Every time you think of a birth control option, your mind automatically pictures the morning pills meant for women. Well, there’s ongoing research on similar pills for men, but its existence is still far from reality. However, there are still a couple of different birth control measures for men. Here, we have come up with a different male and female birth control options. 

For males

• Condoms
  Condoms are 98% successful in blocking conception. They are certainly the most common birth control measure used today. The condom also helps in preventing STIs or Sexually Transmitted Infections, such as chlamydia and herpes. However, it is important to wear condoms in the right manner to avoid all chances of accidental pregnancy.

• Vasectomy
  Vasectomy or male sterilization is a surgery wherein the surgeon will cut and then seal the tubes through which your sperms travel to reach the testicles. It is again a very effective measure for birth control.

• Withdrawal
  Withdrawal or pulling out is another technique of birth control. It is one of the simplest and the oldest technique but is not very effective. Under this, you pull out the penis before ejaculation into the vagina. Though it has zero side-effects and costs nothing, it doesn’t protect you from infections.

• Outercourse
  It is the term used to define different forms of foreplay or sex. In this, the penis does not enter the vagina. Hence, outercourse would include the following:
  • Masturbation
  • Kissing
  • Dry humping
  • Fondling
  • Oral sex
  • Anal sex

Now, if you keep the penis out of the vagina, there’ll be no conception. Also, from anal sex or oral sex, one can get an STI.

For females

• Condoms
  In females, too, there’s a condom or a femidom available, which is made using polyurethane. There’s a flexible ring on the female condom towards both ends. One of the rings goes behind the woman’s pubic bone, while the other one remains outside the vagina. This method of birth control is approximately 79% effective.

• Sponge
  The sponge is the next most common method of birth control among women. It is inserted inside the vagina of the woman. It has foam, which is placed inside the vagina with the help of an applicator. Foam is primarily a spermicide, which kills the man’s sperms, and the sponge works as a barrier to restrict the sperm from making its way to the egg. It doesn’t work or is less effective for women who have already delivered a baby in the past.

• Diaphragm
  It is a dome-shaped rubber device, inserted inside the vagina and placed on to the cervix. If it is used in combination with spermicide, it is about 88% effective. If used without spermicide, its impact reduces a bit, wherein it is 77-83% effective.

• Emergency contraceptive pills
  This type of contraceptive pill helps control pregnancy. However, it is taken after intercourse. This pill helps prevent fertilization, ovulation, or implantation of the embryo. A pill must be popped within 72 hours after intercourse. If consumed in the initial 24 hours, it is about 95% effective. However, the effectiveness reduces to 60% if not consumed within 24 and taken within 72 hours.