What are the different methods of contraception?
Hormone Medicines Birth control pills (also called oral contraceptives), shots, vaginal rings, skin patches, and implants contain manufactured forms of the hormones estrogen and/or progesterone. The hormones stop a woman’s ovaries from releasing an egg each month. They also have some effects on the uterus and cervix that make it harder for sperm to enter the uterus or for a fertilized egg to stay in the uterus. A woman takes birth control pills according to a daily schedule prescribed by her healthcare provider. The Depo-Provera shot, which contains progesterone, may be given every 3 months to prevent pregnancy during that time. Vaginal rings are flexible rings that are inserted into the vagina for 3 weeks. They are then removed for 1 week, and then replaced with a new ring for another 3 weeks. The rings release hormones into your body. Patches containing hormones may be put on the skin. Each patch is worn for 1 week then thrown away. This is repeated 2 more times with 2 more patches.
