Contraception

​Contraceptive methods are typically segmented into two categories: hormonal or non-hormonal. Hormonal contraceptives are birth control methods that impact the endocrine system, which creates hormones in the body that are vital to the proper functioning of virtually every cell and organ in the body. Non-hormonal contraceptives are birth control methods that prevent pregnancies without affecting the body’s hormones.

While there are many birth control methods, the Oxford English Dictionary notes that the major forms of artificial contraception are barrier methods (the most common of which is the condom, the contraceptive pill (which contains synthetic sex hormones that prevent ovulation in females), intrauterine devices or IUDs (which prevent the fertilized ovum from implanting in the uterus), and male or female sterilization (which are also referred to as vasectomy and tubal ligation, respectively).

Though there are an abundance of different birth control methods, it is important to note that there is an unequal distribution of methods across genders, with the majority of existing contraceptives being designed for female users and only two methods (condoms and vasectomy) available to male users.