Natural family planning, barriers, hormonal methods, copper IUDs, and permanent sterilization have varying degrees of effectiveness. Family planning involves tracking fertility cycles and sexual ...

It seems like the definition of pregnancy should be simple: You either are or you're not. But medical experts disagree with some conservative lawmakers about what constitutes a pregnancy and therefore ...

The most common side effects of birth control methods are minor and temporary. But it’s important to be aware of the more serious risks, too, before you choose a contraceptive method. While birth ...

There are many different kinds of birth control—and even more factors contributing to decisions about the best birth control method for you or your partner. Some methods rely on the hormone progestin ...

Kristin Weiland is a documentary film producer and writer with a background in crisis management and ethnographic research. She specializes in investigative and social impact documentary projects, and ...

Studies have suggested for decades that birth control pills containing both estrogen and progestogen — synthetic versions of female hormones — may slightly elevate one’s risk of breast cancer. But ...

Millions of women worldwide rely on hormonal birth control methods to prevent pregnancy, but emerging research suggests certain contraceptive options may carry cardiovascular risks that deserve closer ...

If you’ve used the same birth control method for years—or even a decade—you might wonder whether you’d benefit from switching it up. There’s no shortage of options out there, between condoms, the pill ...

Weight gain is one of the most talked-about side effects of birth control, and one of the biggest concerns for many women considering it. For decades, women have claimed that they gained weight after ...