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<div class="HwContainer HwElement" id="HwContainer"><a class="HwMainSkipNavigation" href="#HwContentTitle"><span class="HwAccessibilityText">Skip Navigation</span></a><div class="HwBlock" id="HwMain" role="main"><div class="HwRow"><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnSidebar1"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomSidebar"> </div></div><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnContent"><div id="HwContentTop"> </div><div class="HwTypeFocus HwContentWrapper HwElement" role="article" id="HwContentWrapper"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomContentTop"> </div><div class="HwContentHeader"><p><a name="top" id="Hwtop"><span class="HwAccessibilityText">Top of the page</span></a> </p></div><div class="HwContentTitle"><h1 id="HwContentTitle" tabindex="-1">How Birth Control Methods Prevent Pregnancy</h1></div><div class="HwContentTopNavigation"> </div><div class="HwContent"><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionSpecialSection" id="sec-tb1025-sec"><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="421b88ad" fingerprint-exact="1b206d13">Topic Overview</h2><table class="hw-table-border" fingerprint="0c5657ef" fingerprint-exact="77f85b2b"> <caption>Birth control methods</caption> <tbody> <tr> <th class="hw-align-text-top" scope="col"> <p>Method</p> </th> <th class="hw-align-text-top" scope="col"> <p>How it prevents pregnancy</p> </th> </tr> <tr> <td class="hw-align-text-top"> <br> <p> <a class="HwLinkMultiMedia" data-hw-type="MultiMedia" data-hw-document-href="zm2455" data-hw-section="zm2455-sec" rel="MultiMedia" hw:document-type="MultiMedia" hw:document-href="zm2455" data-hwid="zm2455" hw:section-href="zm2455-sec" href="?id=zm2455#zm2455-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">Hormonal</span></a> </p> </td> <td class="hw-align-text-top"> <br> <ul> <li>Prevents <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="sto167434" data-hw-section="sto167434-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="sto167434" data-hwid="sto167434" hw:section-href="sto167434-sec" href="?id=sto167434#sto167434-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">ovulation</span></a></li> <li>Thickens mucus at the <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="stc123711" data-hw-section="stc123711-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="stc123711" data-hwid="stc123711" hw:section-href="stc123711-sec" href="?id=stc123711#stc123711-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">cervix</span></a> so sperm cannot pass through</li> <li>Changes the environment of the uterus and <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="stf124085" data-hw-section="stf124085-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="stf124085" data-hwid="stf124085" hw:section-href="stf124085-sec" href="?id=stf124085#stf124085-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">fallopian tubes</span></a> to prevent fertilization and to prevent implantation if fertilization occurs</li> </ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="hw-align-text-top"> <br> <p> <a class="HwLinkMultiMedia" data-hw-type="MultiMedia" data-hw-document-href="zm2457" data-hw-section="zm2457-sec" rel="MultiMedia" hw:document-type="MultiMedia" hw:document-href="zm2457" data-hwid="zm2457" hw:section-href="zm2457-sec" href="?id=zm2457#zm2457-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">Intrauterine device (IUD)</span></a> </p> </td> <td class="hw-align-text-top"> <br> <ul> <li>There are two types of IUDs (hormonal and copper). Both types may work by preventing: <ul><li>Fertilization of the egg.</li> <li>Implantation in the uterus.</li></ul></li> </ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="hw-align-text-top"> <br> <p> <a class="HwLinkMultiMedia" data-hw-type="MultiMedia" data-hw-document-href="zm2456" data-hw-section="zm2456-sec" rel="MultiMedia" hw:document-type="MultiMedia" hw:document-href="zm2456" data-hwid="zm2456" hw:section-href="zm2456-sec" href="?id=zm2456#zm2456-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">Barrier methods</span></a> </p> </td> <td class="hw-align-text-top"> <br> <ul> <li>Block sperm from reaching the egg</li> <li>Some are used with spermicides, which kill sperm.</li> </ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="hw-align-text-top"> <br> <p> <a data-hw-type="MedicalTest" data-hw-document-href="hw214032" data-hw-section="hw214035" hw:document-type="MedicalTest" hw:document-href="hw214032" data-hwid="hw214032" hw:section-href="hw214035" href="?id=hw214032#hw214035">Fertility awareness (natural family planning)</a> </p> </td> <td class="hw-align-text-top"> <br> <ul> <li>Identifies the time during a woman's cycle when she is most likely to become pregnant (fertile). An extra method or abstinence should be used during this time of fertility.</li> </ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="hw-align-text-top"> <br> <p>Permanent birth control (sterilization)</p> </td> <td class="hw-align-text-top"> <br> <ul> <li>Men: <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="stv5358" data-hw-section="stv5358-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="stv5358" data-hwid="stv5358" hw:section-href="stv5358-sec" href="?id=stv5358#stv5358-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">Vasectomy</span></a> blocks the release of sperm.</li> <li>Women: <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="stt11357" data-hw-section="stt11357-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="stt11357" data-hwid="stt11357" hw:section-href="stt11357-sec" href="?id=stt11357#stt11357-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">Tubal ligation surgery or tubal implants</span></a> block the movement of an egg through the fallopian tube, preventing fertilization.</li> </ul> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionRelatedInformation" id="sec-tb1025-RelInfo"><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="d5f858e0" fingerprint-exact="c0ffe04b">Related Information</h2><ul fingerprint="7438efb1" fingerprint-exact="4da3852f"><li class="HwOptionalAny"><a data-hw-type="Special" data-hw-document-href="hw237864" data-hw-section="hw237867" hw:document-type="Special" hw:document-href="hw237864" data-hwid="hw237864" hw:section-href="hw237867" href="?id=hw237864#hw237867">Birth Control</a></li></ul></div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwCreditsSection HwCreditsWithoutNavstack HwSectionCredits" id="sec-tb1025-Credits"><h2 class="HwSectionTitle">Credits</h2><div class="HwContentInformation"> <div class="HwLastUpdated"> <p> <span class="HwInfoLabel">Current as of: </span> October 8, 2020 </p> </div> <div class="HwCredits"> <p> <span class="HwInfoLabel">Author: </span>Healthwise Staff<br> <span class="HwInfoLabel">Medical Review: </span> <br> <span class="HwInfoName">Sarah Marshall MD - Family Medicine</span> <br> <span class="HwInfoName">Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine</span> <br> <span class="HwInfoName">Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine</span> <br> <span class="HwInfoName">Elizabeth T. Russo MD - Internal Medicine</span> <br> <span class="HwInfoName">Femi Olatunbosun MB, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology</span></p> </div> </div></div></div><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomContentBottom"> </div><div class="HwContentNavigation"><div class="HwSectionNavItem" style="display:block" id="secNav-tb1025-sec"><ul><li class="HwContentNavigationNone"> </li><li class="HwContentNavigationTop"><a href="#top">Top of the page</a></li><li class="HwContentNavigationNext"><p>Next Section: </p><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="Focus" data-hw-document-href="tb1025" data-hw-section="tb1025-RelInfo" id="nextLink-tb1025-RelInfo" hw:document-type="Focus" hw:document-href="tb1025" data-hwid="tb1025" hw:section-href="tb1025-RelInfo" href="?id=tb1025#tb1025-RelInfo">Related Information</a></li><li class="HwClear"> </li></ul></div><div class="HwSectionNavItem" style="display:none" id="secNav-tb1025-RelInfo"><ul><li class="HwContentNavigationPrev"><p>Previous Section: </p><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="Focus" data-hw-document-href="tb1025" data-hw-section="tb1025-sec" id="prevLink-tb1025-sec" hw:document-type="Focus" hw:document-href="tb1025" data-hwid="tb1025" hw:section-href="tb1025-sec" href="?id=tb1025#tb1025-sec">Topic Overview</a></li><li class="HwContentNavigationTop"><a href="#top">Top of the page</a></li><li class="HwContentNavigationNext"><p>Next Section: </p><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="Focus" data-hw-document-href="tb1025" data-hw-section="tb1025-Credits" id="nextLink-tb1025-Credits" hw:document-type="Focus" hw:document-href="tb1025" data-hwid="tb1025" hw:section-href="tb1025-Credits" href="?id=tb1025#tb1025-Credits">Credits</a></li><li class="HwClear"> </li></ul></div><div class="HwSectionNavItem" style="display:none" id="secNav-tb1025-Credits"><ul><li class="HwContentNavigationPrev"><p>Previous Section: </p><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="Focus" data-hw-document-href="tb1025" data-hw-section="tb1025-RelInfo" id="prevLink-tb1025-RelInfo" hw:document-type="Focus" hw:document-href="tb1025" data-hwid="tb1025" hw:section-href="tb1025-RelInfo" href="?id=tb1025#tb1025-RelInfo">Related Information</a></li><li class="HwContentNavigationTop"><a href="#top">Top of the page</a></li><li class="HwContentNavigationNone"> </li><li class="HwClear"> </li></ul></div></div><div class="HwContentInformation" role="complementary"><div class="HwLastUpdated"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Current as of: </span>October 8, 2020</p></div><div class="HwCredits"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Author: </span><a class="HwLinkDisclaimer" href="https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en">Healthwise Staff</a></p><p><a class="HwLinkDisclaimer" href="https://www.healthwise.org/mdreviewboard.aspx?lang=en-us"><span class="HwInfoLabel">Medical Review:</span></a><span class="HwInfoName">Sarah Marshall MD - Family Medicine</span> & <span class="HwInfoName">Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine</span> & <span class="HwInfoName">Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine</span> & <span class="HwInfoName">Elizabeth T. Russo MD - Internal Medicine</span> & <span class="HwInfoName">Femi Olatunbosun MB, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology</span></p></div></div></div></div><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnSidebar2"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomNavigationTop"> </div><div class="HwElement" id="HwNavigationWrapper"><div class="HwNavigation" id="HwNavigation" role="navigation"><h3 class="HwNavStackHeader" id="HwNavStackHeader">Topic Contents</h3><ul aria-labelledby="HwNavStackHeader"><li id="nav-tb1025-sec"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="Focus" data-hw-document-href="tb1025" data-hw-section="tb1025-sec" hw:document-type="Focus" hw:document-href="tb1025" data-hwid="tb1025" hw:section-href="tb1025-sec" href="?id=tb1025#tb1025-sec">Topic Overview</a></li><li id="nav-tb1025-RelInfo"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="Focus" data-hw-document-href="tb1025" data-hw-section="tb1025-RelInfo" hw:document-type="Focus" hw:document-href="tb1025" data-hwid="tb1025" hw:section-href="tb1025-RelInfo" href="?id=tb1025#tb1025-RelInfo">Related Information</a></li><li id="nav-tb1025-Credits"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="Focus" data-hw-document-href="tb1025" data-hw-section="tb1025-Credits" hw:document-type="Focus" hw:document-href="tb1025" data-hwid="tb1025" hw:section-href="tb1025-Credits" href="?id=tb1025#tb1025-Credits">Credits</a></li></ul></div></div><div class="HwNavigationWrapper HwNavigationEmpty"> </div><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomNavigationBottom"> </div></div></div></div><div class="HwBlock" id="HwFooter"><div class="HwRow"><div class="HwCustom HwColumn" id="HwCustomFooterLeft"> </div><div class="HwColumn" id="HwFooterLegal"><div class="HwLegal HwElement" role="contentinfo"><div class="HwLogo"><a class="HwLinkExternal" href="https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en"><img class="HwNoHcMode" data-hw-resource-path="media/interface/hwlogo.png" alt="Click here to learn about Healthwise" src="https://ixbapi.healthwise.net/Resource/12.8/en-us/media/interface/hwlogo.png" hw:resource-path="media/interface/hwlogo.png" hw:release-quarter="12.8"><img class="HwHcMode" data-hw-resource-path="media/interface/hwlogo_hc.png" alt="Click here to learn about Healthwise" src="https://ixbapi.healthwise.net/Resource/12.8/en-us/media/interface/hwlogo_hc.png" hw:resource-path="media/interface/hwlogo_hc.png" hw:release-quarter="12.8"></a></div><div class="HwDisclaimer"><p>This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. 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