that covers the cervix. When used correctly all of the time, the National Institutes of Health says, it's 95% effective, with bonus protection from sexually transmitted infections.
Keith Brofsky/Getty Images
The diaphragm also fits inside the vagina but covers only the cervix, where it blocks sperm from entering the uterus. It is made of silicone and can last up to two years. A spermicide must also be used for greatest effectiveness.
Diaphragm —
The diaphragm also fits inside the vagina but covers only the cervix, where it blocks sperm from entering the uterus. It is made of silicone and can last up to two years. A spermicide must also be used for greatest effectiveness.
Jenny Swanson/Getty Images
The cervical cap is similar to a diaphragm but smaller in size and made of rubber instead of silicone. It is useful for women who find it hard to keep a diaphragm in place.
Cervical cap —
The cervical cap is similar to a diaphragm but smaller in size and made of rubber instead of silicone. It is useful for women who find it hard to keep a diaphragm in place.
Dorling Kindersley/Getty Images
Implants are flexible matchstick-size devices that are surgically inserted into a woman's arm. They slowly release the hormone progestin into the body, preventing a woman's ovaries from releasing eggs. The protection can last several years.
Implant —
Implants are flexible matchstick-size devices that are surgically inserted into a woman's arm. They slowly release the hormone progestin into the body, preventing a woman's ovaries from releasing eggs. The protection can last several years.
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For women who don't want to take a pill or insert a device, the Ortho Evra birth control patch sticks to the body and releases pregnancy-preventing hormones through the skin. A woman must change her patch once a week for three weeks in a row. No patch is used in the fourth week, and then the cycle starts again.
The patch —
For women who don't want to take a pill or insert a device, the Ortho Evra birth control patch sticks to the body and releases pregnancy-preventing hormones through the skin. A woman must change her patch once a week for three weeks in a row. No patch is used in the fourth week, and then the cycle starts again.
NuvaRing, approved for use in the United States in 2001, is a small, flexible ring inserted into the vagina. It releases estrogen and progestin, the same pregnancy-preventing hormones found in most variations of the birth-control pill.
Vaginal ring —
NuvaRing, approved for use in the United States in 2001, is a small, flexible ring inserted into the vagina. It releases estrogen and progestin, the same pregnancy-preventing hormones found in most variations of the birth-control pill.
Introduced in 1983, the Today Sponge was pulled from the market after fears of toxic shock but returned in 2005 following design changes. The sponge contains spermicide and can be inserted into the vagina before sex, like a diaphragm, to prevent pregnancy.
Vaginal sponge —
Introduced in 1983, the Today Sponge was pulled from the market after fears of toxic shock but returned in 2005 following design changes. The sponge contains spermicide and can be inserted into the vagina before sex, like a diaphragm, to prevent pregnancy.
Meijer/Today Sponge
Depo-Provera, an injection form of birth control, provides protection for three months with hormones that prevent ovulation and block sperm. It doesn't contain estrogen, as do some other forms of birth control. As a result, it is a popular option for women who can't take estrogen or who are breastfeeding.
The shot —
Depo-Provera, an injection form of birth control, provides protection for three months with hormones that prevent ovulation and block sperm. It doesn't contain estrogen, as do some other forms of birth control. As a result, it is a popular option for women who can't take estrogen or who are breastfeeding.
Pfizer
Emergency contraception, frequently referred to as the morning-after pill, can be taken to prevent pregnancy up to five days after unprotected sex. It can prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs and thickens a woman's cervical mucus. The morning-after pill can also thin the uterus lining, which could prevent a fertilized egg from attaching.
Morning-after pill —
Emergency contraception, frequently referred to as the morning-after pill, can be taken to prevent pregnancy up to five days after unprotected sex. It can prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs and thickens a woman's cervical mucus. The morning-after pill can also thin the uterus lining, which could prevent a fertilized egg from attaching.
Birth control methods

Story highlights

An IUD is more than 99% effective and can prevent pregnancy for up to 12 years

Some versions make periods lighter or nonexistent

CNN  — 

IUDs, or intrauterine devices, are more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, and some can work up to 12 years, but a 2016 survey from the Urban Institute found that many women still don’t know anything about these longer-acting reversible contraceptives. Here’s what you need to know.

What is an IUD?

IUDs are tiny, the size of a quarter or smaller, and shaped like a “T.” They are made out of flexible plastic.

Unlike pills or other birth control methods that women can administer on their own, this one requires the help of a medical professional who will insert it into the woman’s uterus.

03 birth control IUD
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The woman may get a medication first to help open the cervix and to numb it to limit discomfort. The professional will then insert a speculum into the vagina to make room for a tool with the IUD. The IUD will go through the opening of the cervix and into the uterus.

The procedure takes about five minutes.

How do IUDs work?

An IUD forms a barrier that keeps a man’s sperm from interacting with a woman’s egg, preventing conception. It physically changes the way the sperm cells move in two ways, depending on the type of device.

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved five brands: Skyla, Liletta, Kyleena, Mirena and ParaGard.

The ParaGard device is wrapped in copper. Sperm don’t like copper, which interferes with the way they function and will keep the sperm from interacting with an egg. This device can prevent pregnancy for up to 12 years and starts to work right away.

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All the other devices use the hormone progestin. It’s similar to progesterone, which a woman’s body makes naturally.

Progestin prevents pregnancy in two ways: First, it thickens the mucus on the cervix, trapping and blocking sperm from getting to an egg. The hormone can also stop the egg from leaving the ovaries. If there is no egg released, there is no possibility of pregnancy.

Skyla works for up to three years, Liletta works for up to four, Kyleena up to five, and Mirena can work for up to six years.

It may take a week for the hormones to kick in after implantation, so women should ask their providers whether they should use a backup form of birth control in that first week.

The IUD advantages

Most anyone can use these devices, and they are among the most low-maintenance forms of birth control. Once one is inserted by a medical professional, a user doesn’t have to do anything else to prevent pregnancy.

It’s considered more than 99% effective, meaning fewer than one in 100 women gets pregnant while using an IUD.

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It isn’t permanent, so if a user wants to get pregnant, a nurse or doctor can quickly remove it without affecting her fertility.

The copper IUD can also work as emergency contraception: If inserted up to five days after unprotected sex, it’s nearly 100% effective in preventing pregnancy.

Many women who have heavy periods also like the devices because a number of the hormonal versions will reduce menstrual flow, and some stop bleeding altogether.

“If you are a woman who has heavy menstrual bleeding, they can be great for that. It’s important for women to anticipate how they feel about the change in their period to choose the device that is right for them,” said Dr. Anne Davis, the consulting medical director at Physicians for Reproductive Health. “With Mirena, there is almost no bleeding overall. Some women don’t like that, so they are interested in another device.”

The IUD disadvantages

For women with heavy and painful periods, the copper device may not be the best choice, as it can cause a longer or heavier period, Davis said.

IUDs don’t protect against sexually transmitted infections. Users still need a condom to reduce the chance of getting or spreading an STI.

It can be expensive up-front. Some insurance and Medicaid cover IUDs completely or at a low cost to users, but others may not. On the high end, an IUD can cost up to $1,300. That price includes the medical exam and a follow-up visit, and because they can last so long, the price spreads out over time.

There may be a little cramping and a few backaches right after insertion. Doctors suggest using a heating pad or over-the-counter pain medicine to ease the cramps.

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    Sometimes the IUD can slip, making pregnancy possible, but if it comes out, it can be replaced. This happens to about one in 30 women, Davis said.

    It’s unlikely, but it’s possible to get a bacterial infection when it is placed, and if the device is placed too far, it may require surgery to remove. That happens in only one out of 1,000 patients, Davis said.

    Davis said she has had a lot of patients asking for IUDs, especially after Obamacare made it mandatory for birth control to be covered by most insurance.

    “IUDs are a good option,” she said. “Especially for women who need a reliable source of birth control for a long period of time.”