If you’re sexually active, or are thinking about it, you might wonder “What is birth control?” Birth control is any method that prevents pregnancy. There are several contraception options, such as a condom, a birth control pill, or an intrauterine device (IUD). Talk to a healthcare provider to find a method that’s right for you.

You might be wondering when was birth control invented? The first oral contraceptive was invented in 1960 by activist Margaret Sanger. It was called Enovid and it was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

If you’re wondering how birth control works, it’s pretty simple. The hormones in the pill — estrogen and progestin — thicken the mucus in the cervix and stops ovulation. If the woman is not ovulating, the sperm can’t join or fertilize an egg and a pregnancy cannot result from intercourse.

Yes, birth control is safe. As with any medication, however, there are some slight risks when taking the birth control pill. Some potential side effects include blood clots, liver tumors, stroke, and heart attack. Death can result in very extreme cases. Experiencing these things is very rare, but if you notice irregularities in your health after starting the pill, see your doctor.

How effective birth control is can depend on the contraception. Popular methods, such as the birth control pill, a birth control implant, an IUD, or the birth control patch range from 99% to 91% effectiveness. Condoms are 85% effective. Note that hormonal birth control is only effective for preventing pregnancy, not STIs.

The birth control pill is 99% effective when taken correctly every day. Because most people aren’t perfect, however, the pill is more accurately 91% effective. Note that the pill only protects you from pregnancy, not STIs.

The most effective birth control methods include progestin-releasing implants and IUDS because they don’t require action from you once in your body. While the birth control pill is 99% effective, people forget to take the pill sometimes. That’s why 9 in 100 women on the pill get pregnant every year. While these pregnancy prevention methods are normally very effective, using a condom as backup doesn’t hurt.

To get birth control, you’ll need a prescription from a healthcare provider, a clinic, or your local Planned Parenthood. Depending on where you live, you can also get a prescription for birth control pills directly from a pharmacist or online from organizations such as Nurx, who will mail you a three-month supply of pills or other contraceptive options.

There are some birth control methods for men, such as condoms. But if a guy takes the birth control pill, which contains estrogen and progestin, they may experience some physiological changes. Taking just a few pills likely won’t do much, but if taken consistently, the pill can make a man’s breasts bigger, shrink the testicles, decrease sex drive and facial hair. 

Higher levels of estrogen can also increase the risk for prostate cancer. This is not recommended as a feminization method. If you are transitioning, or want to become more feminine, talk to your doctor about feminizing hormone therapy.

There are many different types of birth control. Here are just a few:

• Barrier methods, such as the external and internal condom, diaphragms, contraceptive sponge and cervical cap
• Hormones, such as the birth control pill, contraceptive patch, and vaginal ring
• Sterilization, such as a vasectomy or tubal ligation or the Essure system 
• Intrauterine device (IUD)
• Natural Family Planning (NFP)

Learn more about the various birth control methods.

There are many birth control options and different types of pills have different hormone levels and hormone combinations. Finding the right birth control pill for you can take some trial and error as every body is different. Talk to your healthcare provider to find a pill that’s right for you.

If you’re worried about the side effects of hormones, you may want to explore non-hormonal birth control options. The best non-hormonal birth control options include condoms, a cervical cap, a sponge, and other barrier methods. You can also try the copper IUD or natural family planning. Talk to a healthcare provider to find the best option for you.

A typical birth control pill pack lasts one month and can cost between $0 and $50. A visit to the doctor to get a prescription can be between $35 and $250. With health insurance and some government programs, however, this could all be free. Talk to your local Planned Parenthood to find out how to get affordable birth control.

Read the directions on your contraceptive of choice if you’re wondering how to take birth control. Generally, you’ll take one birth control pill orally every day at the same time. You can skip the last week of placebo pills while you’re on your period. Or you can start a new pack immediately to skip your period. Talk to your healthcare provider to learn more about how to take birth control.

You can start birth control at any time during your period cycle. The time it takes for birth control to effectively prevent pregnancy, however, depends on the type of contraception you choose. After starting birth control, ask your healthcare provider when it’s safe to be sexually active without backup protection.

The pill typically takes a week to be effective. There are a few factors that affect how long it takes a birth control pill to work, such as the type of pill you’re on and when you start it. Consider using a condom, or another birth control method as backup, for up to seven days after starting the pill.

Every body is different, but typically it takes a few days for hormones from the birth control pill to leave your system. Your period should return to its natural cycle within 4 to 12 weeks. You can get pregnant within the first month of going off the pill, though different contraceptive methods have different time frames.

Not all antibiotics affect hormonal birth control, but certain antibiotics, such as rifampin and griseofulvin, can decrease effectiveness. For that reason, some doctors may recommend using backup contraceptives while you’re on antibiotics and for one week after. Talk to your healthcare provider to see what’s best for you.

It is very unlikely to get pregnant on the pill. In fact, the pill is 99% effective with perfect use. But because most people are not perfect — they forget to take the pill some days, or don’t refill their birth control pill prescription on time — the pill is 91% effective. That means, because of human fallibility, 9 out of 100 people on the pill get pregnant every year.

While the pill is 99% effective when it comes to preventing pregnancy, there are reasons birth control fails. Human fallibility — forgetting to take the pill every day or not refilling the monthly prescription on time — is the main reason. Consider setting up a daily phone alarm to remind you to take the pill consistently.