1. What the *?!!*& is That?
Birth Control Methods

2. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

3. A: Fertility Beads!
Fertility beads are a fertility awareness-based family planning method. Fertility awareness-based methods—or natural family planning—are all about tracking your menstrual cycle to determine the days that you can get pregnant. The tricky part is actually knowing when those days are. To do that, you'll need to pay very close attention to your body and its patterns.

4. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

5. A: Diaphragm!
A diaphragm is a shallow, dome-shaped cup made of latex or silicone. (Honestly, it looks like Meg Griffin's hat on The Family Guy. Except it's off-white and only a few inches in diameter.) You insert the diaphragm into your vagina. Then it covers your cervix and keeps sperm out of your uterus. One super important thing to remember: For a diaphragm to work effectively, you need to use it with spermicide.

6. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

7. A: Cervical Cap!
A cervical cap is silicone cup you insert in your vagina to cover your cervix and keep sperm out of your uterus. The "cap" part of the name is pretty dead on—the thing looks like a little rubber sailor's hat, maybe an inch and a half wide and one inch high. There's only one brand of cervical cap available in the U.S. today, and it's jauntily named the FemCap. One super important thing to remember: You need to use a cervical cap with spermicide for it to be most effective.

8. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

9. A: Fertility Awareness!
Fertility awareness-based methods—or natural family planning—are all about tracking your menstrual cycle to determine the days that you can get pregnant. The tricky part is actually knowing when those days are. To do that, you'll need to pay very close attention to your body and its patterns.

10. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

11. A: Emergency Contraception!
Emergency Contraception (EC) can stop a pregnancy before it starts. (That means the EC pills are not the same as the abortion pill.) There are four types of EC to choose from and they all work up to 5 days (or 120 hours) after unprotected sex. But use it sooner rather than later to reduce the possibility of getting pregnant.

12. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

13. A: Implant!
The implant (Implanon or Nexplanon are the brand names) is a teeny-tiny rod that's inserted under the skin of your upper arm. It's so small, in fact, most people can't see it once it's inserted—which means it can be your little secret, if you're so inclined. The implant releases hormones that keep your ovaries from releasing eggs and thicken your cervical mucus, which helps to block sperm from getting to the egg in the first place. Plus, it prevents pregnancy for three years. Not too shabby.

14. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

15. A: Condoms!
Rubber. Jimmy-hat. Love sock. Wrapper. However you say it, male condoms are one of the most popular forms of birth control out there. They slip over a guy's penis to prevent pregnancy and lower the risk of STIs by keeping the guy's sperm inside the condom and out of your vagina. There are hundreds of shapes and sizes to choose from, with lube and without.

16. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

17. A: The Ring!
The ring (brand name: NuvaRing) is a small, bendable ring that you insert into your vagina. (It kind of looks like one of those jelly bracelets from the 80s, but it feels a tiny bit stiffer.) You leave it in place for three weeks at a time, then take it out for the fourth week. The ring works by giving off hormones that prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs. The hormones also thicken your cervical mucus, which helps to block sperm from getting to the egg in the first place.

18. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

19. A: Female Condom!
A female condom is a pouch you insert into your vagina. It's not the prettiest thing in the world (it looks a bit like a floppy, clear elephant trunk) but it is a method that gives you lots of control. Female condoms work the same way that male condoms do, except that you wear one on the inside instead of sticking it on a penis. They keep the guy's sperm inside the condom and out of your vagina.

20. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

21. A: Contraceptive Patch!
The patch is a thin, beige piece of plastic that looks like a square Band-Aid. It's a little less than two inches across, and comes in one—and only one—color. (Beige.) You stick the patch on your skin and it gives off hormones that prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs. The hormones also thicken your cervical mucus, which helps to block sperm from getting to the egg in the first place. Ortho Evra is the medical name, but most people just call it the patch.

22. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

23. A: Sterilization!
Sterilization is a procedure that closes or blocks your fallopian tubes so you can't get pregnant. (Your tubes are where eggs and sperm meet. If they can't meet, they can't hook up.) Guys also have a sterilization option—a vasectomy blocks the tubes that carry a man’s sperm. Talk to your doctor to learn more and be sure to ask about state and federal requirements, like age restrictions and waiting periods.

24. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

25. A: Basal Body Temperature!
Basal Body Temperature (BBT) tracking is another fertility awareness-based family planning method. Fertility awareness-based methods—or natural family planning—are all about tracking your menstrual cycle to determine the days that you can get pregnant. The tricky part is actually knowing when those days are. To do that, you'll need to pay very close attention to your body and its patterns.

26. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

27. A: The Shot!
The shot is just what it sounds like—a shot that keeps you from getting pregnant. Once you get it, your birth control is covered for three full months—there’s nothing else you have to do. Some people call the shot “Depo,” short for Depo-Provera. (Pronounced like Johnny Depp-oh.) The shot contains progestin, a hormone that prevents your ovaries from releasing eggs. It also thickens your cervical mucous, which helps block sperm from getting to the egg in the first place. Some women say they don't want the shot because they're afraid of needles. But what's a little prick compared to a pregnancy?

28. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

29. A: Hormonal IUD!
The IUD is a little, t-shaped piece of plastic that gets put in your uterus to mess with the way sperm can move and prevent them from fertilizing an egg. Sounds odd, but it works like a charm. IUDs offer years of protection—between three and twelve, depending on the type you get. And if you want to get pregnant, you can have them removed at any time.
This plastic IUD releases a small amount of the synthetic hormone progestin to help your body keep sperm from reaching your cervix. It lasts up to 5 years and may give you lighter periods.

30. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

31. A: Copper (non-hormonal) IUD!
The IUD is a little, t-shaped piece of plastic that gets put in your uterus to mess with the way sperm can move and prevent them from fertilizing an egg. Sounds odd, but it works like a charm. IUDs offer years of protection—between three and twelve, depending on the type you get. And if you want to get pregnant, you can have them removed at any time.
The copper IUD is 100% hormone-free and doesn’t alter your periods. It's made of plastic and a small amount of natural, safe copper. It can stay inside you up to 12 years.

32. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

33. A: Spermicide!
“Spermicide” describes a bunch of different creams, films, foams, gels, and suppositories that contain chemicals that stop sperm from moving. You insert it deep in your vagina, so it also keeps sperm from getting through your cervix and into your uterus.

34. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

35. A: Abstinence!
“Not right now” is our way of saying “no vaginal sex.” It’s a great method as far as effectiveness is concerned—if you use it 100% of the time, you’re guaranteed to not get pregnant. And if you’re avoiding sexual activity altogether, you’ll be safe from STIs too. But it does involve a whole lot of self-control..

36. Q: What the *?!!*& is That?

37. A: Withdrawal!
Withdrawal is the oldest form of birth control on the planet. There's not much to explain, really. The guy pulls out before he ejaculates. End of story. Some people call withdrawal the “pull out method.” Or you may hear people call it “coitus interruptus.” The key thing to remember is this: You've got to do it right—every single time—for withdrawal to be effective. And how many guys do you know with that kind of total control?