1 Methods of Birth Control and Ways to Prevent STD/STI’s

2 Abstinence It’s ok to say, “No way!” No matter what other choices you’ve made in the past

3 Abstinence 100% effective Eliminates most threats of STD’sNo drugs or devices Private

4 Male Condom 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 a woman’s vagina. There are hundreds of shapes and sizes to choose from, with lube and without.

5 Male Condom STI protection! Condoms take effort and commitmentThe best thing about most types of condoms is that they protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. Lambskin condoms, however, are the one type you should not rely on for STI protection—they are able to block sperm, but not infections. Condoms take effort and commitment You have to make sure to use them correctly, every time, no matter what, in order for them to be effective. Cheap and easy to find Condoms are inexpensive (and sometimes even free from clinics). Plus, you can find them just about everywhere, from truck stops to supermarkets.

6 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 does give you more control than a male condom when it comes to preventing STIs. 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.

7 Female Condom STI protection!Female condoms protect you from most sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Female condoms take effort and commitment You have to make sure to use them correctly, every time, no matter what, in order for them to be effective.

8 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.

9 Diaphragm A diaphragm is a shallow, dome-shaped cup made of latex or silicone. 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.

10 Sponge The sponge is a round piece of white plastic foam with a little dimple on one side and a nylon loop across the top that looks like shoelace material. It's pretty small—just two inches across—and you insert it way up in your vagina before you have sex. The sponge works in two ways: It blocks your cervix to keep sperm from getting into your uterus, and it continuously releases spermicide.

11 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.

12 The Pill "The Pill" is a pill. (How's that for stating the obvious?) Some people call it "oral contraception." You take it once a day, at the same time every day. There are lots of different kinds of pills on the market, and new ones come out all the time. They all work by releasing hormones that keep 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.

13 The 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.

14 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.

15 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. 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?

16 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. There are two types: Mirena and ParaGard. They offer years of protection—between five and twelve, depending on the type you get. And if you want to get pregnant, you can have them removed at any time.

17 Implant The implant (Implanon is the brand name) 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

18 Emergency ContraceptionEmergency 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.

19 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.