There are a few categories to which birth control can be divided.  The main two are hormonal and barrier.  According to the American Pregnancy Association barrier methods “are physical or chemical barriers designed to stop sperm from entering a woman’s uterus” (2003).  These include contraceptives like male and female condoms, spermicides, diaphragms, etc.  Hormonal methods “contain manufactured forms of the hormones estrogen and/or progesterone. Hormonal methods work in one of three ways: 1) preventing a woman's ovaries from releasing an egg each month; 2) causing the cervical mucus to thicken making it harder for sperm to reach and penetrate the egg; 3) thinning the lining of the uterus which reduces the likelihood that a fertilized egg will implant in the uterus wall” (APA, 2003).  These include birth control pills, IUD, vaginal rings, the birth control patch, and others.

            Probably one of the most easily accessible forms of contraceptive is the male condom, which should be distinguished from the female condom.  According to MedicineNet.com a female condom “consists of a lubricated polyurethane sheath shaped similarly to the male condom. The closed end, which has a flexible ring, is inserted into the vagina, while the open end remains outside, partially covering the labia.”  While a male condom is defined as “a sheath placed over the erect penis before penetration, preventing pregnancy by blocking the passage of sperm. It is a barrier method of contraception.”  Both can only be used once.  MedicneNet.com also states that, “Except for abstinence, latex condoms are the most effective method for reducing the risk of infection from the viruses that cause AIDS, other HIV-related illnesses, and other sexually transmitted diseases.”

            The pill is another very widely used form of contraception.  Birth control pills are manufactured by many companies and are divided into two categories: progestin-only and combination pills.  “Combination pills usually work by preventing a woman's ovaries from releasing eggs (ovulation). They also thicken the cervical mucus, which keeps sperm from joining with an egg.  Progestin-only pills usually work by thickening the cervical mucus. Less often, they prevent ovulation” (Johnsen, 2006).  Oral contraception, another name for the pill, is often popular because of the ease it creates in preventing pregnancy and because it is inexpensive.  A month’s worth of prescription birth control can cost anywhere between fifteen and thirty-five dollars.  However, the pill does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.  For this reason, it is often recommended that the pill be used in combination with another form of contraception, often a barrier method.  The combination of contraceptives, if they are safe to be used jointly, decreases the likeliness of pregnancy.

            According to MSNBC, “For the first time, a safe, effective and reversible hormonal male contraceptive appears  to be within reach. Several formulations are expected to become commercially available within the near future. Men may soon have the options of a daily pill to be taken orally, a patch or gel to be applied to the skin, an injection given every three months or an implant placed under the skin every 12 months, according to Seattle researchers” (Schieszer, 2006).  This is a potentially huge advancement in the field of birth control.  If women and men use hormonal contraceptives together, than the chances of unwanted pregnancies would be extremely low.  This would also revolutionize the field of birth control.