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Contraception is the protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy due to human sexual behaviour.
There are different types of contraception which are considered safe and highly effective. Barrier methods, such as male and female condoms, vaginal diaphragms and cervical caps create a physical barrier against sperm. Women can also use hormonal methods, such as the birth control pill, or devices, such as an IUD (intrauterine device) which are placed in the womb.
"In the United States, most women of reproductive age use contraception. In 2002, 98% of women who had ever had sexual intercourse had used at least one method of contraception; only 7.4 percent of women who were currently at risk of unintended pregnancy were not using a contraceptive method. The most popular method of contraception was the oral contraceptive pill, used by 11.6 million women in the United States, followed by female sterilization, condoms, male sterilization, and other methods of contraception. Since 2000, several new methods of contraception have become available in the United States, including the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system, the hormonal contraceptive patch, the hormonal contraceptive ring, a 91-day regimen of oral contraceptives, two new barrier methods, and a new form of female sterilization." [1]
Editors: Karene Jade Howie
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