It sounds silly, but it’s foolproof. If you are not ready to risk becoming a parent, then not having sex is the best option. There is absolutely no way of becoming pregnant if you are not having sex. It is 100% effective against unwanted pregnancy, plus it’s free and everyone can do it (or not do it, in this case). The only downfall to abstinence is that if you happen to get caught in the heat of the moment, you might not be prepared with another form of contraception.

Birth control pills are a simple method. Not only do they significantly reduce the chances of becoming pregnant (99.7% effective if used properly), but they have other benefits. They have been known to reduce acne by up to two-thirds, reduce blood loss during periods, and reduce cramps and pain during a menstrual cycle. Some of the disadvantages are that the pills may cause spotting in between periods, headaches, and the expense of having to pay for the pills every month. Not to mention the fact that for them to work, you must remember to take them everyday at the same time. Plus there is no protection from STDs.

A cervical cap is a small, rubber (thimble-like) cap that is placed inside a woman. Spermicide is placed along the edges of the cap before being placed into the vagina and against the cervix. The suction from the cervical cap will prevent it from moving and prevent sperm from getting inside the uterus and fallopian tubes (where conception occurs). Besides being small, it is also advantageous because it protects against pregnancy regardless of how many times you engage in sexual intercourse (84% effective). It must be kept in for 6-8 hours after sexual intercourse has completed. Some of the disadvantages are that the cervical cap must be fitted by a clinician, you have to remember to wash your hands with soap and water before putting in the cap each time, women have to take it with them on vacations or trips, it increases a woman's risk for inflammation of the cervix, it can be difficult for some women to insert a cervical cap properly, and if left in too long it can increase a woman's risk for a very serious infection called toxic shock syndrome (TSS). You also can’t leave the cervical cap in for more than 48 hours and it may move out of place during sexual intercourse, increasing chances of pregnancy. Some women are even allergic to the latex the cap is made of.

Condoms are typically made from latex and resemble long, thin balloons. Easily available and generally inexpensive, condoms provide 98% effectiveness from pregnancy, and protection from most STDs. The disadvantages are that they don’t protect against the STDs genital herpes, syphilis, chancroid, or HPV since these can be transmitted across infected skin surfaces not covered by the condom, and the man must remove his penis from her vagina soon after ejaculation or the condom could fall off and spill or be left in the vagina. It can also be torn easily by something sharp (like fingernails, rings, etc.), using oil-based lubricant such as Vaseline or sun tan oil, or by not having enough lubricant during sexual intercourse.

Unlike the male condom, this is made from a thin plastic called polyurethane. It has the same general principle as the male condom only it gets placed inside the woman’s vagina. The female condom is about 79% effective against pregnancy. The benefits of using a female condom are that women don’t need to visit the clinician to purchase them, it can be used by people who are allergic to latex, and it is fairly protective against infections as well as pregnancies. The downfalls are that it is usually harder to find than male condoms, it takes practice to use it right and effectively, it is usually large and strange looking, it’s about three times more expensive than the male condom, and it is completely ineffective if the penis slides outside of the female condom in the vagina.

Contraceptive foam is used by placing an applicator inside the woman’s vagina. It not only kills the sperm before it can reach her cervix, but it also prevents the man’s fluids from getting into it as well. It can also be purchased without a clinician visit. Unfortunately, it can be messy, can cause irritation of the vagina, the container that holds the foam is large and can be embarrassing to carry around, and some don’t like the idea of inserting the applicator.

Contraceptive implants can be a quick and generally painless protection from unwanted pregnancies as well. With a 99.5% effectiveness rate, this single implant is inserted into the upper arm after the woman is given an anesthetic. Some of the perks of contraceptive implants are that they reduce cramping, headaches, breast tenderness, and blood flow, and that it leaves nothing left to do or remember when it comes time for sexual intercourse. Some disadvantages are that it can make a woman’s menstrual cycle irregular, it may cause hair loss, weight gain, darkening of skin around the implant, or arm discomfort, it is hard to find a clinician who will remove them as well as insert them, and it doesn’t protect against STDs.

The contraceptive patch is a lightweight, thin, flexible, beige-colored patch that is applied to the skin of the buttock, abdomen, upper torso, or the outside of the upper arm. It should NOT be placed on the breast. It is easy to use and only requires being remembered once a week. If used properly, it is 99.7% effective against pregnancy and quickly reversed if you decide to discontinue. Unfortunately, it does have to be replaced every week, it can cause skin irritations and burning, is less effective in preventing pregnancy in women who weigh more than 198 pounds, is difficult to hide on the body, it can be very expensive, it has to be stored in a proper, cool place, and can’t be easily placed back on if accidentally pulled off.

The ring is a small, flexible ring that is placed inside the woman’s vagina every month for three weeks at a time. It is 99% effective in those that use it properly. It leaves nothing to remember or do before sexual intercourse and it can be placed anywhere inside the vagina. It also doesn’t require a "fitting" and it is easily reversible for those that want to discontinue use. Its downfalls are that you HAVE to remember to take it out three weeks to the day of inserting it, you must remember to insert a new ring on the same day one week after you removed the old ring, it can cause vaginal irritation and discomfort, and it can slip out.

Withdrawal is when a man pulls his penis out of the woman’s vagina before ejaculation. This method is not recommended. The chances of becoming pregnant are as high as 30% and it provides absolutely no protection against STDs. For teenagers or for anyone with little to no experience, knowing your body’s timing is hard to do, making the risk of pregnancy even higher! It is acceptable if two adults, who have previously discussed and agreed to this method, are prepared to accept the consequences if pregnancy or STDs occur.

Just practicing safe sex techniques can help reduces your chances of unwanted pregnancy or STDs. This includes, but is not limited to: having few sexual partners, having good communication skills with your partner, knowing your partners past, having monogamous relationships, using barriers during oral sex, and getting regular physical exams!