Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About...
Which birth control method is right for me?
Emergency contraception
(sometimes called the "morning after pill") can give you a second chance to prevent
pregnancy after sex. But it is not
as effective as birth control that’s used before or
during sex, like the pill or condoms. Emergency
contraceptives also do not protect against sexually transmitted
infections, like HIV (only condoms do).
That’s why you shouldn’t use emergency contraception as
your only protection against pregnancy.
The good news is that you can choose from dozens of kinds of birth
control today.
Figuring out which contraceptive method is best for you, however,
can be tricky. And it can change depending on what’s going on
in your life. Which type of contraception you choose may depend on
the type of relationship you are in, how often you have sex, or when
you have to use the birth control method (once a month, once a week,
every day, or just right before you have sex). How soon you might
want to have children can also make a difference. Or you might have
a health condition that limits your birth control options.
If you’re wondering which kind of contraception might fit your
lifestyle or health needs, there are some great online tools to help you choose:
- Method Match, maintained by the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (which is also a co-sponsor of this website), helps you choose the method that is best for your lifestyle.
- Bedsider, from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unintended Pregnancy, offers detailed information about different methods as well as birth control and appointment reminders
- My Contraception Tool is another interactive, free online tool that can help you find the best contraceptive method for you.