--- description: We've rounded up all the birth control options, how each method works and how effective it is. title: How Every Form of Birth Control Actually Works image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Health](/section/health/) ## Health Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Sex/Relationships](/tag/sexrelationships/) ## Sex/Relationships Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # See How Every Form of Birth Control Actually Works by [Alexandra Sifferlin](/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) and [Heather Jones](/author/heather-jones/) Nov 11, 2015 7:28 PM CUT by [Alexandra Sifferlin](/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) and [Heather Jones](/author/heather-jones/) Nov 11, 2015 7:28 PM CUT There are lots of options when it comes to birth control, and [federal data](http://time.com/4104923/contraceptives-long-acting-birth-control/ "undefined") on American women reveals that more and more of them—11.6%—are choosing long-acting methods like IUDs and implants. As recently as 2006-2010, just 6% of women reported using such methods. We’ve rounded up all the various options women and men have when it comes to preventing pregnancy, how each method works, and how effective they are.  **Read More**:[ _Why The Best Form of Birth Control is The One No One is Using_](http://time.com/the-best-form-of-birth-control-is-the-one-no-one-is-using/ "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4108686/birth-control-methods-how-work/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4108686/birth-control-methods-how-work/"},"headline":"See How Every Form of Birth Control Actually Works","datePublished":"2015-11-11T19:28:05.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:50:34.665Z","description":"Your ultimate guide, from abstinence to the IUD","url":"https://time.com/4108686/birth-control-methods-how-work/","keywords":["Sex/Relationships","medicine","Birth Control","condoms","IUD"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Alexandra Sifferlin","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Heather Jones","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/heather-jones/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/sexrelationships/","name":"Sex/Relationships"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4108686/birth-control-methods-how-work/","name":"See How Every Form of Birth Control Actually Works"}}]}] ```